ALBEMARLE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MINUTES, SEPTEMBER 2023 MEETING

Minutes of the September 26, 2023, Meeting of the Albemarle Neighborhood Association

ALBEMARLE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY MEETING IN JUNE

 

 

Update: The Zoom link is https://zoom.us/j/93103317498?pwd=ck4xTTdJL2lRbGVTOEhmMldDMVFwZz09.

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Albemarle Neighborhood Association Community Meeting

Thursday, June 10th, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

 

The Albemarle Neighborhood Association will discuss issues currently facing our neighborhood at a Zoom meeting next week.

 
All Kensington residents are invited to attend this free meeting, which will take place on Thursday, June 10th, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

 

Neighborhood Coordination Officer Karol Smiarowski of the 66th Police Precinct will be at the meeting.

Possible topics include:

• pedestrian and bicyclist safety,
• drag racing on Ocean Parkway and Albemarle Road,
• e-bike users who speed and ride on sidewalks,
• litter and the lack of public litter baskets, and
  
• loss of some parking spaces due to Citi Bike stations and outdoor restaurant space.

 

If you'd like to attend the meeting, send an e-mail to Jannette at jannette.katz@gmail.com and she'll send you the Zoom link.

About Albemarle Neighborhood Association

Albemarle Neighborhood Association (ANA) is the oldest neighborhood association in Brooklyn. Since its founding in 1973, it has worked to advance Kensington's quality of life.

Its meetings are open to the public and free. They provide a place for Kensington's residents to address safety, security, and quality of life issues.

 

ANA helps create a safe and stable neighborhood by working closely with neighborhood residents, city agencies, and elected officials to address key issues.

OCEAN PARKWAY SHUTTING DOWN FOR HALF MARATHON

Popular® Brooklyn Half Marathon

Saturday, May 18th

For a few hours on Saturday, May 18th, the Popular® Brooklyn Half Marathon will shut down Ocean Parkway and limit parking spaces.

The race will kick off on Eastern Parkway at 7:00 a.m. near the Brooklyn Museum. Participants will run past the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and around Grand Army Plaza, enter Prospect Park, run a loop around the park, exit at the southwest corner onto Ocean Parkway, run down Ocean Parkway, turn right onto Surf Avenue, turn left onto the Coney Island boardwalk, and run about a mile to MCU Park.

A three-hour time limit has been imposed so that roads can reopen to traffic as scheduled. Runners who cannot maintain a pace of 13:45-per-mile can board a sweep bus (starting at mile 7, the exit from the park) or they can run on sidewalks.

On Saturday, from 3:00 a.m. to noon, roads will be closed at the discretion of the NYPD from Park Circle between South Lake Drive and the Ocean Parkway entrance ramp and on Ocean Parkway between the Ocean Parkway entrance ramp and Surf Avenue. 

Parking is not allowed from Friday at 4:00 p.m. to Saturday at noon.

Organized by New York Road Runners, the annual half marathon is the largest in the country, with about 30,000 participants.

DANGEROUS INTERSECTION IS ON THE AGENDA FOR COMMUNITY BOARD 12 MARCH MEETING

Community Board 12 Public Meeting

Tuesday, March 26th, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Community Board 12 (representing Kensington, Borough Park, and Midwood) will hold its monthly public meeting tonight, Tuesday, March 26th, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The board's monthly meetings are open to the public.

Unfortunately, CB 12 doesn't e-mail us the agenda until the day of the meeting, so here it is now. The e-mail opens with the salutation "Dear Board Members, Elected Officials, & Interested Parties."

Agenda for the March 26th meeting

1. Pledge of Allegiance
2. Public Session
3. Chairman's Remarks - Yidel Perlstein
4. District Manager's Remarks - Barry Spitzer
5. DOT Presentation of the Ocean Parkway, Church Avenue & Prospect Expressway Intersection Safety Improvements
6. Adoption of February Minutes
7. Old Business
8. New Business
9. Attendance
10. Adjourn

During the public comment period at the beginning of the meeting (agenda item 2), you can speak about any concerns, questions, solutions, needs, or problems that you'd like the community board to address. To do so, arrive at the meeting before 7:00 p.m. and sign up to speak. You'll have only three minutes to present your topic.

