Highlighting Straight Path in the town of Wyandanch - where three pedestrians in the past two years were killed - the groups called for a state fund that towns and counties could apply to for pedestrian safety project money.

NY State traffic fatality reports show that between 1990 and 1997, pedestrian deaths were over 25% of Nassau County traffic fatalities, and pedestrian deaths were more than 20% of all Suffolk county traffic fatalities. Suffolk County consistently ranks #1 in total traffic deaths in New York State.

Although NY State DOT's Long Island office has begun a variety of pedestrian and bicycling projects and initiatives, many of the projects do not address the worst pedestrian danger spots on the Island. An analysis by the Tri-State Campaign found that nearly all of the work specifically categorized as "safety" projects in DOT's Transportation Improvement Program address motorist safety or highway-railroad crossings.