As Traffic Spikes by North Ferry, Greenport Mayor Seeks Solutions

The problem is a good one to have.

So said Greenport Mayor David Nyce, about an influx of visitors who are coming to the village via the North Ferry.

But the surge in traffic, Nyce said, has posed some concerns.

To that end, Trustee George Hubbard, Jr., said he'd had a meeting with Bridg Hunt, manager of the North Ferry, about ferry traffic.

Nyce said some discussion has been held about possibly re-routing some of that traffic down by the ferry terminal.

"As traffic continues to increase, there are going to be certain places that you're going to feel it," Nyce said. "That's one of them. There are a lot of people coming off those boats."

Nyce said Southold Town police have to be made aware of the increased traffic.

"We discussed taking this to the Southold Town transportation committee, for a solution we can all agree to," Nyce said.

Trustee Mary Bess Phillips suggested perhaps at the meeting with the town's transportation  committee, perhaps the idea of approaching the state, to help the village pave the road, might be discussed.

"The taxpayers there are the ones who are really experiencing the frustration of all the increased traffic," she said.

The meeting with Hunt went well, Nyce said. "Everything out here is usually confrontational, but at least we were able to sit down with the principal of the North Ferry and have a conversation. It may be confrontational, but it might not have to be. This is a good problem to have," he added.

The goal, Nyce said, is to find a solution that would not place the burden solely on any one group.

Hunt was not immediately available to return a request for comment.