NEW SPRINGVILLE — Golfers concerned that a road snaking through their fairway was dangerous are getting a crossing point.
The Department of Transportation will add a new pedestrian safety signal where LaTourette Park and Golf Course gets split by Richmond Hill Road. Golfers had petitioned for the change.
"I actually had tears in my eyes," said Debbi Mastromarino, president of the New York City Junior Golf Club who helped lead the charge for the light after worrying about her young members' safety.
Mastromarino, who runs golf lessons for roughly 250 children, and parents started a petition to add a signal at the intersection, DNAinfo New York first reported.
In April, Council members Steven Matteo and Vincent Ingizio signed off on a letter to the DOT with Borough President James Oddo pushing it to make it safer for golfers to cross.
The DOT will add a pedestrian signal to the intersection. It will be programmed only to turn red when people need to cross the road.
"There was no perfect solution readily available at this location and, on balance, a pedestrian activated traffic signal is a safety improvement,” Oddo said in a statement.
“Hopefully, an appropriately timed light will afford pedestrians a safer passage without having too great an impact on vehicular flow.”
Flashing warning lights already in place were largely ignored by drivers, Mastromarino said.
Mastromarino has emailed her members's parents telling them about the crossing.
"I emailed everybody and said it we did it," she said. "One mother said 'Now I can cross the street with my four precious boys.'"
