New vehicle travel lane markings at Atlantic Avenue and Court Street. Image Credit: DOT.
On July 24, 2024, New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced four short-term projects in an effort to enhance public safety along Atlantic Avenue. These projects target the western portion of the Atlantic Avenue corridor in Brooklyn.
The first project involves installing two mid-block crossings between Clinton Street and Court Street and Henry Street and Clinton Street. Mid-block crossings provide pedestrians a designated area to cross the street between vehicular traffic. Prior to this project, three mid-block crossings were installed along Atlantic Avenue.
The second project involves creating new traffic signal changes by installing traffic signal hardware and timing changes. These signal changes will allow a green phase for vehicles traveling in one direction, proceeded by a green phase for all vehicles traveling the opposite direction and will be supported by updating vehicle travel lane. To increase pedestrians’ space to navigate through traffic, a curb extension will be painted at Court Street and Atlantic Avenue.
The third project consists of three upgrades to enhance safety by shortening crossing distance for pedestrians accessing Brooklyn Bridge Park through the separation of vehicle movements from pedestrian movements. These upgrades include: building two new concrete pedestrian islands; converting an existing uncontrolled vehicular slip lane from Atlantic Avenue to Columbia Street into a signalized lane; and adding a southbound right turn from Furman Street to Atlantic Avenue.
The fourth project aims to mitigate traffic congestion by targeting reducing double parking by vehicles and conflicts between street users. This project has not been formulated yet and is being discussed between community stakeholders.
Transportation Commissioner Rodriguez stated, “Atlantic Avenue is a vital transportation artery for Brooklyn, and these critical upgrades will make it significantly easier to walk the avenue, support economic development, and enhance safety by better managing traffic through the corridor.”
State Senator Andrew Gounardes said, “Atlantic Avenue is a community hub full of restaurants, bars and other great local businesses, but for too long, the roadway has been designed to prioritize cars speeding through, not creating a place for neighbors and visitors to safely be. This new slate of improvements represents a crucial step toward creating the safe, vibrant Atlantic Avenue we all want and deserve, where pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and bus riders can get around—and stick around—without putting their lives at risk.”
By: Chelsea Ramjeawan (Chelsea is the CityLaw intern and a New York Law School student, Class of 2025.)