Photo by Stacie Joy
The Department of Transportation is inviting residents to share feedback and ideas on the future of Avenue B.
The DOT "is proposing a street improvement project on the Avenue B Open Street between East 14th Street and Houston Street."
The Avenue B Open Street Project Proposal has the following goals:
• Build on the success of the Open Street, provide permanent public space and ease operations for larger events
• Improve safety on the corridor, focusing on schools
• Create safe cycling connections
• Calm traffic on the corridor to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists
• Replace Open Street barricades with design treatments.
A copy of the survey is here.
Here are a few of the ideas from the proposal...
There is an item on the docket related to preliminary findings for the Avenue B Open Street.
The hybrid meeting starts at 6:30 at the CB3 office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery. You can also take part via Zoom.
This stretch debuted as an Open Street during the spring of 2020.
Per the program overview:
New York City's Open Streets program transforms streets into public space open to all. These transformations allow for a range of activities that promote economic development, support schools, facilitate pedestrian and bike mobility, and provide new ways for New Yorkers to enjoy cultural programming and build community.
This is a great starting point. DOT should implement the proposal and add the same sidewalk extensions to the 11 st and 13 street corners as well.
ReplyDeleteWhat this proposal lacks is adding loading zones on every block: right now every time a food establishment receives their staples, the delivery truck stops smack in the middle of the road and blocks it completely: the maneuvering around and the honking can be eliminated easily. Same thing happens with every UPS, FedEx or USPS truck that delivers packages to residents.
Yes, who will enforce this while in use? Could be good. Could be trouble. Currently, cars drive through blocked intersections on B all summer. Some blocks have hapless resident "enforcers" with hand-made signs and pleas.
ReplyDeleteDon't think we want cops on every corner either.
This looks a fantastic improvement!
ReplyDeleteThere is def a deadline on sharing thoughts. DOT wants to implement this proposal August/September they recently shared, and it is already July. This seems more like a last step, so speak up now about what kind of amenities you want in the areas they are removing parking from on each block. Tables? Benches? Loading zones?
ReplyDeleteThere are many wonderful groups that give meals/resources on the sidewalks and the pathways in the park on various days. Maybe they could all use the public expanded space on Ave B between 8th & 9th st. So on any given day if anyone is providing these meals/resources, recipients know that there’s one place to go, “Abundance on B”.
I filled out the survey and basically told them everything looked great.
ReplyDeleteThere is currently two bikes, the ones with carriages attached to them on 11th st between 1st and 2nd ave. They have accumulated garbage through out the years and the owner just dumps the garbage on to streets. If you don’t like free parking for cars why do bikes get free parking when locked up around a tree.
ReplyDeleteBad idea. Maybe on the weekends make it public space but during the week people including cars need to get around and go about their business. This is not Disney Land.
ReplyDeleteLoitering on Ave C & D has been a large source of crime, violence, murder, hard drug dealing & vandalism for decades. This plan will add Ave B to that list — and cause more spillover into the park as well as disturbances for area residents. DOT, Carlina & Open Plans proposes this plan almost every year. Then fills the community board with paid shills who try to shut down residents who repeatedly voted NO. This is a bad idea
ReplyDeleteGod DOT is so bored. Just leave a street a street a street and stop trying to think of dumb shit like putting boulders and paint in the street. These bike activists really must be slidin them some good bills.
ReplyDelete