I'd like to take the opportunity to remind anyone reading that Brooklyn Community Board 6 will hold a meeting this Wednesday 10 July to discuss DOT's proposed traffic calming for Fourth Avenue between Pacific Street and 15th Street. As many may remember, Fourth Avenue has received pedestrian safety and traffic calming improvements along virtually its entire length south of 15th Street, and the world has not come to an end. In fact, the improvements north of 15th have received the overwhelming support of our local elected officials, particularly Councilmember Brad Lander. They have had support from all corners, with the sole exception of Brooklyn Community Board 6.
 |
| Left turn reductions and median expansion on Fourth Ave / Courtesy: NYCDOT |
Even though CB6's transportation committee overwhelmingly approved the changes, in June CB6 made the surprise decision to oppose DOT's plan. The reason? Last minute opposition from groups which claimed a reduction in traffic lanes and left turn restrictions would result in traffic backups and force - yes, force - more traffic onto Park Slope's bucolic side streets. But here's the kicker - none of these assertions were backed up with facts. As we see in virtually any transportation project that disrupts an established pattern, the war of information is an asymmetric one.
Contrary to what some might believe, DOT does not simply lay out and implement a vision, a la Robert Moses. Instead, it goes through a study process - one that is filled with opportunities for public feedback that ultimately is incorporated into the final design or decision. So did DOT miss these traffic backups? Were they unaware that trucks would invade Park Slope en masse? Of course not. Even in the summary of the study available on DOT's website, you can see the empiricism that was applied. Cars and pedestrians were counted, and the impact of various changes on both parties were weighed before the final recommendation was made. In the end, DOT used traffic counts to justify reducing travel lanes and weighed average volumes of cars against pedestrians when recommending left turn restrictions. To wit, DOT recommended maintaining 3 travel lanes on the northbound side of Fourth Ave above Union St specifically to avoid traffic backups. Data can always be reanalyzed from different angles, but this is hardly evidence of regulatory fiat by DOT.
Unfortunately, opposition doesn't have such exacting standards. Whereas one side makes use of objective counts and models, the other only needs to voice its fears. And that's what has nearly scuttled a sensible project to make a dangerous stretch of road safer for pedestrians and drivers alike. It doesn't matter that cutting down the highway-like design to a more reasonable urban boulevard is not expected to increase traffic. It doesn't matter that left turn restrictions and fewer traffic lanes will create a safer crossing environment for the area's multiple school zones and subway stations. What matters is who can shout the loudest and stir up the most fears. In lieu of facts, opponents present anecdote and emotion. And once we lower ourselves to knowing better than the evidence at hand, the entire process becomes a joke. In the case of Fourth Ave, years of planning and advocacy for safer streets have been placed in jeopardy, not because the project lacks merit, but because its proponents have remained in the land of facts, not fantasy.
It is fortunate that CB6's approval, while desired, is not necessary for DOT to receive. It would be a rare case of override by the Council and the Department, particularly during an election year, but the project is fortunate to have a local Councilmember who remains a steadfast supporter, in spite of the CB's intransigence. I remain hopeful that this Wednesday's meeting will feature a thoughtful discussion of the project's safety enhancements and its minimal impact on vehicle traffic, but I won't hold my breath. As with every improvement to our streets, opponents will have to be dragged to the table, kicking and screaming, only to see when everything is finished that the model was right all along.
No comments:
Post a Comment