Southampton Launches New Program To Ease Traffic Woes

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Southampton Town officials are launching a new program to ease traffic woes.

On April 1, the Southampton Town Police Department, in conjunction with the Southampton Town Highway Department, will launch the Canoe Place Traffic Reduction Program, "aimed at addressing the growing traffic congestion in our community," town officials said.

The Canoe Place Traffic Reduction Program will be implemented on weekdays between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. The traffic light at the intersection of Montauk Highway and Canoe Place Road will be set to flash, and no left turns will be permitted at that intersection, officials said. Other traffic lane modifications will also be deployed to facilitate traffic flow through the intersection.

Southampton Town Police officers will be posted to ensure motorists’ safety, and highway department staff will be posted as well to deploy traffic cones, signage, and electronic message boards to alert and inform motorists traveling through the intersection, town officials said.

Motorists are encouraged to support the effort by adhering to traffic laws, practicing defensive driving, and being mindful of pedestrians and other road users, officials urged.

Southampton Town Supervisor Maria Moore said that the town board is committed to maintaining the program until the end of September, as part of the larger effort to find ways to mitigate traffic congestion in town.

The new Traffic Mitigation and Safety Task Force, established by town board resolution, will begin meeting in April to review other possible traffic mitigation strategies and make recommendations to the town board in the fall, she added.