Some issues you may be concerned about are

•     pedestrian safety,
•     traffic congestion,
•     housing,
•     land use and zoning,
•     construction sites,
•     outdoor lighting,
•     potholes,
•     sanitation,
•     libraries,
•     crime,
•     police presence,
•     graffiti,
•     social services,
•     rodents,
•     trash collection,
•     public litter baskets, and
•     street and sidewalk conditions.

General meetings of Community Board 12 are normally held on the fourth Tuesday of the month, from September through June, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Every neighborhood in New York City is represented by an all-volunteer community board, which serves as the neighborhood's liaison to city agencies. Board members are appointed by the neighborhood's city councilperson and the borough president.

Community Board 12's committees are

•         Planning, Zoning Variances and City Map
•         Education, Library, Cultural Affairs
•         Sanitation & Environmental Protection
•         Fire, Safety & Police
•         Health & Social Services
•         Housing & Buildings
•         Legislation
•         Parks, Capital Projects & Site Selection
•         Transportation & Franchises
•         Youth & Community Development

Meeting Location
Amico Senior Center
5901 13th Avenue, 3rd floor
corner of 59th Street
Borough Park, Brooklyn

Enter the building on 59th Street. The meeting room is accessible by elevator.

Community Board 12's office is at 5910 13th Avenue.
phone: (718) 851-0800
fax: (718) 851-4140
e-mail: bk12 @ cb.nyc.gov
https://twitter.com/BrooklynCB12
https://www.facebook.com/BkCB12

TOWN HALL ON PUBLIC SAFETY AT OCEAN PARKWAY/PROSPECT EXPRESSWAY/CHURCH AVENUE

Town Hall on Public Safety at

 Ocean Parkway/Prospect Expressway/Church Avenue

Monday, November 19th

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

After a truck driver struck and killed pedestrian Faustino Garcia last spring at the Ocean Parkway/Prospect Expressway/Church Avenue intersection, Councilmember Brad Lander and Assemblymember Robert Carroll held a Town Hall about the deadly location.

The Town Hall was held in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) so that the two agencies could get feedback from the community.

Decisions about the Prospect Expressway, a state highway, are made by the New York State Department of Transportation. On the other hand, Ocean Parkway and Church Avenue are city roads regulated by the New York City Department of Transportation. So when changes and improvements are needed, the two agencies are required to collaborate for the common good.

The agencies had implemented some short-term actions, such as adding missing speed limit signs and adding more signals on the approach to Church Avenue.

NYCDOT and NYSDOT have now finished their phase of data collection. They've put together a report with traffic safety measures that they'll share with the community at a public Town Hall. After the community hears DOT's recommendations, DOT will answer questions and listen to feedback. 

The Town Hall will take place on Monday, November 19th, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the P.S. 130 Upper School.
 
If you have any further questions or concerns about the intersection, contact Megan Flynn in Councilmember Lander's office at mflynn@council.nyc.gov or (718) 499-1090.

Location
P.S. 130 Upper School
713 Caton Avenue
between E. 7th and E. 8th streets
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

COMMUNITY MEETING ON GETTING SAFELY ACROSS OCEAN PARKWAY AT CHURCH AVENUE

Community Meeting on Public Safety at the 

Church Avenue/Ocean Parkway/Prospect Parkway Intersection

Monday, April 9th, 7:30 p.m.

Life is cheap where Church Avenue, the Prospect Expressway, and Ocean Parkway intersect. A truck driver killed pedestrian Faustino Garcia this year, another truck driver killed pedestrian Ngozi Agbim in 2013, and non-fatal collisions regularly occur, sometimes causing injuries.

The Motor Vehicle Collision Report for February 2018 records six collisions at "Church Avenue and Ocean Parkway" (page 96) and four at "Church Avenue and Prospect Expressway" (page 97). That's ten collisions in just one month.

