Two way 8th Ave and PPW?

From the Brooklyn Paper

http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/32/12/32_12_ds_two_way_sts.html

Totally ridiculous. More cars will utilize the street as access will be from both ends. The 2 way cross for kids will be more difficult even though the cars might be travelling at a lower speed. Plus the uturns, and you know there will be tons of those as they hunt for parking, will make it more perilous.

First of all, that article sucks. For example,

"The desire for going bi-sectional on Eighth Avenue and Prospect Park West is not without its irony, of course. Last year, when the city wanted to turn two-way Seventh and Sixth avenues into one-way strips, the neighborhood revolted."

That is not irony, that is consistency. In both cases people sided with bi-directional streets.

Second, is it really up to the people how a city should be designed. To some degree yes, but when there are proven scientific methods for controlling and predicting traffic patters ... and when there are mountains of case studies available which deal directly with the impact of turning a one way into a two way... when all this information is available are we really allowing the "general public" to make this decision?

Lastly, can't they just install those picturing taking speed dectors every few blocks? That will solve the speeding problem in a matter of days and not cost millions.

8th Ave is too small for two way traffic. One double parker will cause a mess and a back-up. And even without double parkers the traffic backing up around 7th Street and 8th Ave because of the parochial school and Methodist hospital will cause back ups for at least four blocks in each direction.

As for PPW, I would think all the stroller moms, students and teachers taking school trips and everyone else going to the park would find it very inconvenient and dangerous looking both ways (constantly) on such a wide street. And what about the chaos of traffic flowing INTO the Circle?

I think it's a fantastic idea. There is absolutely no reason why PPW couldn't accomodate two-way traffic. As to the hazards with checking traffic in both directions... puh-leeze. It ain't rocket science.

I think 8th can also accomodate two-way. It's no different than 6th Ave, which seems to function well. The big bottleneck will be around Union St. IMHO more backups may just dissuade people from using Park Slope as a thruway and shunt them down to 4th Ave. Plus, if PPW is made two-way, it can pick up some of the NB slack from 8th Ave.

I just hope that this would be tied in with some kind of plan to rationalize traffic in Grand Army Plaza. It's a mess and must have been designed by some chimpanzee with a traffic engineering degree.

I'm with you 8thandPrez. PPW is plenty wide for two way traffic. Making it two way will serve as a traffic calming measure and make it easier to cross the street. I say give it a try.

Making PPW 2 way is a would be a great start. It would calm things down from Bartel Pritchaed Sq. to Grand Army Plaza. It would even relieve some of the congestion on 8th Ave. There would also be no more excuses to allow cars in Prospect Park.

8th Ave might be a tight squeeze with the bus route and all, But Prospect Park West has plenty of room.

The online petition to get the attention of the Dept of Transportation at

http://www.parkslopeneighbors.org/two_way_pet.htm

PPW is a bus route as well. The 69 runs out to 20th street on it.

8thandPrez wrote: I think it's a fantastic idea. There is absolutely no reason why PPW couldn't accomodate two-way traffic. As to the hazards with checking traffic in both directions... puh-leeze. It ain't rocket science.

I think 8th can also accomodate two-way. It's no different than 6th Ave, which seems to function well. The big bottleneck will be around Union St. IMHO more backups may just dissuade people from using Park Slope as a thruway and shunt them down to 4th Ave. Plus, if PPW is made two-way, it can pick up some of the NB slack from 8th Ave.

I just hope that this would be tied in with some kind of plan to rationalize traffic in Grand Army Plaza. It's a mess and must have been designed by some chimpanzee with a traffic engineering degree.

Yes, these ideas are in concert with the redesign of Grand Army Plaza plans.
There should be a link to that effect at the end of the article.

http://www.designtrust.org/projects/project_08gapco.html

homeowner wrote: PPW is a bus route as well. The 69 runs out to 20th street on it.

PPW is wider than PPSW, it can handle 2 way bus traffic.

Then 8th ave would be free of the bus

Also check this out

http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/03/25/petition-tell-dot-to-reverse-the-curse-on-brooklyn-speedways/

making ppw two way would probably mean the intallation of a few more traffic signals which should make it safer to cross - assuming you wait for a red light.

streetsblog post on the same story. with video of speeding drivers

http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/03/25/petition-tell-dot-to-reverse-the-curse-on-brooklyn-speedways/#comments

Could someone please explain how Bartel Pritchard Sq is going to be two way?

I doubt it.

I predict not only will this cause more traffic but it will cause more deaths and accidents and more noise and pollution!

Yes there should be some more lights on PPW.

And Streetblog has one agenda: to rid NYC of cars.

A bad idea IMO, as is the two way GAP.

weird. about a year ago i heard the exact oppositte. that they're looking to make 7th, 6th & 5th ave all one way streets

Bartel Pritchard will not be two way, just as Grand Army Plaza is not two way.

Traffic Circles are one way... Enter and go right.

The only change to Bartel Pritchad if PPW becomes two ways is that you will be able to go from Prospect Park South West to Prospect Park West by making a quick right turn.

I hope that makes seance.

MeredithB wrote: Could someone please explain how Bartel Pritchard Sq is going to be two way?

well prospect park south west is 2 way. also prospect park west is 2 way south ouf 15th st. so i don't know that making ppw north of 15th 2 way would mean making bartel pritchord square 2 way.

by the way, prospect park west on the south side of the bartel pritchord square use to be to just be called 9th ave. doesn't that make so much more sense? i don't know why they ever changed it. i still usually call it 9th ave.

YankeeFan wrote: weird. about a year ago i heard the exact oppositte. that they're looking to make 7th, 6th & 5th ave all one way streets

yea, that plan was roundly panned and defeated by the local community.

go us.

ringrunner wrote: Bartel Pritchard will not be two way, just as Grand Army Plaza is not two way.

Traffic Circles are one way... Enter and go right.

The only change to Bartel Pritchad if PPW becomes two ways is that you will be able to go from Prospect Park South West to Prospect Park West by making a quick right turn.

I hope that makes seance.

Actually, most of the plans to redesign GAP would result in a 2 way traffic U for lack of a better term, in stead of a circle. They want to connect the arch/fountain area with the rest of the park.

http://www.designtrust.org/projects/popups/08gap winners/08gap_firstprize_1.html

not sure if that link will work