BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 15, 2015
ATTENDANCE:
PRESENT:
J. ARMER S. AVERY P. BLAKE
W. BLUM B. CHANCEY D. GORDON
E. MCCLURE T. MISKEL M. SILVERMAN
J. THOMPSON
EXCUSED:
K. GURL M. MURPHY R. SLOANE
U. ZIMMERMAN
ABSENT:
D. DECOSTANZO R. RIGOLLI D. SCHNEIDER
J. OLTMAN SMITH
GUESTS:
N. BEZDEK – REP. FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
L. MORASIO – REP. FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
T. DINH B. SINGH M. CENTEND
C. WILKERSON L. BERKHAHN D. CHIAVETTA
Y. LEE R. KALLEBERG K. GJELAJ
J. AVILES I. DUTTON P. MORALES
A. METH N. GOPAL J. RUIZ
G. KELLY
***MINUTES***
Introduction and discussion with Captain Elliot Colon, newly assigned Commanding Officer of the 76th Police Precinct.
The meeting began with the introduction of Captain Elliot Colon, Commanding Officer of the 76th Precinct who was assigned in June, who welcomed the committee to the station house. His 27 years on the force include work in Crown Heights, Bushwick, East NY, Bed-Sty – this is first stop in Brooklyn South. In terms of local crime news, he noted that four arrests had been made in the Red Hook/Gowanus shootings, and that the recent arrest of a person with a “high profile” of break-ins should help reduce the spike in burglaries.
Presentation and discussion with representatives for the Department of Design and Construction and the Department of Transportation on the preliminary designs for Valentino Pier approaches (Capital Project #HWK1048J), a project is to improve the public realm, enhancing pedestrian and bicycle safety, and have sustainable elements to capture storm water along the street segments of Ferris Street (between King/Van Dyke Streets) and Beard Street (between Otsego/Conover Streets) in Red Hook.
The project under discussion is an interim, currently unfunded plan to address issues of poor or no sidewalks in the area, and poor roadways. A slideshow illustrated existing conditions and proposed
design solutions (the slideshow is to be shared with CB 6) and reflected proposed street improvements (in some areas, full roadway reconstruction) and the establishment of two-way bike lanes on sections of Ferris and Beard (on the waterfront sides of those streets). The intent of the project is to improve/preserve access to waterfront greenspace. The area is currently zoned for industrial and commercial use and there are several developments in various stages of planning.
During the project discussion, Jerry Armer brought up the fact that CB 6 is on record in support of keeping cobblestones that are left in the Red Hook area and suggested that road repaving plans keep that position in mind. Eric McClure asked if bollards were planned as protections for bike lanes and was told that flexible ones are in the plan. One attendee asked if the project would require new levels of security that would divert attention from other areas and Captain Colon replied that it would not happen.
A motion was made to endorse the interim plan, with the condition that cobblestones remain in the roadways.
The motion passed unanimously and the committee requested that the DOT return to the committee prior to the presentation of the final design.
Presentation and review of the Department of Transportation’s proposed CitiBike bike share docking stations deployment plan for the CB6 district.
The presentation began with background on CitiBike usage (and responses to general questions).
Most CitiBike trips are of short duration and are one way trips (30 to 40 minutes) The increase of membership fees to $149 has not appeared to have a detrimental impact on use (and there are reduced rates for low income users) 89% of Citibike trips are made by members Currently there are roughly 8000 bikes and 450 stations There currently is no discounted rate for Seniors, although that “might happen” in future
The presenters then went over the planned docking sites, neighborhood by neighborhood, in the CB 6 district. The sites were coded to indicate whether they were sidewalk or partial roadway sites.
Questions/comments
It appeared to some attendees that some areas were short shrifted in terms of placement – Court Street was mentioned a couple of times. (There may be more stations on Court in other districts)
The docking placement plan will be on the web the day after the meeting (and has been subsequently reported by several on line news sites)
The number of parking spaces that will be displaced is not known at this time
Several questions were raised about docking maintenance issues – such as snow and ice problems around the stations. CitiBike reps noted that the program was under new management that requires
24 hr. maintenance and there is a 24 hr. hot line for complaint about docking maintenance. (note; could not find number on the website)
In response to questions about roll out, all stations should be in place by the end of 2017 – and some will appear next year.
The response of the committee was generally favorable.
A motion was made to endorse the draft plan as presented and it passed unanimously.
There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned.
The minutes were submitted by SJ Avery.