A few simple improvements to Fourth Avenue have led to a marked improvement in pedestrian safety, including reducing pedestrian injuries by over 60% and crashes by 20%. The findings were printed in the DOT’s project evaluation and analyzed by Streetsblog. The project is an initiative under Mayor de Blasio’s Vision Zero Great Streets program and is currently seeking additional funding for future development.
Fourth Avenue, as it cross through Park Slope and Sunset Park, was identified by the DOT as a “priority corridor” due to multiple fatalities at key intersections and high incidences of speeding. In response, the DOT installed a 13-foot parking lane and 4-foot buffers around the raised median, and banned left turns from some low-traffic intersections. The results, as you can see in the images below, were positive without causing any major disruptions in traffic:
DOT
DOT
The DOT is now proposing to expand on the improvements, including benches at certain crossings, curb extensions, raised subway vents to help with flooding, and raised medians for plants.
DOT
(Photo: Chris Kreussling)
