Traffic Pattern Change Coming to Halstead Avenue

Patrons of the Harrison Dunkin Donuts looking to make a left turn toward Harrison Avenue after picking up their morning coffee will now have to go a bit out of their way or risk getting a ticket.

The Harrison Town Board has passed a new traffic regulation that prohibits left turns from the CVS and Dunkin Donuts parking lot, after receiving a recommendation from the police department. The decision was made after police received complaints of motorists driving left of the double yellow line in the area while making the turn.

Motorists were driving on the wrong side of the road to merge with traffic going toward Harrison Avenue, creating a risk for people driving in the opposite direction.

The new traffic pattern will go into effect as soon as signs are posted. The exit from CVS closest to Harrison Avenue is already right turn only, this will mean that drivers will have to turn right out of the lot regardless of which route they take.

Those looking to go toward Harrison Avenue from the parking lot will now have to travel west toward Mamaroneck and look for a place to turn around, sending them a few blocks out of their way.

"I don't necessarily see it as a hazard the way it is," said Harrison resident Kathy Schafer. "People are generally pretty courteous when it comes to letting cars in."

Another concern is where drivers will turn around after making the now required right turn out of the lot. The first intersection in that direction is near St. Gregory's Church, the second is near Parsons Memorial Elementary School, which worried one parent.

"My concern is that you are forcing people toward the church and school," said Molly Vasilkioti, who did say she has seen drivers on the wrong side of the road in the area. "You're just going to have more aggravated traffic toward the school."

But with new parking spaces stretching behind CVS, traffic coming from the lot behind the two stores is now becoming a hazard and police believe prohibiting left turns is the safest option.

"We actually evaluated the condition that exists on Halstead Avenue and we are going to try this as a solution to try to make traffic flow a bit safer in that area," Harrison Police Chief Anthony Marraccini said during a town board meeting last week. "With CVS opening it has increased the traffic flow coming out of that driveway and its something to keep an eye on."