DOT Approves Request For Speed Bump Outside Local Schools
The Department of Transportation has approved a request for a speed bump near two Midwood schools in response to concerns about about speeding cars putting children in danger, City Councilman Chaim Deutsch announced Thursday.
The speed bump will be placed on Elm Avenue, between Coney Island Avenue and East 12th Street, in order to slow traffic around P.S. 199 and the Bais Yaakov Academy (BYA).
“The safety of our precious children is of utmost importance,” Deutsch said in a press release. “We have hundreds of young kids crossing Elm Avenue to get to school each day, and these enhancements are vital for their safety.”
Because of the proximity of the two schools, hundreds of schoolchildren walk along the block each day. Last year, in response to calls from neighbors, parents, and school administrators for improved traffic safety on the block, Deutsch pushed the DOT to install a stop sign. The sign was installed in the spring, according to Deutsch’s office.
“As a neighbor to two schools and the father of several young children, the need for increased safety measures at my corner was significant. On behalf of my family and my neighbors, I thank Councilman Deutsch for getting these safety improvements on Elm Avenue,” Yaakov Abadi, an Elm Avenue resident, said in the councilman’s press release.
Deutsch has also allocated funding for new chairs for P.S. 199’s auditorium. The old seats were outdated and children often got their feet stuck in the gaps between the chairs, according to the press release.
“The seating in our auditorium has been in need of an upgrade for some time, and we are so grateful that Councilman Deutsch supplied us with this grant to replace them,” said P.S. 199 Principal Rosalia Bacarella.
Deutsch has also been assisting local summer camps in getting permits to use outdoor parks and other recreational areas. Bais Yaakov Academy (BYA), which hosts 800 campers during the summer, thanked Deutsch for his help.
“Councilman Deutsch helped our camp to obtain a permit so that our campers have access to a park during the summer. We are so grateful to the Councilman for all that he does for our school and for our community,” Rabbi Chaim Milworm, administrator of BYA, said in the press release.