Growth in traffic congestion along Route 27 (Sunrise Highway), Montauk Highway, and County Route 39 has led the Southampton town board to unanimously pass a resolution earlier this month asking the State DOT to try to solve the area's transportation woes.

Referring to state proposals for a highway bypass diverting traffic away from South Fork, Southampton Town Supervisor Vincent J. Cannuscio told the NY Times, "The cry now is that if we had listened to the Department of Transportation in 1972 we wouldn't be having the problems we have today." The 1972 plan was met with emphatic opposition by east enders.

But because of the public outcries the last time DOT came to town, the agency is insisting on a "grassroots" effort and broad regional agreement. This might create problems for Southampton, because East Hampton has stated that it will not support any road widenings, traffic lights, or bypasses. East Hampton Town Supervisor told the Times that Southampton had allowed commercial development along traffic-clogged roads that exacerbated the traffic problem, while East Hampton had limited commercial development.