The intersection has two masters. Decisions about the Prospect Expressway, a state highway, are made by the New York State Department of Transportation. On the other hand, Ocean Parkway and Church Avenue are city roads regulated by the New York City Department of Transportation. So when changes and improvements are needed, the two agencies are required to collaborate for the common good.

Together, they've re-studied the intersection, and at a public meeting with neighborhood residents and anyone else who uses that intersection, they'll tell us what their findings are. And we'll tell them about the perils of crossing the road, as we've experienced them.

The 66th Precinct will also be represented there.

The meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 9th, at 7:30 p.m. Councilmember Brad Lander and Assemblymember Bobby Carroll will host it.

The wheels of government are notorious for turning slowly. But the wheels of trucks and cars can turn fast and can be deadly. It's past time for the injuries and deaths of our families, friends, and neighbors to end.

Location
P.S. 130 Upper School
713 Caton Avenue
between E. 7th and E. 8th streets
on the Kensington - Windsor Terrace border

A SURVEY OF YOUR EXPERIENCES AND YOUR IDEAS FOR IMPROVING THE PROSPECT EXPRESSWAY

A survey asking about your experiences with the Prospect Expressway and your ideas for improving it has been posted by the NYU Capstone Team and the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President. The survey is for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers.

The NYU Capstone Team is comprised of four urban planning students in the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

The request from the NYU Capstone Team:

The NYU Capstone Team would greatly appreciate your participation in a brief survey on the Prospect Expressway Corridor.

The purpose of the survey is to gain direct feedback from those living near the Prospect Expressway. Your responses will help us to evaluate the conditions of the neighborhood and frame our recommendations.

The survey has 16 questions and will take approximately 5 minutes to complete.

This survey is for informational purposes only. Your personal information will not be shared publicly and no individual responses will be reported. Please click here to participate.

This survey will be open until Sunday, March 25th.

We encourage you to share the survey link with neighbors who might want to participate. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at PXForward @ gmail.com.

Thank you for your time,

Caroline Peri
Brent Ginsberg
Sebastian Coss
Eftihia Thomopoulos

The NYU Capstone Team & The Office of the Brooklyn Borough President

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PROSPECT EXPRESSWAY ARE REQUESTED AT A COMMUNITY WORKSHOP

Community Workshop on 

the Prospect Expressway Corridor

Wednesday, March 14th

6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The NYU Capstone Team--comprised of four urban planning students in the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service--and the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President will be holding a free community workshop about the Prospect Expressway corridor.

Neighborhood residents of all ages, workers, and employers are invited to attend and share their thoughts on the current state of the Prospect Expressway as well as their suggestions for improving the corridor. The current state, as we all know, is hazardous at best and deadly at worst.

The workshop will take place on Wednesday, March 14th, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Shepherd’s Hall at Holy Name Church.

You can RSVP or direct any questions to PXForward @ gmail.com.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Location
Shepherd's Hall
Holy Name of Jesus Roman Catholic Church
243 Prospect Park West
between Prospect Avenue and Windsor Place
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

Enter Shepherd's Hall through the parking lot on Prospect Park West.

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New York City Councilmember Brad Lander has asked the New York City Department of Transportation, New York State Department of Transportation, and the NYPD to participate in a separate community meeting about the Prospect Expressway/Church Avenue intersection. A pedestrian was struck and killed there on February 27th.

A meeting has not yet been scheduled. 

In addition, Lander and New York State Assemblymember Robert Carroll co-authored a letter to the three agencies mentioned above. In the letter, they requested a comprehensive review of the intersection, quick implementation of changes, and increased enforcement of laws by the NYPD immediately.

DEATH AT CHURCH AVE. AND OCEAN PARKWAY LEADS TO ANOTHER ROUND OF CAMPAIGNING FOR SAFETY

A pedestrian died Tuesday night when a truck turning right from Church Avenue onto the Prospect Expressway struck and killed him as he crossed Ocean Parkway. 

