Empire Boulevard

Pedestrian Plazas to Replace Parts of Empire Blvd.

Two new pedestrian plazas are set to replace two sections of road adjacent to Empire Boulevard in 2017, according to a proposal from the Department of Transportation.

From DNAinfo by Rachel Holiday Smith:

The plazas are part of a pedestrian safety initiative by the DOT to improve Empire Boulevard, which the agency says is in the top 10 percent of most dangerous streets in Brooklyn.

At the intersection of Franklin Avenue and further east, at the four-way crossing of Remsen, East New York and Utica avenues, the boulevard saw 490 injuries from 2009 to 2013, including 29 serious injuries or deaths, the DOT said.

To improve conditions, the agency wants add curb extensions along Empire and close two small sections of roadway — Franklin Avenue from Sterling Street to Empire Boulevard and at Remsen Avenue one block south of East New York Avenue — to make way for protected plazas built for pedestrians and planted with trees, according to the proposal.

The idea received a green light from local Brooklyn Community Board 9’s transportation committee last month, but hit a roadblock at CB9’s full board meeting Oct. 27. There, many residents and meeting attendees loudly voiced concerns that the plan, especially changes to Franklin Avenue that they say could make traffic conditions worse.

“Have you guys come around during the rush hour to see the traffic?” asked Dr. Zorina Frederick, a CB9 member and owner of a local driving school, of the DOT representative at the October meeting.

“I don’t think you all really did a constructive study to realize that you’re making it even more difficult,” she said to loud applause. “We have cars and we would like to be able to drive on the street.”

Another resident who lives on Sterling Street a block away from the proposed Franklin Avenue plaza said she’s worried the plan will reduce parking spots on her block.

“It’s our community and I think we should be asked if we want this,” she said as her neighbors cheered.

In response, the CB9 transportation committee co-chair, Tim Thomas, reminded those against the plan to consider those who have been seriously injured at the intersections when considering the proposal.

“This is about safety. There are walkers, bicyclists getting killed at these locations. From now on, please keep it in mind when you talk about your cars,” he said.

The full board tabled further discussion of the plan; the CB9 transportation committee will reconsider the proposal at a meeting set for Nov. 18 at 890 Nostrand Ave.

A new safety plan from the DOT would close a small section of Franklin Avenue and add curb extensions on Empire Boulevard.
A new safety plan from the DOT would close a small section of Franklin Avenue and add curb extensions on Empire Boulevard

2 Comments

  • concerned for safety

    In addition to the traffics this proposal will create for anyone returning to CH from Boro Park, this will create a bigger nightmare for us much closer than at Washington & Franklin Avenues:

    They plan on completely redesigning the Utica-Empire-East NY-Remson intersection.

    It started by removing a driving lane on each side of Utica, and making it a bus lane. Now the will remove the bus lanes by that intersection and make it into extended sidewalks.
    According to the plan, the busses will be sharing the ONLY ONE LANE in each direction heading up or down on Utica with all the cars!!!

    Just imagine what would happen if a fire truck, ambulance or other emergency responders try to drive there… How many lives may be lost Chas vesholom?!

    They also plan on COMPLETLY CLOSING OFF the street the leads Remson Ave in to CH!!!
    The street in front of Duan Read will be made into a sidewalk.
    Cars returning to CH via Remain Ave. will have to take a left in from of the gas station to get to CH.
    And how will trucks make that turn???

    The plan proposses to remove lanes on East NY and Empire on the east side of Utica (in the direction heading out of CH).

    It includes extending the island where Empire & Lefferts meet from Schenectady Ave. almost all the way to Utica Ave.!

    Speak up to our community representatives if want this stopped.
    As of now, this is what will happen. The community board has already approved this!