Oct. 5: Five Suggestions for Sound Avenue Traffic Control

Almost a dozen people commented on an article published on Tuesday about the to help with the flow of traffic during pumpkin-picking time around Harbes' Farm on Sound Avenue in Mattituck.

The proposal hit the table again on Monday, when application to expand its small winery operation was analyzed by Planning Board members. But with the popularity of Harbes' Farm Stand and agritainment activities to the north and Harbes' u-pick pumpkin patch and Patty's Berries and Bunches stand to the south, traffic can back up for miles in either direction during the weekends in the fall.

Here are examples of what you had to say:

said: "It is about time. Harbes should have paid for traffic control of some sort years ago! It is an major accident/death waiting to happen.  My family tries to avoid that stretch of street in the fall at all costs since we have been lucky to barely avoid hitting either a pedistrian or a car but it is difficult to do, since we just live a short distance west of their agritainment complex and are forced to make major detours just to go about our daily business."

said: "I truly do not think that police direction at the crossing would do any good. You would need several in order to cover the whole crossing area. The only time the road is passable is when it is raining. Parking there is dangerous for the customers. Pulling in, backing out, trying to hold onto their kids and load pumpkins, too. How about a crosswalk bridge?"

said: "A traffic control officer may help - but I don't want to pay for any of it. Harbes [should] entirely so other vineyards don't expect the same on the taxpayers' dime."

said: "When a utility or construction company blocks a road they are required to have trained traffic controllers (flaggers) on the street to control the traffic. Can this not be considered the same? The Town needs to draw up an ordinance, if it does not already have one addressing all types of traffic problems and when traffic control is necessary for all roads from Laurel to Orient Point. This avoids anyone saying they are being targeted ... A more expensive and less pleasing esthetically, would be to have the businesses pay for widening the road in their area, allowing a turning lane to be installed, where turning traffic could be stacked allowing through-traffic to move. Also, what about making specific cross walks where the crossing could be controlled more easily, with those who ignored it being ticketed for jaywalking, if that is illegal?"

said: "On Route 48 on any given weekend, Vineyard 48 has between 20-25 coach buses, limos, party rides, vans as well as private vehicles. I see that they are now setting up orange cones to reserve spots on a County Road is that private parking for their winery or should there be a TCO at that location? If Harbes farm was on 48 this would not be an issue because there are two lanes east and two west. We live in a farm community — this could all be turned under and made into houses — I don't think anyone wants to see that. Another option would be to expand the 495 to Orient — that would free up the conjestion...NEVER. So lets have a plan ... on how to properly and FAIRLY make a traffic plan and enforce it. I don't think putting a Southold Town TCO on the payroll of a private business is the solution. Where does that end?"