This site is closed to new comments and posts.

Notice: This site uses cookies to function.
If you are not comfortable with cookies then please don't browse this website.

Proposed changes to Washington Avenue Traffic — Brooklynian

Proposed changes to Washington Avenue Traffic

capt. planet
capt. planet
edited November -1 in Crown Heights/Prospect Lefferts Gardens

I attended another very informative meeting today at the Hope City Empowerment Center at 650 Washington Avenue about proposed DOT changes to Washington Avenue.

The entire proposal can be found at

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/20110217_washington_atlantic_cb2_slides.pdf

A lot of changes proposed, including sidewalk extensions and neckdowns at Washington and Atlantic Avenue and Washington and Park Place. Also a bike lane for most of the length of Washington bet. Atlantic and EPW.

The Jerry, owner of Mayday Hardware had some very helpful suggestions as well.

Your next, and probably final, opportunity to weigh in on this proposal will be the community board 8 Transportation Committee meeting Tues. April 26, 7 PM at Haitian American Day Care Center, 1491 Bedford Avenue corner of St. John's Place.

Hope you all don't miss out. Big changes are coming!!

Comments

  • whyfi
    whyfi

    Thanks for posting - overall, I really like it. In particular, I think that plans for both of the target intersections (Atlantic and WA and Park Pl and WA) are great.

    I am almost certain that many will jump on this with anti-bicycling zeal, even though it is a small part of the grand scheme of traffic calming.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Capt, as usual, I thank you for attending these mtgs.

    You are doing good work and I am delighted at the ongoing progress this proposal is making.

    Although I likely won't attend the next mtg, I won't complain about what was decided without my input either.

    Keep up the good work

  • cool the kid
    cool the kid

    Interesting stuff

    I like the bike lane on Washington but I think they should take the approach they did on Kent Ave (i.e., sidewalk, bike lane, parked car, moving car, the reverse)

    That Washington/Atlantic corner is a doozie, didn't realize how crazy it was for pedestrians. Good stuff, PH is becoming PS without the pretense

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    CTK- I fear it is a matter of time before pretense arrives.

  • whyfi
    whyfi

    Cool The Kid said:

    I like the bike lane on Washington but I think they should take the approach they did on Kent Ave (i.e., sidewalk, bike lane, parked car, moving car, the reverse)

    I've only regularly ridden on two streets with the layout that you prefer - 2nd Ave and Grand St (both in Manhattan). I have to say that, in my experience, I find the layout to be a mixed bag, at best. 1) I think that the turning cars (ones that will be crossing bike lanes that travel in the same direction) are actually less aware of the presence of cyclists. 2) With all of the storefronts, delivery trucks tend to set up shop in the bike lanes - with the parked cars between you and an open lane, it's a pain in the ass.

  • cool the kid
    cool the kid

    Kent does benefit from have miles of road w/no buildings so maybe my comparison was unfair.

    Maybe a better example would be the bike lane on 1st Ave in the village. It's as I proposed but with a physical barrier between cars and the bike lane (a sidewalk island I believe). Block off spots as needed for deliveries at certain times in the day, should be good to go.

  • capt. planet
    capt. planet

    I love the PPW bike lane where the cars provide the barrier between cyclists and the street. It's a no cost solution that doesn't involve concrete barriers.

    We could replicate it on Washington Avenue as well. First bike lane, then parked cars and then traffic lane. Double parking cars in this scenario would jam up car traffic, not cyclists. An idea ahead of its time, but I believe it will happen eventually.

    Thanks to Peak Oil, cars are what we call a "self-limiting" disease. Give us another 10 years and $10 gas, and cars will be only for the wealthy!

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    On page 18, it displays how it will improve the Washington -Grand Ave split by creating a larger sidewalk and median.

    Currently, this is where the police officers park their cars. Will they simply park their cars on the new larger sidewalk?

    ...I'd be ok with giving them a large area of the on street parking around the detective station which was "parking for police officers only. Must display placard".

    Such a parking change would make the area much nicer looking and free up the sidewalks for, um, walking.

  • jazzomine
    jazzomine

    This is so exciting! What is the best way to show support for this plan? Are they still taking signatures on the petition? Should we be calling our local reps? Thanks for keeping everyone informed and representing.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    jazzomine-

    capt wrote: our next, and probably final, opportunity to weigh in on this proposal will be the community board 8 Transportation Committee meeting Tues. April 26, 7 PM at Haitian American Day Care Center, 1491 Bedford Avenue corner of St. John's Place.
  • homeowner
    homeowner

    whynot_31 said:

    On page 18, it displays how it will improve the Washington -Grand Ave split by creating a larger sidewalk and median.

    Currently, this is where the police officers park their cars. Will they simply park their cars on the new larger sidewalk?

    ...I'd be ok with giving them a large area of the on street parking around the detective station which was "parking for police officers only. Must display placard".

    Such a parking change would make the area much nicer looking and free up the sidewalks for, um, walking.

    If I had to guess, I'd say the cops will continue to do what they do with the new sidewalk configuration. I was tickled by the presentation, showing an officer's car parked on top of the painted triangle, and the rendering with the new beige walkway/seating area and the two planters. Now the cops will have nice planters to park in between...

    Because of the school on the other end of the block, I don't think you'll see more on street parking given to the police. I personally think that the head-in parking is a good compromise, although I wish the spots were drawn better.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    What if we the detectives head in parking for the whole block of Grand, between Park and Prospect?

    ...can the existing merchants association save those planters from the tragedy of the commons?

  • homeowner
    homeowner

    Dollars to donuts (no pun intended) DOT did not ask the cops what they needed in the way of parking when drawing up this plan, but yes, turning over most of that Grand Street to cop parking would probably be the best solution.

  • boygabriel
    boygabriel

    homeowner said:

    Dollars to donuts (no pun intended) DOT did not ask the cops what they needed in the way of parking when drawing up this plan, but yes, turning over most of that Grand Street to cop parking would probably be the best solution.

    Probably not accurate. DOT almost always consults with local departments.

    I know for a fact they sent agents out to stand in the street and work with the fire dept as the dept tested out various spacing and turns with their trucks.

Sign In or Register to comment.

Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In

Categories