Over the years, the combined efforts of our community, our elected officials, and the city and state Departments of Transportation (DOT) have brought improvements to the intersection. But, as the community knew prior to this death, it can't yet be called "safe."

As the slogan of the community's major safety push of 2013 said, "Our neighborhood is not a highway."

In response to this most recent tragedy, City Councilmember Brad Lander and Assemblymember Robert Carroll wrote a letter to the city and state DOTs and the NYPD. Below are Councilmember Lander's statement to the community, followed by the letter.

Let's be ready to participate in making Church and OP safer for all of us--pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers.

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In the wake of the tragedy Tuesday night, Robert Carroll and I sent the following letter last night to Commissioner Polly Trottenberg of NYC DOT, Commissioner Cathy Calhoun of NYS DOT, and the Commissioner James O'Neill of the NYPD, seeking their urgent collaboration to do everything we can to make sure this ceases to be an intersection of death.

After the death of Ngozi Agbim at this same intersection in 2013, we added a pedestrian refuge island (which the community voted for in participatory budgeting), and DOT adjusted the signal timing. And we have pushed regularly for additional enforcement of frequent illegal turns & failure-to-yield. But tragically (and, yes, perhaps predictably) those things have not been enough.

There has been a periodic debate about trying to close off the north-side crossing altogether, with fencing and signs -- previously, the opinion of experts has been that too many people would just go around the fence, creating an even more dangerous condition.

Obviously, and tragically, we need to look at all of this again. That's why we are calling on NYC DOT, NYS DOT, and the NYPD to work with the community on a comprehensive review, to develop plans to make it safe, and to dramatically increase enforcement until those changes can be made. We pledge to work together, with the agencies & with the community, to do everything we can.

PEDESTRIAN DEATH (AGAIN) AT CHURCH AVE. AND OCEAN PARKWAY

(photo not related to last night's collision)

As the driver of a Bread Depo box truck traveling west on Church Avenue turned right to go onto the Prospect Expressway last night (Tuesday) at about 9:30, he struck a pedestrian who was crossing Church Avenue.

The victim, Faustino Garcia, who had been walking west on the north side of Church Avenue, was taken to Methodist Hospital. He died there as a result of severe injuries to his head.

Nobody has been arrested, as of Wednesday morning. A video of the aftermath of the collision is on YouTube.

The collision appears to have happened in the same location and under the same or similar circumstances as the one that caused the death of Ngozi Agbim in 2013.

This intersection has been hazardous for many years. Just the year before Ms. Agbim's death, residents of City Council District 39 (represented by Councilmember Brad Lander) had voted to allocate participatory budgeting funds to improve safety conditions for everyone who uses that intersection.

The neighborhood activism that followed Ms. Agbim's death (rallies, a petition, statements by our elected representatives, communication and public meetings with the New York City Department of Transportation, communication and public meetings with the New York State Department of Transportation) led to changes at the chaotic intersection of Church Avenue, Ocean Parkway, and the Prospect Expressway.

We need to act again to protect our community from injury or death.

HAND OUT FLYERS OPPOSING THE PROPOSED SPEED LIMIT INCREASE ON OCEAN PARKWAY

UPDATE: On June 15th, at its third reading, the bill was amended; the amended bill calls for the speed to be increased from 25 mph to 35 mph.The number of the bill was changed from S5170 to S5170A.

On June 21st, the bill was committed to the Rules Committee.

On July 20th, Senator Felder met with four constituents who are members of the grassroots activist group New York State 17th District for Progress. He informed them that he isn't going to pursue the bill.

He said "I thought a lot about that bill as a result of different feedback," he said. "I’ve spoken to people personally and I’ve decided to drop the bill."

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Speed Limit Increase Protest

Today, Sunday, April 9th, 2:00 p.m.

Pedestrians are 74 percent more likely to be killed if they’re struck by vehicles traveling at 30 MPH than 25 MPH*, so why does your state senator want to increase the speed limit on Ocean Parkway?

Ask him.

