Wallabout Street One-way Conversion and

Pedestrian Safety Improvements

2014

Commissioner Polly Trottenberg New York City Department of Transportation

Office of Research, Implementation & Safety

Community Board 1, Transportation Committee May 29, 2014

Request for one-way conversion of Wallabout St received from:

Community Board 1

Rabbi Niederman / United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn

Councilmember Levin requested congestion relief on Wallabout St

Background

3

Existing Conditions

Wallabout St from Kent Ave to Union Ave

Very narrow (33) two-way street

B48 bus runs east/west

Was a local truck route (demapped in 2013)

Heavy school bus route

Busy local retail corridor

Industrial and high density residential

Heavy pedestrian traffic

Show

extended

limits

4

Child Pedestrian Fatality on Wallabout St & Bedford Ave in 2009

Corridor had 60 Injured and 5 Killed or Severely Injured over 5 years

32% of injuries are pedestrians

Chaotic traffic flow causing dangerous environment for pedestrians

Safety Issues

Cuurent Conditions

Proposal

7

Convert Wallabout St to one-way eastbound (Heyward St to Nostrand Ave/Lee Ave)

Add pedestrian space and parking throughout corridor

Install / extend No Standing regulations on Flushing Ave and Lee Ave

Convert Union Ave to two-way between Wallabout St & Flushing Ave

Convert Marcy Ave from Wallabout St to Flushing Ave to pedestrian space

Reroute westbound B48 bus on to Flushing Ave

Proposal

8

Benefits

Improves pedestrian safety and pedestrian comfort

Relieves congestion on Wallabout St

Simplifies traffic circulation, takes advantage of truck route removal

Why eastbound Wallabout St?

Aligns with existing one-way eastbound configurations at Classon Ave & at Lee Ave

Eastbound has higher traffic volumes

Proposal

B48 Bus Route Existing

B48 Bus Route Proposed (Discussed with, not yet approved by the MTA)

11

Locations of Major Improvements U

nio

n A

ve

Wallabout St & Heyward St Existing

Wallabout St & Heyward St Proposed

Wallabout St & Lynch St Existing

Wallabout St & Lynch St Proposed

Wallabout St & Middleton St Existing

Wallabout St & Middleton St Proposed

Wallabout St & Lee Ave Existing

Wallabout St & Lee Ave Proposed

Union Ave / Marcy Ave Existing

Union Ave / Marcy Ave Slip Ramp Closure

Westbound Wallabout St Traffic (Before)

Anticipated Rerouting of

Westbound Wallabout St Traffic (PM peak)

+61

cars

+55

cars

Overall parking loss / gain

Adding full time parking spaces ~24 net new parking spaces throughout the project area

Parking time reduced 8 spaces: Lee Ave (east curb) between Wallabout & Flushing (4-7pm -> 7am-7pm)

34 spaces: Flushing Ave (north curb) from Bedford to Lee (7am-7pm)

Parking Supply

25

Proposed Curb Regulations Changes

Necessary to

handle

redirected

westbound

traffic on Lee

Ave & Flushing

Ave and to

improve

Flushing Ave

26

Summary of Benefits

Safer, less congested, less chaotic Wallabout St

Added pedestrian space throughout

Improved traffic operations on Wallabout St

Improved traffic operations on Flushing Ave

Improved traffic operations on Lee Ave

More logical circulation pattern on Union Ave between Wallabout St & Flushing Ave

Questions? Thank

You