HUNTINGTON STATION, NY – April 7, 2026
Residents gathered Tuesday evening at the Huntington Community First Aid Squad for a public information session hosted by the Town of Huntington, offering updates on the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) streetscape improvements planned for New York Avenue and surrounding areas. The meeting focused on one of several DRI-funded projects aimed at revitalizing Huntington Station, with officials outlining design plans, construction timelines, and the broader vision for the corridor.
A Project Years in the Making
Huntington Deputy Supervisor John McCarron opened the session by emphasizing that the project is part of a larger, multi-year effort involving local, county, and state partners. “This is sort of a continuation of the prior meetings for the downtown revitalization,” McCarron said, noting that the streetscape improvements represent one piece of a broader redevelopment strategy.
Huntington Station was awarded $10 million through New York State’s DRI program in 2023, with approximately $4.6 million allocated specifically for streetscape upgrades along New York Avenue. Officials credited the ongoing sewer infrastructure project as a critical foundation for future development. “A lot of people don’t realize that development and redevelopment is mostly controlled by Suffolk County Health Department and your sewage and where that goes,” McCarron explained. “When you flush your toilet, it doesn’t just disappear, it goes all the way to Bergen Point.”
What the Streetscape Improvements Include
Project Engineer Tom Schaefer of D&B Engineers and Architects presented plans for improvements along the corridor from Depot Road to 11th Street.
Key elements include:
New sidewalks and driveway aprons
Decorative street lighting
Upgraded crosswalks using thermoplastic materials
Curb extensions, also known as bump-outs, at intersections
The goal is to improve pedestrian safety while creating a more cohesive and visually appealing downtown. “These treatments reduce crossing times for pedestrians and also have a tendency to slow down traffic,” one engineer explained while describing the curb extensions.
The design aims to mirror existing streetscape features already installed closer to the train station, helping create a more unified look throughout the area.
Timing Driven by Sewer and State Paving Schedule
One of the most important takeaways from the meeting was the tight timeline tied to multiple overlapping infrastructure projects. Sewer work along New York Avenue is expected to wrap up by the end of June 2026. Streetscape construction is planned to begin shortly after in July, followed by New York State paving work scheduled between August and November.
“If they pave, we can’t touch the street for five years,” officials explained, underscoring the urgency of completing improvements within a narrow window. Additional elements such as sidewalks and lighting are expected to continue into 2027.
Safety, Traffic, and Design Tradeoffs
Much of the discussion centered on balancing safety improvements with existing constraints, particularly the limited width of New York Avenue. Officials noted that features like curb extensions and textured crosswalks are intended to naturally slow traffic and improve visibility for pedestrians.
“If you want to slow traffic, the first thing you do is you narrow lanes,” one official explained, describing how visual cues can influence driver behavior.
However, not all ideas could be implemented. Requests for bike lanes and expanded roadway configurations were discussed, but officials said those changes would require eliminating parking or widening the road, which is not feasible given existing buildings and state control of the roadway. “We can’t make it any wider,” McCarron said, referencing the physical constraints of the corridor.
Resident Concerns Raised
Residents used the session to voice concerns about safety, traffic speeds, and accessibility. Matt Harris pointed to a history of serious incidents along the corridor and raised concerns about the lack of dedicated infrastructure for cyclists, particularly for residents who rely on bicycles for transportation.
Others questioned drainage, flood control, and long-term maintenance of materials being used in the project. Town officials acknowledged these concerns and emphasized that the current plan represents a compromise shaped by engineering requirements, state regulations, and community input gathered over several years.
Facade Improvement Grants Announced
In addition to the streetscape project, Elissa Kyle from Vision Long Island highlighted a separate $600,000 facade improvement program available to businesses and property owners within the DRI zone. The competitive grant program will cover up to 80 percent of costs for exterior upgrades such as signage, siding, and building improvements. Applications are now open and due by June 5.
Looking Ahead
Town officials stressed that the project is part of a larger vision to transform Huntington Station into a more walkable and economically active downtown. “We want to drive down here and say, I want to stop there and go into that shop, restaurant, or office building,” McCarron said.
With construction expected to begin this summer, residents were encouraged to continue participating in future meetings and stay informed as the project progresses.
Photography by Dana E. Richter, Diane Schaber and June Margolin. Videography by Dana E. Richter.
