Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning Amityville Active Transportation Study

GPI supported the Village in this trailblazing initiative by developing its first Active Transportation Study, an effort still regarded as groundbreaking on Long Island, where most communities continue to be shaped by auto-oriented roadway design. The project emphasized the mobility needs of vulnerable road users, most notably pedestrians and cyclists, and responded to longstanding community concerns about safety and accessibility.

The study was driven in large part by conditions along Broadway (NY State Route 110), a major north-south thoroughfare cutting through the heart of Amityville’s downtown, where roadway width and high traffic speeds consistently raised safety concerns for non-motorized users. It produced practicable and implementation-focused recommendations to enhance walkability and bikeability throughout the downtown, with conceptual designs for roadway treatments along Broadway and other streets, while laying the foundation for a broader active transportation network.

The GPI team led the effort by preparing an existing conditions report to establish and analyze socio-economic and land use baselines, while also designing and leading a robust community engagement process. This engagement involved public meetings, walk audits, and workshops with community stakeholders, including residents, decision-makers, and business representatives. To maintain transparency and dialogue, the team developed and managed a project website with an online engagement tool and visualizations of proposed design concepts, as well as several “AmityWalks” social media accounts to keep the community informed and engaged. Through these efforts, GPI produced the study that now positions the Village to secure funding and move toward the implementation of active transportation improvements.