The Junior League of Pelham hosted a community roundtable on the evening of Dec. 3 to discuss concerns about traffic enforcement with local leadership, Pelham Together Youth members and the Junior League.
“Our goal tonight is to celebrate the progress and identify solutions to make Pelham better for everyone,” said Junior League of Pelham Sustainer Sandy-Iyer Horan, who moderated the meeting.
The roundtable follows the recent street accidents in the Village of Pelham and Pelham Manor. Panelists included New York State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, Bronxville Safe Streets member and former County Legislator Ruth Walter, Pedestrian Safety Advocate & JLP Member Erica Winter, New York State Department of Transportation Traffic Investigator David Parker, Hardesty Hanover Traffic Engineer Greg DelRio. Pelham Together Youth members Taya Senerchia, Emily Walch, and Shylah Horan were also in attendance with Village of Pelham Mayor Chance Mullen and Village of Pelham Manor Mayor Jennifer Monachino Lapey. These panelists shared their personal stories and expertise on pedestrian safety.
“Cameras, signs, and speed bumps are not what makes drivers slow down, it is narrower roads, greenery, trees, and visual cues that remind you that you are not on a highway, you are on a local road where children live, people bike, and people are active on,” said Walter. “Advocacy is how you make change. We must make other roads of transportation more safe.”
Pelham Together Youth Council Member Shylah Horan, who had suffered an eye injury after a severe car accident at the intersection of Boulevard and Cliff Avenue, shared her passion for pedestrian safety and more traffic enforcement laws. Taya Senerchia, also on the Youth Council, spoke of her experiences as an EMS worker. “I do a 6-hour shift once a week for Mamaroneck EMS,” said Senerchia. “During my time there, I saw two e-scooter accidents. Both people did not have helmets on. It’s easy to be overconfident and look over silly rules, but often people get distracted and lose focus. People rush around and are not educated enough on how to be safe and aware of our environment.”
“Pedestrian safety is an ongoing discussion,” said Lindsey Luft, Village of Pelham Manor Manager. “As for future traffic enforcement projects in Pelham Manor, the intersection at Wolfs Lane and Iden Avenue will add a marked crosswalk across Wolf’s Lane, to support the morning crossing guard. “One of the larger projects is at Boston Post Road, by the business district, on Pelham Parkway.” The Village of Pelham Manor has applied for a permit to add a right-turn lane from Boston Post Road to Pelham Parkway. “We will soon receive a permit from the New York State Department of Transportation for this,” said Luft. The goal of the right-turn lane will be to simplify the route for drivers traveling from Pelham Manor to Pelham Parkway.
“The Pelham Manor police is continuously cycling through various hotspots for enforcement matters,” Luft said.