Caton Avenue Pedestrian Safety Improvement Approved; DOT Set To Implement Major Changes

After much debate and an impassioned speech from Councilman Brad Lander, Community Board 7 members last night green-lighted the city Department of Transportation’s proposed safety improvements for Caton Avenue and the surrounding area, allowing the DOT to now move forward with their plans that neighbors say will be a life-saver.

Community members came out in force last night to urge the board to pass the DOT’s proposal, which numerous area leaders and other residents have said will help to address roads now fraught with short crossing times, speeding cars, unsafe turns, and more. Neighbor Meema Spadola and PS 130 Principal Maria Nunziata presented a petition with 278 signatures supporting the changes on Caton, from Ocean Parkway to Coney Island Avenue.

Following a long, heated debate, 20 board members voted to support the city’s plans, nine voted no, and 13 abstained — meaning the motion did not pass. At this point, Councilman Lander arrived and “gave a stirring speech” to the board, reminding them of the 278 signatures in support of the proposal, Meema wrote to us.

Finally, after much back and forth, the board took a second vote — and this time around it passed with 31 members voting yes, three casting no votes and three abstaining. (Meema noted that the meeting was a long one and some members left prior to the second vote, which is why there’s a discrepancy with the numbers.)

“I think we owe a huge thanks as a community to Brad for stepping up and advocating,” Meema wrote to us. “And many thanks to all who signed the petition.”

Now that both CB 7 and CB 12 have backed the DOT’s plans, the city can begin implementing them, and many of the changes are expected to come to fruition this summer.

Lander lauded CB 7 for the members’ decision to back the plan that numerous neighbors have said is crucial, particularly after the hit-and-run death of a 14-year-old Mohammad Naiem Uddin and in light of the fact that an incoming school on Caton Avenue will open next fall.

“Thanks to Community Board 7 members for voting last night to support DOT’s Caton Avenue Pedestrian Safety plan,” Lander said in email to us. “Converting the road into one lane in each direction (as well as adding turning bays, pedestrian islands, and new crosswalks), will significantly reduce speeding and make the area safer for all pedestrians – especially students walking to the soon-to-be opened school on Caton Avenue. I’m incredibly proud to be moving forward with meaningful street safety improvements in this area, especially in memory of young Mohammad Uddin who lost his life on Caton Avenue last fall.”

The DOT’s plans include:

• Installing a new pedestrian pedestrian crosswalks and signals along Caton Avenue to improve access and safety.

• Implementing three new pedestrian islands along Caton Avenue to shorten the crossing distance.

• Adding a left-turn signal at the Caton Avenue and Ocean Parkway service road intersection.

• Converting the Caton Avenue corridor to one lane in each direction, from Ocean Parkway to Coney Island Avenue, and add left turn lanes to reduce speeding.

• Converting E. 7th Street to a one-way northbound road from Caton Avenue to Kermit Place.

• Converting E. 8th Street to a one-way southbound road from Caton Avenue to Ocean Parkway.

• Removing one to two parking spots at Caton and E. 8th Street, Kermit Place and E. 8th Street, E. 8th Street and Route 27, and Kermit Place and E. 7th Street to improve visibility.

• Moving the eastbound B16 bus stop from the southwest corner of Caton Avenue and Ocean Parkway to the bridge on Caton Avenue that passes over Ocean Parkway to improve bus operation and traffic flow.

To see the DOT’s full presentation regarding these plans, you may go here.