Join local residents as they oppose State Senator Simcha Felder's proposed legislation, S5170) to increase the speed limit on Ocean Parkway (New York State Route 908H) from 25 mph to 30 mph. Distribute flyers to constituents in his district, State Senate District 17. The organizers will provide all of the material.

Meet today--Sunday, April 9th--at 2:00 p.m., at 424 E. 9th Street (map), right off Cortelyou Road. Participants will split into separate groups to distribute flyers.

OCEAN PARKWAY COLLISION VICTIM IDENTIFIED

                          from New York City Alerts

UPDATE: The Yeshiva World identified the decedent as Reb Yaakov Tzvi Hoffman of Borough Park. Hamodia reports that his funeral and burial took place today; he is survived by his wife and nine children.

According to CBS, police said he "had been driving a 1997 GMC south on Ocean Parkway, when he struck a 2004 Ford from behind."

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Original post:

A driver is dead after this morning's four-car, chain-reaction collision on the southbound side of Ocean Parkway at Ditmas Avenue.

The crash occurred at around 9:30. EMS transported the so-far unidentified 66-year-old driver to Maimonides Medical Center,where he died of cardiac arrest. One other driver is in the hospital with minor injuries.

The NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad will investigate.

News 12 Brooklyn has a video report on the collision.

Source: Mike Wright

FATAL ACCIDENT ON OCEAN PARKWAY

                          from New York City Alerts

UPDATE: The Yeshiva World has identified the decedent as Reb Yaakov Tzvi Hoffman of Borough Park.

A driver is dead after this morning's four-car, chain-reaction collision on the southbound side of Ocean Parkway at Ditmas Avenue.

The crash occurred at around 9:30. EMS transported the so-far unidentified 66-year-old driver to Maimonides Hospital,where he died of cardiac arrest. One other driver is in the hospital with minor injuries.

The NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad will investigate.

News 12 Brooklyn has a video report on the collision.

Source: Mike Wright

A WEEK OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC, FOLLOWED BY A WEEK OF TICKETING

This week, the NYPD and the Department of Transportation will go into schools, churches, and senior centers in the 66th Precinct to educate the public about pedestrian and driver safety hazards on Ocean Parkway. They'll also hand out flyers by the F train's Church-McDonald station and along Ocean Parkway. 

The week after, enforcement of traffic rules will get serious in an attempt to reduce the number of pedestrian deaths and injuries.

The statement below refers to "the New York City limit of 30 MPH." The default speed limit in New York City is 30 miles per hour until early November; at that time, it will be reduced to 25.

From the 66th Precinct Community Council
(66precinctcc @ gmail.com)

As part of Mayor DeBlasio’s Vision Zero program, the NYPD and Department of Transportation have a major 2 week initiative planned along Ocean Parkway in the confines of the 66th Precinct. This initiative will begin Monday, September 22nd and the first full week will focus on Pedestrian and Driver Safety Education.

As part of this we will be visiting schools, churches and senior centers throughout the Precinct as well as an aggressive flyer campaign near F/G Line train station located at Church Avenue and Mcdonald Avenue. Speed signs will be present along Ocean Parkway to advise drivers of their speed in relation to the New York City limit of 30 MPH.

Beginning Monday, September 29th, a full enforcement initiative will take place to set in place a long term effort to reduce pedestrian fatalities and injuries along the Ocean Parkway corridor.

We invite all our elected officials and community leaders to join us next week---we will have police officers, traffic enforcement agents, 66th Precinct Auxiliaries and Explorers working hand in hand with DOT "Street Team" representatives distributing flyers during both the evening and afternoon rush hours at key pedestrian points along Ocean Parkway.

We will have an NYPD Command Post at Church Avenue  and Ocean Parkway, and an NYPD Community Affairs tent at Church Ave and Avenue C.

If you wish to participate please let us know when you may be available--directly to me [(718) 851-5611 or ] or Community Affairs Sgt. Michael Andreano [(718) 851-5601] or Police Officer Michael Riomao [(718) 851-5620]. Thank you.

