Changes coming to Park Circle

picked this up over at streetsblog.com

basically, things are still in the very early stages, DOT has not even put forth a plan yet and is seeking community input. But the intention is to roll this into a Capital project. Could be a few years long and a drastic redesign of the circle.

There was a community meeting Thursday night, a summary of which is written up here:

http://www.livablestreets.com/projects/transportation-alternatives-brooklyn/blog/2009/02/20/park-circle-cb7-workshopmeeting/

the streetsblog discussions are at these two posts.

http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/02/19/tonight-give-dot-your-ideas-for-a-safer-park-circle/#comment-63292

http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/02/20/brooklynites-suggest-park-circle-safety-fixes/#comments

I was at the meeting and it was really interesting. The DOT plans to do some short term work by the end of the year. Mainly resurfacing work like what was done next to Madison Square Park and GAP. I believe they will have a meeting prior to anything being done, though.

the circle is horrendous to walk through, drive through, gallop through. I am glad the changes are coming.

i agree that circle has problems and should be improved. but can someone explain in the simplest terms what the proposed solution is?

there was too much there to read. what are they fixing? I hope it's the traffic patterns as I am tired of hoping I don't get killed walking across the circle by 15th St.

yeah too much to read there. that’s what i thought

but i think their talking about the park circle, not bartel pritchard square. you know the circle where coney island avenue, ocean parkway, fort hamilton parkway, park side avenue, and prospect park southwest all meet. by that new bank where the gas station use to be

Yes, it is park circle at the southwest corner of the park.

There were a lot of great ideas drawn out at the workshop. Here are some:

1. Signage needed: This circle has so many entrances and exits without any signs for driver to know which lane they have to be in to get to where they are going. Our group suggested signs before the circle informing drivers where to go. Additionally, we suggested painting the lanes to inform people where they are headed.

2. Bike lane: This circle is extremely dangerous for cyclists and encourages them to take other routes or dangerously navigate this circle. Our group proposed a protected bike lane on the outside of the circle where there is plenty of room anyways. Another group proposed a bike path on the sidewalk which is very wide in that area.

3. Pedestrian Crosswalks: Navigating the circle as a pedestrian is a nightmare, and our group and all of the other groups had many good crosswalk suggestions.

4. Horse improvements: All of this attention can be attributed to Stable Brooklyn and a study they did. There was a lot of discussion on making their navigation through the circle better and safer.

That intersection is dangerous for anybody, including cars!

My only traffic accident ever occurred there. I was going straight while in the right lane, while someone else cut across all lanes to turn right on PPSW. She yelled at me for not turning right! That lane should be a right turn only lane, but it's not, and I was legally allowed to go forward. Her insurance sided with me, I was 100% not responsible based on the traffic patterns.

I rarely walk there, but when I do I use the pedestrian bridge.

flexi, it's not bartel pritchard. it's the one down at the other side of PPsouth

i recently met a man who'se running to fill deblasio's spot --the the amazing deblasio is running for gotbaum's spot, because he's such a generous guy--and we had a long conversation about bartel pritchard.

i know he wants to meet people in the community, and told him about this board, everyone's concerns about bartel pritchard, among other issues

(he lives locally, and has himself nearly been killed tried to walk across the street here)

I don't think there is much wrong at Bartel Pritchard except for the 15th St turn. They just need to install flashing lights and a speed bump. Problem solved.

not that simple.

a stop light, speed bump, and lane divider cones. a flashing light will do nothing for those maniacs who fly around the circle in the center lane then cross over without warning to get over to 15th street.

a speed bump on 15th would be nice as well.

Meeting at 6pm tonight at International Baptist Church (312 Coney Island Avenue, by the circle).


http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/06/16/tonight-weigh-in-on-whats-next-for-park-circle-improvements/

I can't make it but if someone from the board can, please let us know how it goes.

Americans just don't know the rules of the roundabout.

...its worse than that, I think New Yorkers can not actually turn and drive at the same time.

City roads have no curves, so drivers only know how to turn at lights.

...an entertaining 15 min watching the near collisions of Grand Army Plaza will prove my point.

I seriously wish I was able to go ....those traffic patterns need to change

i'll go when it's a meeting about bartel pritchard. the other circle has about the hald the traffic we do, and we don't even get acknowledged. feh

brooklynpotter wrote: i'll go when it's a meeting about bartel pritchard. the other circle has about the hald the traffic we do, and we don't even get acknowledged. feh

there's no way bartel pritchard has more traffic than park circle, it's probably not even close.

you can go to one place with the clicker, and i can go to the other withthe clicker and we can count

I don't think it has more traffic, but i think it's smaller and people seem to be crazy going through the circle and crossing 15th Street is a nightmare....no matter how big they make the crosswalk or the yield signs. It's a cut through from the park to the expressway and people drive like idiots

MeredithB wrote: Americans just don't know the rules of the roundabout.

It's not a normal roundabout since it has traffic lights (needed because of pedestrians). Roundabout "rules" only work when there are no lights. As is, it's more of a circular intersection than a roundabout. I seriously doubt anyone is making lefty turns.

Retag wrote: [quote=MeredithB]Americans just don't know the rules of the roundabout.

It's not a normal roundabout since it has traffic lights (needed because of pedestrians). Roundabout "rules" only work when there are no lights. As is, it's more of a circular intersection than a roundabout. I seriously doubt anyone is making lefty turns.

only people in the far right lanes make left turns. Its the people in the far left lanes making the right turns that is so annoying

BrooklynJack wrote: [quote=Retag][quote=MeredithB]Americans just don't know the rules of the roundabout.

It's not a normal roundabout since it has traffic lights (needed because of pedestrians). Roundabout "rules" only work when there are no lights. As is, it's more of a circular intersection than a roundabout. I seriously doubt anyone is making lefty turns.

only people in the far right lanes make left turns. Its the people in the far left lanes making the right turns that is so annoying

sometimes both at the same time

One time I was in the next to very inside left lane going around to exit at Prospect Park South, I got cut off by a guy making the right onto Coney Island Avenue, it was a cop from BSTF

Update from streetsblog.com

Proposed traffic pattern approved by CB 7

http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/06/23/dot-proposes-park-circle-improvements-cb-7-approves/#comment-71661

Until the enforce cars crossing the double-yellow lines into the bank entrance, there will always be problems. Also that parking is allowed on PPSW on Sundays down by the bank, making it one lane with bad timing on the lights, will always ensure that traffic is almost clogged up to PPS.

I hope they fix these problems.

i don't think the left turn into the bank is illegal now, but i agree that they should install a curb to prevent it.

i think they are installing some sort of barrier to prevent that left turn into the bank

yes, that is park of the plan although it is almost impossible to see on the diagram. other posters at streetsblog pointed it out to me.

The brooklyn paper covers the changes here:

http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/32/26/32_26_bm_park_circle.html