Tri-State, AARP New York, the Courtney Sipes Memorial Foundation, Vision Long Island, and the Smithtown Chamber of Commerce will hold two public forums to discuss pedestrian safety along Smithtown’s Main Street on Friday, March 23.

Calls for a safer Main Street in Smithtown came after a series of tragic pedestrian fatalities in recent years, and momentum for a safer downtown has grown as Route 25/25A has risen in the rankings as one of Suffolk County’s most dangerous roads.

While previous road modifications did not do enough to make the stretch safer, the state now plans to implement a “road diet” by removing one westbound lane in April.

Local advocates say that much more needs to be done, pointing to a recent report, which suggests that Main Street could be made even safer through roundabouts, traffic circles and a raised median.

“It can’t end with the [road narrowing] because there’s a lot more…that must be addressed,” Greater Smithtown Chamber of Commerce president Mark Mancini told Newsday.

The coalition will hold two sessions on the 23rd, one from 1-3pm, and one from 7-9pm. Both will take place at the Smithtown Historical Society’s Brush Barn, 211 East Main Street (Route 25), Smithtown, NY 11787.

To register for either session, visit the AARP’s event registration page.