Deputy Inspector Michael Deddo
66th Precinct Commanding Officer

"SAFETYWISE," STILL TRYING TO WHIP OCEAN PARKWAY INTO SHAPE

Improving Safety for All on Ocean Parkway

Wednesday, September 17th, 6:30 p.m.

Join our State Assemblymember Jim Brennan and representatives from the New York State Department of Transportation for the second public meeting about the plan to improve driver, pedestrian, and cyclist safety along Ocean Parkway, from Avenue C to Avenue I.

Meeting location:
Ditmas Junior High School (Ditmas I.S. 62)
700 Cortelyou Road
at the corner of E 7th Street

NO MORE DEATHS, NO MORE INJURIES; WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE A SAFER OCEAN PARKWAY

Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety at Ocean Parkway Intersections

Monday, June 23rd, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday will be the one-year anniversary of the death of pedestrian Ngozi Agbim at the intersection of Ocean Parkway and Church Avenue. Dialog, proposals, and actions to make walking and bike-riding safer on Ocean Parkway continue as the long-standing dangers of venturing onto Ocean Parkway remain very much on area residents' minds.

At a public meeting tomorrow night, Assemblymember Jim Brennan and representatives from the New York State Department of Transportation will present a plan that's intended to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety at Ocean Parkway intersections from Avenue C to Avenue I.

Methods that would be used to help reduce accidents include installing pedestrian refuge islands, upgrading signage, adjusting signal timing, and more.

Neighbors, you're needed at this meeting to evaluate the merits of the plan, comment on it, and suggest alternatives.

Meeting location:
Ditmas Junior High School (Ditmas I.S. 62)
700 Cortelyou Road
at the corner of E 7th Street

TOO MUCH DANGER, TOO MANY ACCIDENTS--WHAT WILL PROTECT US?

More and more people are publicly voicing their concern about road safety in Kensington and Windsor Terrace. Ngozi Agbim died under the wheels of a truck in June as she walked across Ocean Parkway at Church Avenue. That horror heightened our collective awareness about public safety and the long, tall, local and long-distance trucks that are a constant presence in this residential area.

People are also speaking up because of Troy Martin's son being struck by the driver of an electric bike in June. (Riding electric bikes in New York City is illegal.) He and his dad were walking across Caton at McDonald, maneuvering their way around 18-wheel trucks that blocked the crosswalk as they were walking to P.S. 230 for the start of the school day.

Additional people have mobilized to plead the case of Albemarle Road as a safety hazard after an ambulette with a patient inside was struck on Albemarle Road in May--by a driver who ran a stop sign at E. 4th. The car knocked the ambulette on its side, trapping the patient inside. Nearby residents have been reporting problems--especially speeding--for years, including a collision that involved seven vehicles.

A number of other, lower-profile incidents have gotten little publicity, but people have learned about them from their neighbors, either face-to-face or via social media.

If you're one of the people noticing the deterioration of safety in the street, on the sidewalk, in the subway, on the bus, or near cars and trucks, you belong at tonight's Transportation Assembly. The assembly is part of City Council District 39's participatory budgeting program. Everyone in the district is invited to attend. Your suggestions for projects that will be beneficial to any part of the district are welcome.

Transportation Assembly

street, sidewalk, subway, bus, car, and truck safety issues 

Monday, October 21st, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Park Slope Library

431 6th Avenue at 9th Street 

RSVP

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Two other assemblies are scheduled for this week: the Bangla Assembly and the Spanish Assembly. 

Bangla Assembly 

Wednesday, October 23rd, 7:00 p.m. 

Chittagong Association of North America, 545 McDonald Avenue, between Church Avenue and Avenue C 

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Spanish Assembly 

Saturday, October 26th, 3:00 p.m. 

Fifth Avenue Committee, 621 Degraw Street, at 4th Avenue

MOVEMENT ON SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT THE CHURCH AVENUE-OCEAN PARKWAY INTERSECTION

Good news for pedestrians who cross Ocean Parkway at Church Avenue: the final design for safety improvements at the Church Avenue-Ocean Parkway intersection will be completed in September and construction will begin in the fall.

