Eastern Parkway Median Announcement - Bloomberg comes to PH!

Here's the press release:

CLICK HERE FOR LINK

I was disappointed to see that construction will not start until the fall of 2007 - 2 years from now - and will not be completed until 2009.

MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND CONGRESSMAN OWENS ANNOUNCE THE RECONSTRUCTION OF EASTERN PARKWAY BETWEEN WASHINGTON AVENUE AND GRAND ARMY PLAZA

$5.9 Million Project to Improve Pedestrian Safety and add Landscaping, Lighting, and Benches

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Congressman Major R. Owens today joined Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall, Prospect Park Alliance President Tupper Thomas and Robert Witherwax of the Eastern Parkway Cultural Row Neighborhood to announce a $5.9 million reconstruction of Brooklyn's Eastern Parkway, between Washington Avenue and Grand Army Plaza. The reconstruction plan, developed with the Prospect Park Alliance, will restore Frederick Law Olmsted's and Calvert Vaux's vision of a beautifully landscaped median along the Parkway and Prospect Park that affords vistas of Grand Army Plaza.

"The reconstruction of this important stretch of Eastern Parkway will make it significantly safer for pedestrians and motorists and more attractive for residents and visitors alike," said Mayor Bloomberg. "After years of discussion and planning, funding is now in place to begin the process of narrowing some of the roadway and creating a more spacious, beautiful and accessible pedestrian space. I want to especially thank Congressman Major Owens and Tupper Thomas for their commitment and dedication to this important project."

"The proposed renovation will improve the safety and accessibility for pedestrians and bicyclists to three of the most magnificent institutions in Brooklyn: the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and Brooklyn Public's Central Library," said Congressman Owens. "Supporting pedestrian and vehicular safety is crucial for these institutions that are witnessing a renaissance in Brooklyn."

The reconstruction plan is the product of over five years of discussions between the Prospect Park Alliance and the community, and will return approximately 1,700 linear feet of landscaped median to public use to make the area safer for pedestrians. The project is being funded with $4 million from the Mayor's Executive Budget and $1.9 million dollars of federal transportation funds allocated by Congressman Owens. It is scheduled to begin in fall 2007 and will be completed in 2009. New street trees, lighting, signage and benches will be installed to the medians and Parkway. The median runs past Brooklyn's major cultural institutions, the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Brooklyn Public Library, and was narrowed and partially removed years ago.

The Prospect Park Alliance is currently working with the DOT on a number of modifications to the traffic flow on Eastern Parkway and its cross streets to improve pedestrian, vehicle and bicycle safety. Currently, this section of Eastern Parkway consists of two wide roadways (a service road and a main road). When the reconstruction is completed the service road will be narrowed and the pedestrian mall widened to make the Parkway more pedestrian friendly and to reduce speeds on the service road. On the main road, traffic moving in opposing directions will be more significantly separated by removing a lane for westbound traffic. At Washington Avenue, the slip ramp between the main road and service road will be removed and replaced with an extended mall, slowing traffic and greatly enhancing the pedestrian connection between the adjacent neighborhoods and the Brooklyn Museum. Finally, a key feature of the plan is the connection between the existing bicycle path on the Parkway east of Washington Avenue and Grand Army Plaza and Prospect Park.

"Not only was Eastern Parkway the country's first parkway, it was also one of America's first greenways, opening up a grand new thoroughfare for recreation in Brooklyn," said Commissioner Benepe. "Olmsted's and Vaux's design for the parkway, like so much of their work, laid the foundation for the development of parks and green thoroughfares in cities across the country and around the world."

"After working together with the community we now have the funding necessary to get started on the transformation of Eastern Parkway," said Commissioner Weinshall. "This project will dramatically improve conditions for all of the Parkway's users by expanding pedestrian space, calming traffic, and filling a key gap in the City's growing network of walking and cycling trails and paths."

"This part of Eastern Parkway is the front door to the Brooklyn Museum, Botanic Garden, Public Library and Prospect Park," said Prospect Park Alliance President Tupper Thomas. "We are so pleased that a restored Eastern Parkway will enhance the visitors experience to these great institutions."

"The project was initiated by residents of Eastern Parkway who were concerned about the deterioration of the median and the dangerous traffic flow," explains Robert Witherwax of the Eastern Parkway Cultural Row Neighborhood Association. "The Prospect Park Alliance partnered closely with us in the design process, and the community lobbied year after year for funding. This is a wonderful example of how neighbors can come together to make their little part of the City better."

Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux are heralded as the creators of America's most celebrated parks, including Brooklyn's Prospect Park and Manhattan's Central Park. Less well known is that the two men also designed Brooklyn's Eastern Parkway, constructed between 1870 and 1874, which is considered America's first parkway. The term parkway was coined by Olmsted and Vaux to describe the landscaped road for "pleasure-riding and driving" they designed to provide scenic access to Prospect Park. Eastern Parkway was designated a National Scenic Landmark in 1978 by the United States Secretary of the Interior.

Some of Eastern Parkway's lesser-known features are bronze plaques set in the sidewalk to memorialize Brooklyn residents who died in WWI. The plaques, placed at the foot of trees planted after the war, are today nearly illegible due to years of foot traffic, past sidewalk repairs and grime. The plaques will be restored and reset as part of the reconstruction plan.

