Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
B.P. Molinaro calls for left-turn lane at busy Todt Hill road intersection
Suggests Road Widening to Accommodate Stacking Lane at Circle Road
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Borough President James P. Molinaro today announced that he has designated the busy intersection of Todt Hill Road and Circle Road as an intersection that is in desperate need of a left-turn lane. Huge traffic tie-ups occur continuously as motorists make left turns to Staten Island Academy and the surrounding neighborhood.
Molinaro is asking the Department of Transportation (DOT), the City Planning and Buildings Departments to work cooperatively on installing a left-turn stacking lane, together with a “through-traffic” lane back from Helena Road through Circle Road.
“We all know that being stuck behind motorists making left turns is one of the major causes of traffic congestion and accidents,” Molinaro said. “Hundreds of vehicles come to an abrupt halt on Todt Hill Road at the intersection of Circle Road, because vehicles making left turns do not have a stacking lane.
“I commend the DOT and Commissioner Iris Weinshall for working with my office to bring positive changes to our Borough’s roadways by installing more left-turn lanes and left-turn signals,” Molinaro continued.
“As a simple solution to the chronic traffic problem on Todt Hill Road, I would ask our City agencies to widen it at Circle Road and create a left-turn lane,” Molinaro added. “It is my understanding that the mapped width of Todt Hill Road at this location is 100 feet, but it’s only built to 26 feet.”
Dr. Mohammad Khalid, a Todt Hill civic leader, said, “Widening Todt Hill Road at the busy intersection of Circle Road is long overdue. I thank the Borough President for making this a priority. This will relieve the congestion people are facing every day. The Todt Hill community is very happy with this good news, which will make the morning rush hour easier for everyone, especially at the Staten Island Academy.”
Molinaro explained that, “Todt Hill Road consists of one lane in each direction, leaving no room at many intersections for cars to maneuver around vehicles making left turns. At Circle Road, scores of vehicles heading to Staten Island Academy and the surrounding neighborhood make left turns.
“Although a left-turn traffic signal was recently installed at this location, very few vehicles get through the intersection before the light changes because there is no left-turn lane, so traffic backs up and it becomes a serious congestion point,” Molinaro added.
“I am also concerned about public safety when vehicles queue from Circle Road up around Todt Hill Road’s dangerous S-curve,” Molinaro continued. “Motorists driving south cannot see the queue until their bumpers nearly meet.
“I would ask DOT to do whatever is necessary to create a left-turn lane at Todt Hill Road and Circle Road,” Molinaro concluded. “One left-turn lane will ease crippling traffic tie-ups and bring relief to thousands of motorists, while greatly enhancing traffic flow and safety.”
January 24, 2006