The Long Beach Public Schools are pleased to have obtained full endorsement from the Lido and Point Lookout Fire District and the Point Lookout Civic Association for a request to reduce speed limits on Lido Boulevard. The Fire District submitted a letter to Hempstead Town Supervisor Anthony Santino, while the Civic Association addressed Legislator Denise Ford. Both correspondences echoed the same concerns that the school district raised regarding safety for those crossing the road.

Long Beach Superintendent of Schools David Weiss has urged the Town to consider lowering the speed limit from 40 to 30 miles per hour between the Loop Parkway and Prescott Street in Lido Beach.

“More than 700 of our middle and high school students travel on foot and bicycle during rush hours – the most common times for vehicles to exceed the maximum permitted speed,” he said. “Drivers continue to overlook the posted signs and speed-related automobile accidents are a longstanding issue.”

 “The [fire] district has responded to many accidents along the portion of Lido Boulevard cited by Mr. Weiss,” Lido and Point Lookout Fire District Commissioner Charles Thompson wrote in a letter to the Town. “As an EMS responder and ex-chief of the department, I am personally familiar with the dangers caused by the speed of vehicles traveling on Lido Boulevard, and a reduction of the speed limit with enforcement will help render the area safer for all concerned, particularly the children of our community.”

“We support reducing the speed limit from 40 MPH to 30 MPH in those areas currently designated 40 MPH zones,” said Point Lookout Civic Association President Matthew Brennan. “We would also support further studies along Lido Blvd in both Lido Beach and in Point Lookout to enact additional traffic calming measures within those communities of Lido Beach and Point Lookout.”

The plan has also received immediate support from Councilwoman Erin Sweeney and Mr. Weiss expects other endorsements to follow.