Nassau County, NY — Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra are calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to immediately reopen, fully staff, and modernize the former New York State Police Trooper station located along the Southern State Parkway in Valley Stream following a series of recent fatal and serious crashes in the area.

In a joint letter sent to the Governor, the lawmakers urged immediate action to restore a permanent and visible State Police presence along one of Long Island’s busiest and most heavily traveled roadways.

The station, which operated for 38 years before closing on May 1, 2018, served as a critical public safety asset for motorists traveling the Southern State Parkway. Since its closure, concerns have steadily increased regarding speeding, reckless driving, impaired driving, and delayed emergency response times along the corridor.

Crashes along this stretch of roadway have risen in recent years, concerns that have been brought into even sharper focus by a series of recent serious and fatal accidents near the site of the former Trooper station. Recent incidents include a devastating multi-vehicle crash that claimed the lives of two individuals and injured several others, as well as another major three-vehicle accident involving an overturned pickup truck and an arrest for driving while intoxicated.

“These tragedies are heartbreaking and deeply troubling,” said Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick. “They highlight the urgent need to restore a strong and visible State Police presence along this critical stretch of roadway. Reopening and modernizing this station would strengthen public safety, improve emergency response times, and help prevent future tragedies.”

“This stretch of the Southern State Parkway needs a sweeping transformation and measures that prioritize driver safety above all else,” Leader Ra said. “The deadly and dangerous incidents can’t continue. Reopening this station, upgrading the facility, and ensuring our State Troopers have every tool at their disposal will be critical to prevent serious accidents before they happen and strengthen emergency response capabilities in the area,” said Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra

The pair emphasized that the effort is intended to support the New York State Police and provide Troopers with the infrastructure necessary to effectively patrol one of the region’s busiest roadways.

In their letter, they called on the Governor and state officials to immediately reopen and re-activate the State Trooper station in Valley Stream along the Southern State Parkway, ensure the facility is fully staffed with additional Troopers, and commit to a comprehensive modernization plan through either a full renovation of the existing station or the construction of a new state-of-the-art facility at the site, noting that restoring the station would provide a direct and meaningful improvement to roadway safety while reinforcing law enforcement presence along a critical corridor.

“This is a targeted public safety investment that will save lives, strengthen enforcement efforts, and restore confidence for the thousands of Long Islanders who travel the Southern State Parkway every day,” the lawmakers said.

Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and Leader Ra pledged to continue working with state and local officials, as well as law enforcement partners, to advance the proposal and improve safety along the Southern State Parkway.

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