The New York State Department of Transportation gives these specific details on its website:

• A pedestrian refuge area--an island--will be constructed on the north side (the Prospect Expressway side) of the intersection. This island in the middle of an ocean of traffic will give pedestrians a safer place to stand when they don't make it all the way across Ocean Parkway on one green light. It will also shorten the distance between the eastern and western sides of Church Avenue.
• New pedestrian signals and protective barriers will be installed on the pedestrian refuge island. New pavement striping will reduce traffic lane widths and provide space for the island.
• High visibility crosswalk markings will be installed on the north side of the intersection.
• New flashing signals with yellow arrows for right-turning vehicles will be added, warning motorists to proceed with caution and yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
• New "Traffic Signal Ahead" signs will be installed along the south-bound Prospect Expressway.
• Speed limit signs will be installed on Ocean Parkway.
• Warning signs will be replaced.

The $200,000 allocated in April 2012 for these safety improvements (through the participatory budgeting process) will finally be used.

READY FOR NYS DOT TO ACT AT CHURCH AVE. AND OCEAN PARKWAY

Together, City Councilmember Brad Lander, residents of Kensington, and  transportation safety advocates presented a petition for improved pedestrian safety at the Church Avenue crossing of Ocean Parkway to the staff at Governor Cuomo's Manhattan office.

Calls and e-mails Mr. Lander received from constituents distraught over the death of Ngozi Agbim under the wheels of a "big rig" inspired Lander to create the petition, "Our Neighborhood Is Not a Highway," which amassed 831 signatures.

Constituents demanded to know why the safety measures they voted for during the participatory budgeting process in March 2012, to be funded by money set aside in Councilmember Lander's budget, hadn't been implemented.

After hearing from Councilmember Lander and State Assemblymember Jim Brennan, the New York State Department of Transportation wrote a letter on August 13th to Mr. Brennan and others stating that it is studying the intersection and considering improvements, including the ones District 39 voted for.

New York CBS Local reported that on Wednesday, August 21st "the state DOT said it had worked out the problem with the design and will soon move forward."

Streetsblog quoted NYS DOT as saying on Thursday "'We’re in general agreement about the improvements, with some details still to be ironed out,'" spokesperson Adam S. Levine said in an e-mail to Streetsblog.

"The improvements include a pedestrian refuge island on the north crosswalk…protective barriers, lane channelization, additional signage and modifications to the traffic signals at the intersection."

State DOT says it expects "'to work out the details in the coming days,'" with a final design before mid-September."

 

GOVERNOR CUOMO, HERE'S OUR OCEAN PARKWAY SAFETY PETITION

We aren't asking for much. Just an improvement in road conditions so that when we cross Ocean Parkway at Church Avenue, we won't get maimed--or run over and killed, like Ngozi Agbim did in June when she was crossing there.

We, the people of City Council District 39, voted during the participatory budgeting process in March 2012 to spend $200,000 of Councilmember Brad Lander's budget on eliminating pedestrian hazards at this intersection. To date, while other projects voted for have been completed or are at least underway, nothing has been accomplished at the intersection. The danger remains unabated.

The June 2013 update on Councilmember Brad Lander's website reports that "NYSDOT [New York State Department of Transportation] declined to approve the safety upgrade proposed by NYCDOT [New York City Department of Transportation]." He asks people to "Please sign the petition to NYSDOT, calling on the agency to respect our community's vote and move forward with this project."

Now NYSDOT has stated in a letter written on August 13th that it's been "working closely with NYC DOT to study this intersection and to review potential changes that can enhance safety for pedestrians and still ensure safety for all other modes of travel," including a pedestrian refuge area.

Councilmember Lander will bring the "Our Neighborhood Is Not a Highway" petition with 831 signatures to Governor Cuomo’s office today (Thursday, August 22nd) at 11:00 am. If you can, join him in Manhattan outside the Governor’s office at 633 3rd Avenue, near 41st Street.