This paper, in its January 16 issue, reported on the on-going frustration of Rye residents regarding the non-working streetlights on the Playland Access Road and the Parkway itself.
By Bill Lawyer
This paper, in its January 16 issue, reported on the on-going frustration of Rye residents regarding the non-working streetlights on the Playland Access Road and the Parkway itself.
They detailed a variety of safety issues at the Theall Road, WESTMED, and Old Post Road intersections. The lack of Parkway lights has resulted in deer-car collisions, as well as trucks not being able to see the overpass height signs – resulting in getting stuck.
Communications by residents with the City and County officials seemed to indicate that the responsibility fell on the shoulders of the County.
In what she thought was conclusive evidence, Rye’s County Legislator, Catherine Parker, located a recently updated County Planning Department map, showing those roads were indeed County roads.
Thus it was quite the surprise when, at a County Legislature Infrastructure Committee meeting the following week, the Committee was told a very different story by County DPW Commissioner Jay Pisco.
Mr. Pisco said that the lights from I-95 to Old Post Road, as well as the lights in the center median to east of Old Post Road are “Thruway lighting.”
He continued his report saying, “The lights on the thruway access road and the Playland Parkway access drive are County roads, and are operated by the local municipality, as well as the lights on Old Post Road.”
He emphatically stated, “None of these lights is billed to the County Parks Department.” Finally, he said, “the County lights are the ones closest to the park, east of Boston Post Road.”
Pisco said that his staff learned this information by locating inter-municipal agreements (IMA) with the city and state. However, he did not present them at the committee meeting. Legislator Parker asked that he provide these documents.
