Speed limit on Pulaski Highway finally reduced

State also approves town’s request to lower speed on Kings Highway to 45 mph By Linda Smith Hancharick Pine Island — It has taken years but finally the state of New York has given the okay to reduce the speed on Pulaski Highway, from 55 to 45 miles per hour. Residents on this much-used thoroughfare have requested the reduction more than once and the town has backed them up, but it was an accident in December 2005 that really pushed them into action. Now, after a denial last summer, residents are happy that the posted sign now reads 45. “The farmers and members of the community that live, work along and drive on Pulaski Highway are thrilled that Assemblywoman Rabbitt’s hard work has paid off,” said Chris Pawelski, a lifelong resident and farmer who lives and works on Pulaski Highway. “Pulaski Highway at 55 miles per hour is a very dangerous road. Dangerous for farmers on tractors, for farm workers who walk and bike, for our children getting on and off the school bus each day, and for the public in general.” The accident in December 2005 involved speeding; one driver took out two utility poles and landed in a ditch just past the Quaker Creek Store. At the scene, an impromptu neighborhood meeting took place and the residents decided enough was enough. They went to both the towns of Warwick and Goshen, asking that they reduce the speed limit to 45 on this road that not only connects them to their farms and local businesses, but also connects commuters to Route 17 and the Thruway. Ninety-four local residents signed the petition. G&G Bus Service, Inc., the Florida Union Free School District’s transportation company, also backed the request, and both town boards unanimously agreed. But in New York State it is not the local municipalities or even the county that can change a speed limit. Instead, the towns made the request to the New York State Department of Transportation. That was denied last May. The residents and the town boards did not give up. They repeated their request and now have what they were looking for. “I want to thank Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt for her assistance in getting this done, as well as the residents in the area who never gave up,” said Supervisor Michael Sweeton in an announcement. “These changes will improve safety for all, especially the farmers who work in the area and the young children on their way to school.” Ditto from Pawelski. “Thankfully Assemblywoman Rabbitt and Supervisor Sweeton did not give up and worked hard to get the speed limit lowered to further enhance the safety and well-being of our community,” concluded Pawelski. The state also gave its okay to the town to reduce the speed on Kings Highway, near Kings elementary school, to 35 miles per hour. The town had requested that the speed limit be reduced to 20 miles per hour. All of Warwick’s other schools have reduced speed limits near them. Park Avenue School, which boarders Route 17A, a state road, has a school speed zone limiting drivers to 20 miles per hour. The same is true with Sanfordville Elementary Road and Pine Island. Dr. Frank Greenhall, superintendent of Warwick schools, had made the initial request to the town board, noting that he had never been in a school district where the speed around a school was not reduced.