Senator Reichlin-Melnick Champions Improvements to Route 303 in Orangetown

ROCKLAND, NY - Legislation sponsored by Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick (D-Rockland/Westchester) to make Route 303 in Orangetown safer has passed the New York Senate. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to conduct a comprehensive study to evaluate how to improve the outdated and dangerous stretch of road.

“This bill is long overdue,” said Senator Reichlin-Melnick. “Route 303 was built more than 80 years ago, and while Orangetown has seen major population growth since then, there have been few significant improvements on this roadway. With more warehouses and light industry coming to the 303 corridor, the time is now for the Department of Transportation to prioritize improvements so that people in Orangetown have a safe path from their homes and their work.”

Orangetown Supervisor Teresa Kenny said, "The volume of truck traffic, speeding and distracted drivers has made Route 303 extremely dangerous to both drivers and pedestrians. Last November, my 18-year-old niece was in a terrible car accident on Route 303 in Blauvelt caused by an oncoming vehicle crossing three lanes of traffic and hitting her head on. I want to thank Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick for listening to my concerns and getting Senate Bill S8930, asking New York State to conduct a comprehensive safety study of the Route 303 Corridor, passed today. Orangetown residents need this study so that improvements can be made to make Route 303 a safer road for all of us to travel."

S8930 passed the Senate on a unanimous vote on June 1, 2022.