County agrees to East Lake Boulevard traffic study 

Safety is our number one priority. We're going to start with this road,”

Councilman Mike Lugo

Putnam County has agreed to conduct a traffic study on East Lake Boulevard in Mahopac next summer, a step toward potentially lowering the speed limit along the busy lakefront corridor from 30 to 25 mph. 

Carmel Councilman Rob Kearns announced the county's decision at the Town Board's Oct. 7 meeting, just eight days after the board unanimously approved a resolution requesting the study and a reduction in the speed limit. 

Kearns said the study will be conducted between Memorial Day and Labor Day in 2027, when traffic along East Lake Boulevard, also known as County Route 72, is typically at its busiest. 

"Dead in the middle of the summer, which that's exactly what we wanted," Kearns said of when the study will be implemented. 

He said the county will pay for the study using funds available through its Planning Department. 

"We went to the meeting, they agreed to do the study," Kearns said. "They're going to be paying for the study, and we're excited to see what the results are." 

The announcement follows months of complaints from residents about speeding, traffic congestion, parking problems and pedestrian safety along East Lake Boulevard, particularly the section between Route 6 and North Lake Boulevard. 

Because East Lake Boulevard is a county road, the town does not have the authority to unilaterally reduce its speed limit. 

At its Sept. 29 meeting, the Town Board approved a resolution asking Putnam County to establish a maximum speed limit of 25 mph along the roadway. At the county's request, the board amended the resolution to formally call for the traffic study. 

At the Oct. 7 meeting, Kearns said the county's agreement represents progress toward addressing residents' concerns while balancing the needs of businesses along the roadway. 

"We're all working together to come to a solution to keep everyone safe and to make sure it doesn't compromise any of the established businesses on that road," he said. 

The issue has been under discussion for several years. At the Sept. 29 meeting, Lugo said the town had been seeking county action since at least 2022. 

"This is something that has been sitting on the desk of the county and also the Traffic Safety Board since 2022," Lugo said, noting that Supervisor Mike Cazzari had previously sent letters requesting a lower speed limit. 

Residents have also been pressing for improvements. 

In May, Laura and Matthew Spallino presented the Town Board with a petition bearing 75 signatures calling attention to worsening traffic and parking conditions. They described speeding vehicles, motorists crossing the double-yellow line to maneuver around parked cars and dangers faced by pedestrians along a roadway with limited sidewalks and crosswalks. 

The corridor includes Friends Waterfront Bar & Grill, the Mahopac VFW, St. John's Church and residential properties. The CVS near the Route 6 intersection also generates considerable traffic. 

At the Sept. 29 meeting, Lugo emphasized that reducing vehicle speeds, even by a relatively small amount, can help lessen the severity of crashes. 

"Safety is our number one priority," he said. "We're going to start with this road in particular." 

The county's agreement to fund and conduct the study moves the effort forward, although any decision to lower the speed limit will still require further action by county officials.