Cites Hazards To Pupils

School Board Votes Cloverleaf Protest

The Mamaroneck Board of Education last week voted to protest formally the proposed construction of a New England Thruway cloverleaf exchange at or near Barry and Mamaroneck Avenues.

The protest, made on the basis of children’s safety, calls on the Thruway Authority to reconsider the necessity for entrances and exits at that point and asks that the advertising for bids for the cloverleaf be held up until alternate routes for access roads to the thruway can be discussed.

The Board, claiming that the proposed cloverleaf would entail serious hazards for pupils of the Mamaroneck Avenue and Barry Avenue schools, also stated they would be glad to set aside time for discussion of the problem with Thruway authorities.

Committee Reports

The action was taken after board members Robert E. White, Mrs. Edward P. Helwig and Cecil W. Borton, a committee appointed at the September 14 meeting, reported that it was their understanding that invitation for bids would be issued in December, the bids would be opened in January, and the work on the cloverleaf started soon after.

The interchange would include eight separate crossings, each of which would have to be crossed by some children on the way to school.

“As far as traffic is concerned,” Mr. White said, “it appears to be the best solution, but are we dealing with safety.”

He also stated that “Mamaroneck Village has a big stake in this,” indicating that the village fathers might go along with a protest.

The village,” it was figured by Robert J. King of 210 Warren Avenue, President of the Mamaroneck Heights Association, “would stand to lose about $200,000 in assessed valuation, plus the devaluation nearby properties.”

Protest Letters Sent

Mr. King stated that the Harbor Heights group had sent a letter to village officials protesting the interchange at that point.

Schools Superintendent T. James Ahern suggested that the protest to the Thruway Authority concern itself closely to the safety of children involved “rather than emphasizing real estate.”

Mrs. Helwig said that her impression after the conference with Mr. Briggs was that “it is awfully late to do anything.”

She also mentioned safety measures which might be considered if the interchange is constructed, such as overpasses for the children, which she said would be difficult, pushbutton traffic lights at the entrances and exits to the cloverleaf, a mall down the center of Mamaroneck Avenue which would be used by children, or extra police protection which would add to the responsibilities of the Police Department.

It was finally decided to launch the protest on the basis of “serious hazards for children” and to request that action on advertising bids be deferred until “alternate routes for access roads can be discussed” and until the members of the Board and Thruway officials confer.

A copy of the protest will be sent to the Village of Mamaroneck together with a covering letter in which the loss in assessed valuation and the devaluation of other properties nearby will be called to the Village Board’s attention.

Other copies of the protest, requesting support, will be sent to the Town of Mamaroneck, State Assemblyman Hunter Meighan and State Senator Frank S. McCullough.