BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
MAY 16, 2013
ATTENDANCE:
D. ABRAHAM J. ARMER J. COHN
D. DECOSTANZO D. GIULIANO D. GORDON
S. LONIAL E. MCCLURE A. MCKNIGHT
T. MISKEL G. REILLY R. RIGOLLI
M. SILVERMAN R. SLOANE M. VERRET
EXCUSED:
W. BLUM
ABSENT:
E. ANDERSON K. KRASE M. PETIT
J. THOMPSON
GUESTS:
C. ZINNEL – REP. FOR HON. BRAD LANDER, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
D. WILEY – REP. FOR HON. NYDIA VELAZQUEZ, MEMBER OF CONGRESS
C. HRONES – REP. FROM DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
J. ROTH – REP. FROM DEPARTMENT OF TRNSPORTATION
A. BARBIER R. WAYNE E. LARSON
S. RENZ G. FREEDMAN M. FREEDMAN
H. CHIN
***MINUTES***
Presentation and review of a proposal by the Department of Transportation for a redesigned 4th Avenue traffic corridor between Atlantic Avenue and 15th Street.
Presentation was made by Chris Hrones, DOT/Brooklyn Office and Jesse Mintz-Roth, DOT, Project Manager for 4th Avenue. - Safety project begun in 2009. - Outreach process has had workshops, met with Community Boards and other groups. - 400 on-line comments - Very unsafe conditions. - Removed one lane in Sunset Park and have had positive reaction. - Proposals were well received at workshops. - Left turn lanes with wider medians in 18 locations. - Left turn bans in 8 locations - 6 near schools.
Q. Regarding Bike corrals – removing a spot? A. We would like to hear your concerns.
Q. Backing up on first block? A. Southbound is not as great a problem.
Q. Sunset Park was good but have you spoken with MTA about concrete curbs? A. Would be a Capital project.
Q. Ask Council Members to get funds? A. Good idea.
Q. Transit modeling for 3? A. Synchro ____________ places for 3.
Q. Schools? A. Talked with Principals about drop-offs.
Q. Phasing of lights? Design speed? A. Now it’s about 32 MPM in the day. At night it’s faster. Not changing.
Q. Truck loading zones, where? A. Want your input.
Q. Parking Meters? A. May be added. Curb management issues will be added later.
Q. What did Synchro show for traffic back-up? A. We don’t know.
Q. Cutting out of left turn lanes – will it be staggered in? A. Project would be done all at once. Projects have an adjustment period. There are close alternate routes.
Q. Backing up at north end in AM? Also, storm water? A. Can’t answer storm designs yet. Could be EDC. Doing pilot project.
Q. Are corrals and loading zones part of it? A. Not yet.
Q. Has DOT talked with Parks about plantings? A. Need a local maintenance partner.
Q. Info on traffic flows is missing. Can it be made available? A. We don’t have it here now. We could show it to you.
Q. What was the fatality? A. Mostly severe injuries. One fatality on 15th Street.
Q. How much do bike routes cost? We need to fix the roads. Are corrals a hindrance for snow removal?
A.
Q. Detachable warning strips at curb extensions? A. Yes – per DOT standards.
Q. Will there be complex signalization? Can you add a pedestrian signal?
A.
Q. Left turn designation? A. Synchro assigns them.
Q. Will no left turn affect residential blocks? A. On 12th Street, done for schools. Cars have a lot of alternate routes.
Q. Removing left turns better for pedestrians?
Q. Keep pedestrian flows?
Q. Can you tell us how it worked out in Sunset Park? A. Every type of crash is down.
A motion was made by Jerry Armer to recommend that DOT proceed but come back with a full layout of bike corrals, loading zones, metered parking, etc. Friendly amendment – DOT to look at signage options to inform no left turns either permanent or temporary.
VOTE: 15…..YEAS 1…..NAY
MOTION PASSED
Presentation and discussion of alterations to the approved Department of Transportation plan for the newly installed 14th Street bike lane.
Josh Benson from DOT presented. DOT apologizes for not coming back to the committee to communicate changes.
Preston Johnson, DOT Project Manager: - They were looking for ways to provide bike lanes on streets of various widths. - They thought that 30 feet width should be shared, based on Manhattan. - They realized that in Park Slope, they could do a bike lane in that width. - Other streets with smaller widths allow for a lane. - Also looking at 15th Street for a similar issue.
Q. Is street wider below 7th Avenue?
A. No
Q. How did it come up? A. 14th Street Block Association brought it to Council Member Brad Lander’s office.
Q. Resident on 14th Street likes it but pre-communication would go a long way.
Last month, item from committee over turned at Board Meeting. Bike corral on Columbia Street. Want to discuss it more – DOT should come back with entire plan for bike corrals.
We didn’t have a quorum at that meeting so it wasn’t a motion.
There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned.
The minutes were submitted by Jonathan Cohn.