Eastern Parkway Traffic Calming
FYI I sent this letter to Tish James last week. The more letters she gets the better. OR just call 311--if there are a lot of calls it really does make a difference.
thx,
Bay
March 4, 2009
Council Member Letitia James
District 35
New York City Council
ljames@...
Dear Councilperson James:
Many residents on my block on the service road of Eastern Parkway between
Washington and Underhill have long wanted a speed dump to deter drivers from
using the road as a shortcut or express route. This is long overdue.
Today I witnessed a pedestrian hit by a van on the road. Thankfully she was not
significantly injured, but as a driver I can tell you that at rush hour this
road is a minefield of jaywalking pedestrians trying to get to the Eastern
Parkway/Brooklyn Museum subway station by the shortest route. As a pedestrian I
can tell you that cars drive at top speed often not stopping at the light in
front of 135 Eastern Parkway which is rarely red for that matter.
As a parent of three children five years old or under who cross this service
road and the main parkway daily to get to school or to go to the playground
across the street I approach the road with panic. If this neighborhood is going
to continue to be family friendly—or human-friendly for that matter—we need a
speed bump as can be found on other streets in the neighborhood.
Two additional—but significant—concerns I have are:
1. Pedestrian walk signals need to be installed at the intersection of Eastern
Parkway and Washington. This is a significant intersection, where car accidents
occur regularly and pedestrians are regularly at risk. I understand there is
intent to put in a signal, but it needs to happen NOW.
2. In addition to cars speeding along the service road, they regularly speed
along the main parkway and regularly go through red lights. As is in place at
Grand Army Plaza, can we please install a camera that will detect cars that go
through red lights? Speed detector as well?
I know you share with me your desire to make this neighborhood conducive to
families so I hope that you can help get some of these traffic calming measures
implemented.
I thank you in advance for your efforts.
Best regards,
Bay
thx,
Bay
March 4, 2009
Council Member Letitia James
District 35
New York City Council
ljames@...
Dear Councilperson James:
Many residents on my block on the service road of Eastern Parkway between
Washington and Underhill have long wanted a speed dump to deter drivers from
using the road as a shortcut or express route. This is long overdue.
Today I witnessed a pedestrian hit by a van on the road. Thankfully she was not
significantly injured, but as a driver I can tell you that at rush hour this
road is a minefield of jaywalking pedestrians trying to get to the Eastern
Parkway/Brooklyn Museum subway station by the shortest route. As a pedestrian I
can tell you that cars drive at top speed often not stopping at the light in
front of 135 Eastern Parkway which is rarely red for that matter.
As a parent of three children five years old or under who cross this service
road and the main parkway daily to get to school or to go to the playground
across the street I approach the road with panic. If this neighborhood is going
to continue to be family friendly—or human-friendly for that matter—we need a
speed bump as can be found on other streets in the neighborhood.
Two additional—but significant—concerns I have are:
1. Pedestrian walk signals need to be installed at the intersection of Eastern
Parkway and Washington. This is a significant intersection, where car accidents
occur regularly and pedestrians are regularly at risk. I understand there is
intent to put in a signal, but it needs to happen NOW.
2. In addition to cars speeding along the service road, they regularly speed
along the main parkway and regularly go through red lights. As is in place at
Grand Army Plaza, can we please install a camera that will detect cars that go
through red lights? Speed detector as well?
I know you share with me your desire to make this neighborhood conducive to
families so I hope that you can help get some of these traffic calming measures
implemented.
I thank you in advance for your efforts.
Best regards,
Bay
Comments
-
the median rebuild was supposed to include some of these features.
-
yes, but we need these improvements now, not at increasingly far-out date. they are modest in contrast to the entire median strip project.
-
personally, I'd cobblestone the whole strip and ban parking.
This way emergency vehicles and taxis, people with their own cars who are picking up stuff could access it but no one would want to drive on it.
...and they especially wouldn't want to drive on it fast. -
I like that the google ads at right solve the problem....
http://www.speedbumpsdirect.co.uk/ (ok, wrong continent)
I wonder how long it would take the city to remove a "vigilante" speed bump (and a bump warning road sign). -
the press garnered from such stunts is always worth it.
...especially when you make sure the person who is interviewed is a mother.
"I helped them build this plywood speed bump because I was concerned about my children, who are in this stroller, eating Cheerios and goldfish. We love to go to the Garden and look at the turtles in the Japanese Garden"
Arches, you know we could build one in about an hour given my location. Metropolitan lumber delivers. -
It's a shame one of your extra rooms isn't an asphalt factory...the plywood might stand out as an amateur job.
After we're done, you can spend all summer waiting for the lamborgini to drive by, like they do in Dubai. Or maybe "did in Dubai" is more appropriate, given how things are going.
-
arches wrote: It's a shame one of your extra rooms isn't an asphalt factory...the plywood might stand out as an amateur job.
You are right, plywood would not be up to the task.
But, the goal wouldn't be to do the stunt in order to get a a job offer from DOT.
I think a hump made of 2x4s, then 4 x 4s, then 6 x 6s, then rail road ties might stand a chance against the B71.
It only has to last long enough for the press to pick up on it.
...and its only a fantasy, don't worry.
P.S. We'd get Mougar to buy the wood and arrange it. Our role would be as supervisors. -
I say go for it. -
jeffrey wrote:
That'll never work...there are very few German speakers on Eastern Parkway.
I say go for it. -
...have long wanted a speed dump to deter drivers... -
I cross there every once in a while, and I don't think i've ever seen a car come to a complete stop at the stop sign in the intersection of Underhill and Eastern Parkway. I'm not talking about one or two not stopping. I'm talking about not a single one. Sometimes people will slow down for a rolling stop, and sometimes they just cruise on through.
-
you should have told her the light at turner towers on the service road is always green for the cars and is never green for the pedistrians
-
I have heard that previous attempts to get a speed bump have failed as DOT says the B71 shouldn't have to go over speed bump. I don't buy it. Not exactly an Evel Knievel stunt & could be placed right where bus has to stop anyway.
Please write & call & repeat. -
Seems like a lame excuse....speed bumps can be constructed with gaps that allows wide-axle vehicles (buses, emergency vehicles, etc) to pass unimpeded.
-
Um, how about fences to stop the pedestrians jaywalking?
-
This might interesting in the context of things that need fixing/improvement:
http://www.seeclickfix.com/?at=sterling+place+brooklyn,+ny
There's a way to define a "watch area" so that selected officials get an email everytime an issue is posted within those boundaries.
Also a good way to rally people in the neighborhood to call 311 on certain safety/quality of life/etc. issues.
Howdy, Stranger!
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