New One-Way Streets In Monsey

By Idy Perl

Spring Valley residents are very familiar with the bumper-to-bumper traffic that piles up every morning and afternoon during the school year. Buses and cars are forced to fight for space on the road, especially on some of the narrower streets in Spring Valley.

Two of the most problematic streets are North Cole and Collins Avenue, which are right off Maple Avenue. Both streets are very narrow, and even though parking is allowed on only one side of the street, there is still standstill traffic every morning.

Village officials met to come up with a solution to ease traffic on those streets without negatively impacting the residents living there. They also looked for a cost-effective solution that can be implemented for the new school year.

Therefore, village officials have decided to make both Collins Avenue and North Cole Avenue a one-way street only for buses and trucks. Buses will be able to go down North Cole Ave from Church Street to Maple Ave, and down Collins Ave from Maple Ave to Church Street. This way buses turning onto Maple Avenue can easily turn right or left at the 4-way stop by the North Cole and Maple Avenue intersection.

The one-way streets will be a 6-month trial at first and will go into effect at the start of the new school year.

“Doing nothing wasn’t an option,” Sruly Eisenbach, Village Deputy Mayor tells Rockland Daily. “We had to try something to see if it can work. We’re hoping it’ll help ease traffic and are open to hear feedback and to implement changes as needed.”

The new laws will be enforced with street signs and there will be a police presence at the start of the school year to ensure that all buses are following directions. An email with the relevant information has been sent to the bus managers for all Spring Valley schools so that they’re aware and can make changes to their bus routes accordingly.