On Wednesday, October 23rd, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law several bills aimed at enhancing road safety. Among them was legislation to continue and expand the use of red light cameras across New York State, including in Westchester County. Notably, one of the new bills authorizes the use of red light cameras in the Town of Greenburgh for the first time, with one of the first planned for the intersection of Old Army Road and Ardsley Road in Edgemont. This legislation began as a Home Rule Request by the Greenburgh Town Board, with subsequent sponsorship from Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky.
In the October 2023 ECC Traffic Safety Report, both Old Army Road and Ardsley Road were identified as priority roads for pedestrian safety and traffic calming measures, and identified the Old Army Road and Ardsley Road intersection as an important priority intersection for improvements such as a red light camera.
Governor Kathy Hochul said, “I am extending the authorization of programs across New York and establishing an additional program to maintain our progress on traffic safety while creating new protections for school-aged children on the road.”
She also shared that red light camera programs have been demonstrated to be effective in protecting New Yorkers from dangerous drivers. Red light running was the cause of 1,149 deaths and 107,000 injuries in the United States in 2022.
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “Red light camera programs save lives by enhancing road safety and reducing traffic violations. They are being used more and more throughout the state. Greenburgh officials came to me with a clear need in the Town for the Ardsley and Old Army Road intersection in Edgemont, where red light incidents have occurred, and for the heavily populated East Hartsdale Avenue, where a car out of control killed Stephanie Kavourias, a leader in the community. I hope this action will protect pedestrians and promote responsible driving. I thank Governor Hochul for signing this legislation into law and for her commitment to making our streets safer.”
Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky said, “I am grateful to Governor Hochul for signing these laws to improve local pedestrian and vehicle safety. In our suburbs, roads are becoming ever more crowded and dangerous, and for that reason our local governments need authorization from the State to try new ways to protect the public. The two bills that I sponsored in the Assembly, along with Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins on the Senate side, will allow the Town of Greenburgh to install red light cameras at two hazardous intersections on East Hartsdale Avenue and Old Army Road.”
ECC President Dylan Pyne said, “I would like to thank Governor Hochul, Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assemblywoman MaryJane Shimsky, for championing this important public safety initiative. The new red light camera at the intersection of Old Army Road and Ardsley Road, along with the appropriate signage alerting drivers they are approaching a red light camera, will influence driver behavior, reduce speeding, and create an overall safer environment for residents.”
The Edgemont Community Council thanks Governor Hochul, Edgemont’s State Senator, Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky for their support as well as the Greenburgh Police Department and the Greenburgh Town Board for their continued partnership in making Edgemont a safer place for all residents.