The Prospect Park Alliance, in partnership with the City of New York and the community, restores, develops, and operates the Park for the enjoyment of all New Yorkers. The Alliance is dedicated to serving visitors through its facilities and programs, caring for the Park's natural environment, and preserving its historic design. Prospect Park's 585 acres of meadows, waterfalls, forest, lakes, and athletic facilities comprise a masterwork of urban green space.

So you're saying that it might be even longer before this thing gets going? I'm glad to see that this is going to happen but we're already talking about an 09 completion date which is 4 years out. I'm all for planning for the long term but I wonder how many of us will be here to enjoy this if it gets pushed out too much further.

raulism wrote: Very interesting that a project that isn't scheduled to start unti "2007" was announced just three weeks before an election.

Quite true. But they are saying that "construction" starts in 2007. However, there does need to be time for the actual design of the project, as well as and pre-construction activities (bidding and awarding of contracts, etc.). A year for that is not entirely unlikely.

But I do agree, the timing of the announcement is a bit suspect. I guess those are the benefits of being Mayor.

Some of Eastern Parkway's lesser-known features are bronze plaques set in the sidewalk to memorialize Brooklyn residents who died in WWI. The plaques, placed at the foot of trees planted after the war, are today nearly illegible due to years of foot traffic, past sidewalk repairs and grime. The plaques will be restored and reset as part of the reconstruction plan.

These are cool. Has everyone seen these? They need to be Flickred. They were featured in a photo exhibit at Brooklyn Museum about 2 years ago called "Histree Forgotten." Unfortunately, the exhibit itself seems to have been forgotten and there's almost nothing on it in Google.

These are cool. Has everyone seen these? They need to be Flickred. They were featured in a photo exhibit at Brooklyn Museum about 2 years ago called "Histree Forgotten." Unfortunately, the exhibit itself seems to have been forgotten and there's almost nothing on it in Google.

The forgotten exhibition was titled "Open House: Working in Brooklyn" and the artist was Ezra Shales.

Subject: Pedestrian Safety

For an interesting blog post on the hazards of being a pedestrian on Eastern Parkway and also the Flatbush/G.A.P. crossing, see:
http://www.naparstek.com/
According to Aaron, the new project will not be adding any bollards or other measures to protect pedestrians from traffic.

I couldn't help but google this ancient thread (October 2005!) and bump it

A quick read indicated that this project was originally supposed to start in 2007 and be finished in 2009, and cost $5.9 million....

NOW, as per the attached link, the project was started in the Fall of 2010 and is expected to end in the Fall of 2012, and cost $18.6 million!

Note: I am DELIGHTED that the project is finally underway; I am not complaining. I'm somewhat amazed at how long it is taking and how much more it is now expected to cost.

From Rob Witherwax (Coordinator, Grand Army Plaza Coalition):

Dear neighbors and interested parties,

Please see the attached document regarding upcoming work on the Eastern Parkway Median project. Note especially that there is a designated Community Construction Liaison, with an office at 250 Flatbush Ave and a phone number (347 457 5362) if you have any questions.

Please also see the below link for some general information from DDC about the scope of the project.

http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/12186131/819811749/name/HWKC1019.pdf

PLEASE post in your buildings, and forward to as many neighbors as possible, and as always, feel free to pass your questions on to me, and to the Community Board.

All the best,

Rob Witherwax

2nd Vice Chair, Community Board 8

Coordinator, Grand Army Plaza Coalition

With all due respect, the 2/3 was under the median in 2005, when this this was orignally funded. That said, have the following to add:

1. The weekend train work is un-related to this project, or AY. I am told it is routine track maintainence.

2. The DOT has rented an office on Flatbush from which they will oversee this project

3. The DOT will begin digging "exploratory holes" this week.

4. We are supposed to get a new median, better pedestrian crossing at Washington and EP, and an extension of the median all the way to GAP St out of this deal.

5. Also trees and benches

The delay and increase in costs should not surprise you. What should surprise you, shock you, is if you ever see a city project completed on time and within budget projections.

I guess you are right.

...but I'm still pleased that they are choosing to do this project even though they now know it will cost waaaay more than they originally thought.

Maybe they are going to pave the new median with gold....

Maybe I need to get into the construction business....

Bkchickie-

I don't doubt you.

but wonder if securing federal and local funds back in 2005 was done purposely without knowing what the full cost of the project would be.

The whole "we have used all of the money you allotted, but were only able to complete the bridge over the river halfway. You'll have to give us more money to finish the job" routine.

....it's hard to stop a project that already has fans and inertia.

Today's brownstoner has more on the median project:

http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2011/02/visions_of_a_re.php#comments

Sounds like it will be nice!

....and , heck, it will be nice to be the beneficiary of some government cost over runs!

What I don't understand about this project is why put a pedestrian area in the middle of EP? The street is not so wide that even parents with small kids can get from the north median to the south side of the street (by the library) without having to stop. Why encourage people to jaywalk by putting a space to stand in the middle of the street?

There are already painted off 'medians' on EP wherever there isn't a turn lane, so I don't think that you can argue that this is additional encouragement to jaywalk. It may, however, give drivers less of a sense that they're on the freeway.