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Officials Discuss Plan To Reduce Traffic And Increase Connectivity On Long Island

HUNTINGTON, NY (WCBS 880) - Ask anyone on Long Island about the traffic and they will likely tell you something needs to be done.

WCBS 880's Sophia Hall On The Story

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Lawmakers say a major plan, called Connect Long Island, would increase public transportation and reduce car use.

The plan includes trains running north to south, apartments being built near train stations, and buses nearly running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so folks would not have to wait.

Babylon town supervisor and Suffolk County Executive candidate Steve Bellone is among the supporters of the plan.

"Basically, Connect Long Island means we need to build around transit centers and then we need to connect those to regional hubs like 110 corridor, where there are 125,000 jobs. Everybody knows on Long Island that you cannot grow this economy by simply adding more cars to the roadway," he said.

"It moves people north-south, which is so vital. It discourages car usage because we have traffic tie-ups, and we'll always have them. You're not going to widen those roads anymore than they currently are," said Huntington town supervisor Frank Petrone.

Eric Alexander of Vision Long Island loves the idea.

"Which means there's less people on the roadway, less congestion, and, ultimately, when you talk about liking walking and biking, you're talking about healthier folks," he told WCBS 880 reporter Sophia Hall.

Although many applaud this plan the major problem is the cost.

Lawmakers told Hall that they hope the private sector will help contribute to make the idea a reality.

What ideas do you have for reducing traffic on Long Island? Share them in the comments section below!

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