4th Avenue Traffic Study
Sunset Park Restoration represents the Sunset Park community from 17th to 65th Street and from the waterfront to 8th Avenue. We have over 2,000 members on Facebook who on a daily basis are involved in discussions on a variety of Sunset Park issues.
Our experience with traffic issues dates back to 1971 when some of our members took active stances against the widening of 4th Avenue to 3 lanes. In addition, it was our organization that revealed to the community that New York State was planning on a then 350 million dollar, 6 year renovation without an Environmental Impact Study. Our organization contacted the Council on Environmental Quality in Washington D.C. and they ruled that an impact study was required.
In the Spring of this year, our members conducted over 400 people hours of intense research, on a variety of days, at different times and in different weather conditions, of Sunset Park's 4th Avenue traffic corridor.
We believe that New York City DOT is moving too rapidly to make their 4th Avenue traffic improvements permanent. We applaud the announcement by DOT that the temporary improvements have dramatically improved pedestrian safety and basically maintained the same flow of traffic.
We ask, why not continue the temporary improvements for one additional year of data collection. We believe that having an additional year of data would offset the concerns that last winter was one of the worst winters in history and may have skewed the data.
We applaud the reduction from 3 lanes of traffic to 2 with the understanding that traffic congestion is often caused by bottlenecks and that reducing bottlenecks can significantly improve traffic movement.
We ask that before you make the changes permanent, and as part of the new Vision Zero initiative, you consider the recommendations from our data collection and analysis.
Our study indicates:
1. Currently most of Sunset Park's 4th Avenue in reality is now 2 1/2 lanes. And when a car or truck double parks it reduces the traffic lane to 1 1/2 lanes - obviously this is dangerous as cars of varying widths attempt to defy math and continue as a 2 lane road. The traffic lanes must not be "fractional".
2. With the amount of bike traffic on 4th Avenue we believe, that the fractional lane could be utilized as a bike lane, a protected bike lane along the curb with cars parking at the edge of the 2 traffic lanes. Although it would be narrow, it could be tried on a trial basis. With a north bound lane on the east side of the avenue and a south bound lane on the west. Again, this could be done on a temporary basis.
3. We question the effectiveness of widening the median and feel that signage, countdown signals and public education would be much more effective. This would also free up additional space for the bike lane.
4. We question the wisdom of having a no parking prohibition during the morning rush hour. From our observation we have found that traffic use the parking lane as a passing lane. Obviously, passing on the right is a dangerous traffic practice. In addition, the drivers who attempt to "get ahead" end up being forced to merge back into the two actual traffic lanes whenever a school bus or a truck or a passenger vehicle is in the parking lane. The implementation of a parking lane (for a protective bike lane) would remove the need for the rush hour parking restriction and maintain the desirable two lanes at all times.
5. Our study indicated numerous conditions that required specific attention:
a. The intersection of 38th Street & 4th Ave needs to have "Don't Block the Grid" signage, roadway striping and enforcement. Cars and trucks as a matter of common practice enter the intersection on a full red light. This is especially problematic when the Gowanus is backed up.
b. The sequencing of traffic lights needs to be based more on observation of real time situations than computer models. The delay of a fully stopped vehicle coming up to speed does not seem to be factored in. And quite obviously the delayed red at 20th Street was not factored in and "trips" the sequencing.
c. The need for enforcement and signage dealing with double parking is critical. And we are alarmed by a public statement by a police official that the double parking helps to slow traffic down and thus makes it safer for pedestrians. There are specific locations where double parking is a common occurrence - for example, the fire house/bank at 51st Street. the sandwich shop at 43rd Street and the express subway stop at 36th Street. These are just a few examples. Innovative approaches can be used to provide for drivers needing to stop at these locations.
d. Each of the subway entrances must have special attention.
e. Department of Sanitation activities must be rescheduled around the morning and evening rush.
f. Special attention must be given to the numerous houses of worship, schools, driveways, and parking lot exits/entrances in terms of signage and public education.
g. Special attention must be given to car washes that block pedestrians as they extend the "working property" of their facility to include the entire sidewalk. This is a question of speaking to the businesses, painting lines to show the "protected" sidewalk area and then enforcement.
h. There are a large number of flat tire fixing shops that use the street as part of their business. Some place traffic cones in the street. Some have air hoses strung above sidewalks and attached to City signage poles. And workers squatting in the traffic lane while they work, with their backs to the oncoming traffic is common, as is customers standing in the street while the work is being done or while transacting business.
i. We firmly believe that DOT needs work with our elementary schools to provide pedestrian safety classes for the students. Many of our students are from other countries where they have never encountered traffic conditions like we have in Sunset Park. It is the duty of DOT to work with our fine schools to address this. Cultural differences are of great importance, many of us in Sunset Park have watched Asian adults stand at a corner looking at a green light and not crossing, and then the light turns red (the color of good luck & good fortune) and they attempt to cross as the cars suddenly begin to roll. Education is the key - mostly in school but also through multilingual signage and booklets distributed through local civic groups.
Thank you
Evelyn Ruiz, SPR Transportation Chairperson