Dec 16: Talk about the intersection of Washington, Atlantic and Underhill

whynot_31 · December 2014

NYCDOT will be presenting a refined safety proposal for the intersection of Atlantic/Washington/Underhill avenues at a joint Community Board 2 and 8 Transportation Committee meeting on

Tuesday, December 16th, at 6 PM, at the Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation, 727 Classon Ave. Bet. Park & Prospect Pls.

Both CB2 and CB8 are working with NYCDOT to push for safety changes. These meetings are open to the public and you are encouraged to attend if you can. Please understand that the committees are formal meetings with protocols regarding community participation so respect the protocols.

In addition, send an email of support for immediate changes.

[email protected]
[email protected]

Source: https://www.facebook.com/MakeBrooklynSafer/posts/672476499518014

pheightsresident · December 2014

Thanks for sharing! I'll certainly try to attend. That intersection is a death-trap waiting to happen; even when you have the light, you never know whether speeding drivers are turning onto Washington and Underhill (although, to be fair, the way some of those turns are made, I'm convinced that they sometimes don't know either). The total stretch of open crossing pavement for pedetrians is simply too much.I honestly would have no problem banning left turns onto either or both Washington or Underhill from Atlantic. Right turns aren't as much of a problem, at least in my perspective from a safety angle, so I'm not so concerned about those.

whynot_31 · December 2014

Bump.

http://phndc.org/events/dot-presentation-atlantic-avenuewashington-avenue-intersection

pheightsresident · December 2014

Just to update the readership: a very well attended joint CB8 and CB2 meeting was held last night on this intersection. DOT presented a proposal that will hopefully lead to increased pedestrian safety. Among the items proposed:

1) banning left turn onto Atlantic from Washington (driving southbound toward Eastern Parkway);

2) adding crosswalk to green space/triangle near the car wash on Washington and Atlantic so that people may approach Atlantic/Washington (north bound) from two different angles;

3) extending the sidewalk/medians at the Lowery Triangle and median closest to storage mark on Atlantic at Washington and banning the turns completely westbound turns from Atlantic and southbound slight right turns from Washington onto Underhill;

4) adding a delayed crossing period for pedestrians crossing Atlantic Avenue closest to storage mart;

5) increasing the amount of time that pedestrians have to cross Atlantic Avenue at all times of the day.

CB8 (and presumably CB2 . . . I went to the CB8 breakout group so don't know how CB2 actually voted, though they seemed to be on board as well) voted to advance the recommendations and send to the full board for approval, which DOT is serious about implementing, with recommendations to look into closing the southbound entrance to Underhill completely, among other recommendations that I can't recall at the moment.

Timeline: basically, assuming approval from CB8 and CB2 (DOT made clear that its not moving on these issues, or at least not as quickly, if the boards don't approve, which makes sense), DOT can immediately move on those aspects of plans that don't involve expanding medians and sidewalks (concrete and winter don't mix) this winter, while a mid-March to early April date for the other components of the plan can be expected. If anyone else who was there wants to chime in to either correct or add to anything I've written, please feel free to do so.

whynot_31 · December 2014

I like the idea of closing the southbound entrance to Underhill completely.

That could effectively make the little park larger.

pheightsresident · December 2014

I have mixed feelings about that one. For the reason you mentioned (and other reasons, such as increasing pedestrian safety, etc.) closing the southbound entrance to Underhill would be a positive thing in my book. On the flip side, however, I'm concerned about the traffic backups we could see as a result as vehicles try to use Underhill/Pacific to get onto the block in question to park (for residents) or to park/utilize the storage facility. Pacific between Underhill and Washington is already a narrow block where no more than 3 cars can fit while waiting for the light. In any event (and while this proposal wasn't necessarily welcomed by DOT for the reason I outlined . . . though they didn't shoot it down completely either), I wouldn't be terribly upset if they did close off that entrance to the street to vehicles.

whynot_31 · December 2014

Rachel provides some graphics:

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20141217/prospect-heights/pedestrian-safety-measures-proposed-for-dangerous-atlantic-avenue-crossing

whynot_31 · April 2015

The Atlantic-Underhill-Washington intersection is the focus of a NYT article to be "print published" on Sunday: http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/04/26/magazine/how-do-we-protect-new-york-citys-pedestrians.html?referrer=&_r=0

pheightsresident · May 2015

Seeing how drivers are ignoring the "no left" on to Underhill from Atlantic and "no right" onto Underhill from Washington, I'd have no problem closing that entrance completely. They have a sign for the Washington folks, but, honestly, its not clearly placed to me, which could be part of the problem. Still, even when they had the NYPD out there introducing people to the changes, I'd see drivers blatantly disregard instructions from the NYPD not to go down that road against the law.

The other changes are rather nice, though, especially the sidewalk extensions.

whynot_31 · May 2015

It should be interesting to see if that little section becomes part it the park.

I think it would be an excellent citibike location.

whynot_31 · June 2015

The stretch of Atlantic from Flatbush to Utica seems to be getting a lot of attention from the various advocacy groups.

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20150602/bed-stuy/friday-night-lights-event-raise-awareness-of-safety-on-atlantic-avenue

Seems like a good place for speed and red light cameras

whynot_31 · August 2015

Improvements now made: http://www.amny.com/transit/vision-zero-prospect-heights-intersection-gets-a-makeover-1.10770573#/transit/vision-zero-prospect-heights-intersection-gets-a-makeover-1.10770573

pheightsresident · August 2015

While I welcome the changes, I caution people against having a false sense of security, especially as they cross sections of the intersection(s) where turns from certain directions are supposedly banned. For instance, vehicular traffic (either drivers don't know, which I find hard to believe given how far they extended the island and the sign stating no such turn is allowed) southbound from Washington far too frequently makes speedy, dangerous, and illegal turns onto Underhill (I've seen several close calls recently). Until enforcement efforts are stepped up in that area (or the entrance to Underhill from Atlantic is closed completely), I urge pedestrians to exercise extreme caution when crossing there.

pheightsresident · August 2015

Double post.

whynot_31 · August 2015

It appears the car wash on the SE corner of Washington and Atlantic is now closed, which makes the area less congested.

...which leads to increased vehicle speed (bad) and increased visiblity (good).

pheightsresident · August 2015

The car wash was/is open today for business it seems. I've noticed that they are sometimes closed for days on end, unexplained, and then reopen for business. I await this place's closing for good.

whynot_31 · August 2015

That is odd.

I expect car washes only to be closed when it rains.

ltjbukem · December 2015

the intersection is a total fail. cars still make illegal turns daily. traffic cops, when there, don't ticket.

pheightsresident · December 2015

I agree. They need to close the southbound entrance onto Underhill as drivers are disregarding (and dangerously so) the prohibited turns onto that street.

Dec 16: Talk about the intersection of Washington, Atlantic and Underhill

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