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Last Call: Submit Ideas to DOT on How to Improve Greenpoint, Williamsburg Streets and Sidewalks

Photo via the office of Councilmember Stephen Levin.

Nov. 21, 2017   By Nathaly Pesantez

Have an idea on how to improve North Brooklyn’s streets and sidewalks? Make them heard—for a final time—before the Department of Transportation releases the results of its transportation study for the area.

The office of Councilmember Stephen Levin has called on the community to submit their transportation suggestions and feedback once more through an online portal. This is the last opportunity for the public to weigh in before the DOT goes live with the results of a study that takes a look at Brooklyn’s Community Board 1.

The study, which kicked off in June 2016 with public meetings and a web portal, aims to analyze traffic and transportation in neighborhoods like Greenpoint and Williamsburg and present a plan that would cut congestion and increase safety in the area.

A transportation study has long been called for, especially given North Brooklyn’s issues with heavy truck presence, a large number of waste transfer stations, and an ever growing population.

Areas the study will explore include demographics, land use, traffic, pedestrians and cyclists, public transportation, and truck movement.

“Residents have been asking for this kind of study for years,” Levin said in a 2016 statement. “This neighborhood has changed in recent years and our approach to congestion and mobility needs to evolve with it for us to meet the needs of everyone in the community.”

Over 400 comments and concerns from community residents have been collected since the study was released, ranging from off-route trucks, traffic congestion and pedestrian safety issues, a spokesperson for the DOT said.

Levin is encouraging more feedback, no matter how out-of-the-box, until about the end of the month, a spokesperson for his office said.

Transportation studies in other neighborhoods have led to changes like improved crosswalks, decreasing the width of car lanes, extending sidewalks and curbs, and planting trees to improve air quality and the urban landscape.

The DOT will present their recommendations and future conditions in early 2018, a spokesperson for the agency said.

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5 Comments

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Mutley

The one thing the DOT needs to do is to undo some of the new traffic pattern it made on the account of the L line closure. The intersection at the end of McCarren park is a mess (Bedford Avenue & Lorimer Street) as traffic gets backed up on Bedford, Berry, & Nassau Avenue and negatively takes toll on small businesses in those areas. Also re-open Union Street off of Driggs Avenue during the week only to alleviate all the heavy traffic down Driggs Avenue and just close it on weekend for the green market.

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Beth

The parking situation by the Williamsburg post office is horrible! The trucks take up the few parking spaces we have and are parked right up on the sidewalk and sometimes the crosswalk. The space under the BQE should’ve been designated to the post office.
Also, the DOT needs to revisit Havemeyer Street. Traffic lights should be added.

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Gloria Buckley

Heavy truck congestion on Meserole Avenue from private sanitation company. The trucks speed all times of the day and night. Also the traffic on the Greenpoint Avenue bridge has worsened since the bike lane was installed. It is dangerous to both drivers and bikers. On Greenpoint Avenue and McGuiness Blvd, there is a need for a left hand turn signal. There is more traffic than ever, yet nothing is being done to elevate the traffic congestion and the safety of the people. There is a sign posted on Meserole Avenue and Moultrie that states NO TRUCK TRAFFIC, yet no one obeys the sign!

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MC

One thing that the DoT should correct would be to orient the parking meter boxes 90 degrees from where they are. That way when a person is bending over to put their money in and get their ticket, their butt is not sticking out into the sidewalk and blocking traffic, pedestrian traffic that is. It was really stupid of the DoT to install them the direction that they did.

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