The Need
The Babylon Turnpike Safety Improvement Project is an important opportunity to address a major mobility chokepoint in Nassau County. From Lakeview Avenue to Smith Street, Babylon Turnpike is one of the few crossings of the Meadowbrook Parkway, serving as a critical corridor for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike.
Currently, the project scope does not include any improvements for people on bikes, nor does it even mention cyclists. This omission overlooks a key need in the community: safe and reliable cycling connections across the parkway. The most practical and cost-effective solution would be to widen the south sidewalk into a multi-use pathway. Doing so would create a safe, separated space for both pedestrians and cyclists without reducing roadway capacity for cars. The project has just been moved into the design phase so now is a critical time for advocacy.
By incorporating this simple but impactful change, the project would ensure that all drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists can navigate this corridor safely and efficiently.
The Route
The stretch of Babylon Turnpike from Lakeview Avenue to Smith Street is just 2,500 feet long, but it plays an outsized role in Nassau County’s transportation network. It provides one of the only east–west crossings of the Meadowbrook Parkway and serves as a key parallel route to Sunrise Highway, where cycling is far more dangerous and traffic congestion is far greater. For cyclists, this makes Babylon Turnpike an indispensable connection between Lakeview, Freeport, and Roosevelt.
Ideally, the route should be completely separated from vehicle traffic by utilizing the existing sidewalk space. By widening the south sidewalk into a multi-use pathway, the corridor could safely accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists. Keeping the pathway exclusively on the south side would also minimize conflicts with the Meadowbrook Parkway entrance and exit ramps.
While the short segment over the Meadowbrook is heavily constrained and unsafe in its current form, the approaches at Lakeview Avenue and Smith Street are calm, neighborhood-scaled streets that do not require additional infrastructure improvements. By addressing this single gap with a separated multi-use path, the county can deliver a continuous, protected corridor that meaningfully improves safety for cyclists and pedestrians alike.
The Funds
This project is already funded through county capital bonds and is moving forward, which makes it essential that cycling infrastructure be included now. Once construction begins, the opportunity to address this chokepoint may not come again for decades, so adding a multi-use pathway at this stage is the most effective and cost-efficient way to ensure the corridor serves all users safely.
Who to Contact
Residents can help ensure cyclists are included in the Babylon Turnpike project by voicing support to local leaders. This area falls within two districts, Legislator Debra Mulè and Legislator Seth Koslow. You can also contact the Nassau County Department of Public Works, your County Legislator, and the Village of Freeport to request that cycling infrastructure be added to the project scope. Emphasize that a multi-use pathway along the south sidewalk would improve safety for all users without impacting traffic flow. Community feedback is a powerful tool, the more residents speak up, the more likely cycling improvements will be included in the final design.
Dear [Official Name],
I am writing to urge you to include safe cycling infrastructure in the Babylon Turnpike Safety Improvement Project between Lakeview Avenue and Smith Street. This 2,500-foot segment is one of the few east–west crossings of the Meadowbrook Parkway and is a critical corridor for cyclists, acting as a safer alternative to Sunrise Highway.
Adding a multi-use pathway on the south sidewalk would provide a protected space for both cyclists and pedestrians without affecting traffic flow. The project is already funded and moving forward, so now is the time to ensure it serves all users safely.
Thank you for your attention to this important issue.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Town]