BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING
JUNE 17, 2010
ATTENDANCE:
D. ABRAHAM J.ARMER W.BLUM
S. BURZIO H. LINK T. MISKEL
M. MURPHY R. OBERLENDER G. REILLY
R. SLOANE J. THOMPSON M.VERRET
ABSENT:
D. GIULIANO J. IGNERI A. MCKNIGHT
M. RECA-HEYER
GUESTS:
M. BAKER – IKEA BROOKLYN
L. MONTALVO – IKEA BROOKLYN
B. SCHALLER – DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION
H. WOLF – DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION
D. STEIN – DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION
W. NG – DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION
E. MCCLURE – PARK SLOPE NEIGHBORS
I. LORE – 5TH AVENUE B.I.D.
M. SIPIRICK – PARK SLOPE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
***MINUTES***
Report from representatives for the Department of Transportation on the department’s ParkSMART pilot program currently in place along portions of 5th and 7th Avenues in Park Slope.
Bruce Shaller spoke on the progress of the pilot program. He had met with the Transportation Committee 3 months ago. Data collected in April, 2009 Program turned on in May, 2009 Installation in January, 2010 Data collection in April, 2010
Of the 618 passersby surveyed – 68% walked & 15% came by car.
Of 309 parkers – 46% were aware of the new rate & 53% were not.
ISSUES RAISED
1. Expand program 2. Extend meter time 3. Conversion from 1 hour to 2 hour for restaurants 4. Truck delivery zones 5. Bike racks
Gain of 50 spaces in last several months.
Delivery Zones 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue 5th Avenue between 7th and 8th Streets No parking 8am to 11am 7th Avenue between Carroll Street and Garfield Place
Traffic volume slightly less in 4/2010 than 4/2009. Parking duration has decreased significantly. 5th Avenue by 17%, 7th Avenue 18% - increase in number of unique vehicles parked in that area. Parking occupancy shows little change – reflecting saturation levels of demand.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Make program permanent 2. Expand to 15th Street 3. Include 9th Street and spurs.
4. Implement with new additions in Spring 2011 5. Extend meter hours to 9pm 6. Extend duration to 2 hours (now 1 hour)
7. Extend peak rate through evening at 9pm in restaurant areas 8. Extend peak rates to 7pm in remaining areas 9. Increase $1.50 rate to $2.25
Conditionally recommend approval of extension to 9pm and we also recommend extension to15th Street and northward to Dean Street and other changes; such as the change to 2 hours from 1 hour – except the extension of peak changes to 9pm which will await polling of businesses in the area.
VOTE: 11…..YEAS 1….NAYS
MOTION PASSED
Continued discussion with representatives for the Department of Transportation on the planned extension of the bicycle lanes on Columbia Street in Red Hook to tie-in to the IKEA waterfront greenway bicycle paths.
The Community Board indicates that parking would not be a good idea because having cars park and double park there.
DOT will place hash marks and reduce lane to 8 feet with no standing signs. Concern over lack of enforcement by NYPD.
Chris Hrones from DOT says they have to deal with the existing patterns of use – example of the Adams Street bike lane where livery cabs routinely block bike lane.
Mike Baker from IKEA read a statement. They want flexibility and want to protect against south side bike lane accidents which they worry about.
DOT does not believe that plan is unsafe.
No motion was deemed necessary as the Committee unanimously endorsed the plan last month.
Roy Sloane said that Cobble Hill Association members have complained about unsafe conditions for pedestrians accessing the newly opened park at Pier 6.
A motion was made that the Committee request DOT to move immediately to remediate dangerous conditions and to study more permanent solutions to make park access safer.
Submitted by Steve Burzio and Gary Reilly.