Approach
Town of Brookhaven Context
The Town of Brookhaven covers a large area of 532 square miles and has a total of 3,500 lane miles of roadway. It is recognized as the third largest highway department in the State of New York and plays a critical role in maintaining the region's transportation infrastructure. The Town has a population of approximately 486,000 residents, who are distributed across six distinct council districts.
The Town places a strong emphasis on traffic management and safety, routinely monitoring the condition of roadway signage and pavement markings. Each year, out of approximately 11,000 signs, the Town replaces nearly 3,000 street signs and 1,500 stop signs to ensure optimal visibility and compliance with safety standards. The Town of Brookhaven maximizes their yearly paving budget across each council district. Prior to resurfacing roadways, the Town inspects and replaces damaged drains, concrete curbing, sidewalks, handicap ramps, and driveway aprons. This proactive maintenance strategy helps preserve the quality of the road network, enhance traffic flow, and ensure the safety of all road users.
What is Vision Zero?
As described by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all road users. FHWA has adopted the Safe System Approach as a means of achieving Vision Zero.
What is the Safe System Approach?
The Safe System Approach, as adopted by FHWA, recognizes human error as inevitable, but focuses on safer vehicles, safer speeds, safer roads, post-crash care, and safer people to prevent fatal and serious crashes. By prioritizing human safety, it seeks to create a transportation environment that accounts for mistakes and ensures safe, connected communities.
Where is the Study Area?
The focus is on Town-owned roadways in the Town of Brookhaven. In line with jurisdictional limitations, the following are excluded: State Roads, County Roads, Stony Brook Campus, Poospatuck Reservation, Brookhaven National Laboratory and the following Villages: Belle Terre, Bellport, Lake Grove, Old Field, Patchogue, Port Jefferson, Poquott, and Shoreham.