DOT To Begin Pedestrian Safety Improvements For Atlantic/Flatbush Intersection This Fall

FORT GREENE – The intersection of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues is a major hub consisting of two highly trafficked two-way roads. Vehicular, foot, and bicycle traffic will only increase with all the new commercial and residential developments rising in the surrounding neighborhoods.

The area suffers from long pedestrian crossings, heavy traffic volumes and conflicts, unfriendly sidewalk design, frequent bus/taxi/van drop-offs, and a lack of bike lane connections, the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) highlighted in an August 2016 presentation.

Between 2008 to 2016 there were five fatalities in the vicinity of Atlantic Avenue from 4th Avenue to Fort Greene Place and Flatbush Avenue from the Barclays Center to just past Schermerhorn Street/Lafayette Avenue, according to DOT. Both Atlantic and Flatbush are Vision Zero Corridors.

Within a five year period from 2010 to 2014, this area saw 57 pedestrians injured (9 killed or seriously injured); 21 bicyclists injured (4 killed or seriously injured); and 289 vehicle occupants injured (12 killed or seriously injured) DOT reports.

In December 2016, DOT installed a rubber pedestrian refuge island at the crosswalk located at 4th and Atlantic Avenues creating a shorter and safer two-part crossing for pedestrians across that busy road.

Starting this Fall, DOT will begin implementing additional safety improvements at the intersection of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues. The project will include:

• installing four concrete ADA-accessible pedestrian refuge islands on each leg of the intersection of Atlantic and Flatbush to shorten crossing distances
• eliminating one eastbound right-turn only lane on Atlantic heading south onto Flatbush Avenue to reduce car and pedestrian conflicts
• allowing westbound traffic on Flatbush to make right-turns using one lane only to reduce car and pedestrian conflicts
• optimizing signal timing to improve traffic flow for cars and pedestrians
• allowing northbound traffic on 4th Avenue to make right-turns onto Atlantic from the center lane
• expanding the east crosswalk at the intersection of 4th and Atlantic
• pulling back the curb-line on northbound 4th Avenue at Times Plaza (between Atlantic and Flatbush) to allow for future bike lane connections

In Spring 2018, DOT will begin work on pedestrian safety improvements for Times Plaza, the triangular island located across from the Atlantic Terminal Mall. The highly trafficked area is surrounded by three major roadways and six crosswalks.

Along with moving the 4th Avenue-side curb six feet in to accommodate a future bike lane, DOT plans to extend the curb on Flatbush across from Hanson Place to shorten the crossing distance for pedestrians. The agency also plans to add tables, chairs, benches, bike racks, planters, and wayfinding signage to the westside of the plaza.

See DOT’s full Flatbush Ave and Atlantic Ave presentation here.