Traffic, traffic, traffic — that seems to be the operative word and one of the key reasons there is such opposition to the Heart of the Hamptons relocating to the old ambulance barn on Meeting House Lane in Southampton Village.
Rightfully so. Having lived in the village for most of my life, I have seen traffic in the village increase tenfold. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the intersection of Main Street, Meeting House Lane, South Main Street and Jobs Lane is a real bottleneck. Trade traffic is increasingly bypassing both Hampton Road and Meeting House Lane, using Herrick Road and Toylsome Lane to travel east.
Last summer, I wrote the village trustees to inform them of the speeding on Herrick Road (sometimes as fast as 50 mph in a 25 mph speed zone). Every summer, I hear the same complaint about the traffic in the village, with people saying, “The village must do something about this problem — it’s worse than ever!”
That brings me to the “traffic study” that apparently the village conducted to assuage the public regarding Heart of the Hamptons’ effect on traffic. It is my understanding that the study was conducted on October 21 and November 3, 2021, and only included traffic patterns on Meeting House Lane.
What a farce! This study is not only insufficient but also incomplete. How can any valid traffic study not include the time frame between Memorial Day and Labor Day? It is ludicrous on the village’s part not to examine traffic patterns during this time of year when the population increases dramatically.
Adequate parking is also an issue. Many village residents and out-of-towners use the Presbyterian Church lot to park while they shop. It is nearly impossible, during the height of the season, to find an available spot during those hours that the Heart of the Hamptons states their pick-ups will take place. More cars and delivery trucks will just add more congestion to this already overcrowded corner.
Heart of the Hamptons is a wonderful organization with a noble mission. However, adding its commercial enterprise steps from one of the busiest intersections and main arteries into the village center is very shortsighted on the part of our village leadership. They were elected to help preserve the quality of life in our residential areas, not disrupt it further.
Laurie Cameron Carson
Southampton
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