Petition to make Congress Street safer for pedestrians

Reposted from the Columbia Waterfront Nextdoor site:

Hi

People who use Van Voorhees park on Congress Street (between Columbia and Hicks) are concerned about the speeding traffic and inability to cross the street without fear of being hit by a speeding vehicle.

We started a petition and would love the support of the neighborhood. Once we collect signatures, we can then obtain letters of support from Joan Millman, Brad Lander and Daniel Squadron to submit to the DOT.

Please sign our petition and pass it along to everybody you know!

http://www.change.org/petitions/nyc-dept-of-transportation-slow-the-traffic-speed-on-congress-street-between-columbia-hicks

Thanks
Lisa
Mom to 2 who was almost mowed down yesterday while crossing with both of my kids!

Improvements soon at Pier 6 / Atlantic Avenue intersection

"Construction to improve pedestrian access to the beloved Brooklyn Bridge Park is slated to begin at the end of the month, the DOT says."

http://carrollgardens.patch.com/articles/construction-to-begin-at-pier-6

Columbia Waterfront District After Irene

Minor flooding at Van Brunt and Union St

I took the dog out at 10:00am when he couldn't wait any longer. We walked up and down Columbia and Van Brunt and I didn't see any trees down or any damage or debris except for leaves and small branches. This large puddle on Van Brunt St and Union St was the worst of the flooding that I saw in the District. There must be some basement flooding close to the water, though, because I saw one basement flood through its open door and another basement getting water pumped out.

I didn't see any businesses open. If you see a local business open today, post in the comments. 

Glad our neighborhood was not too badly damaged. I hear that there is some bad flooding on Imlay Street in Red Hook and other neighborhoods.

Now the wind is picking up and the sun is coming out. What a crazy weekend.

Stalled Development Sites

Council member Brad Lander recently unveiled a new website that provides information on stalled development sites across the 39th Council District. The purpose of this site is to make information on the sites readily available and to start a discussion about possible legislative changes and other long term solutions that could remedy the problems that these sites represent for our communities.

Many of the development sites on the list were submitted to his office by local residents, so while the list has many locations, it is not complete. The Columbia Waterfront section, for example, shows two sites, while I'm sure that there are several more. Please visit this new website and submit information on anything that you find missing so that it can be as comprehensive as possible. We wouldn't want to miss out on any positive changes to these development sites by forgetting to submit information!

Check out the website here and read below for a portion of the email that announced the release of the project:

Many of you have talked to me about stalled development sites on your blocks - half-built structures, abandoned foundations, or vacant lots surrounded by plywood fencing. Too often, we've seen fences falling down onto sidewalks and loose construction debris blow in the wind. Many blocks have been turned into "moonscapes."

We need to take action to confront the problem - to make sure the sites are safe and secure, and to work together on longer-term solutions. Some sites are appropriate to become mixed-income or affordable housing. Some have violated our zoning rules and must be corrected. Some could provide pocket-parks or community gardens.

We thought the way to start was to get our community on the same (web)page about just what is going on at these stalled development sites. So we got right to work creating a new, interactive tool.

Reminder: Submit accident information and take Safer Streets survey

A member of our Facebook group uploaded the above accident photo this week, which shows an accident that took place last August on Summit and Columbia between a truck and a car.

Since our neighborhood walk-through with representatives from the DOT and Elected Official offices was postponed due to the snow last week, there's still time for community residents to submit photos, videos, or details about accidents and other traffic issues, as well as to take the COWNA Safer Street Survey.

Report on the Salt Pile meeting

Yournabe.com/The Courier ran an article yesterday on last week's salt pile meeting with ASI.

While the meeting seems to have gone well overall, the true test will be to see if ASI lives up to its apologies and either moves the pile or keeps it under MUCH better control.

Some of the article is posted below. Click here for the whole thing. Thanks to Councilmember Lander, Councilmember Levin, Senator Squadron, and Assemlywoman Millman for making this important step happen and getting ASI to come to the table!

Lydia Jimenez doesn’t have to go far to get her daily sodium requirement — the Baltic Street resident simply steps outside her home, and sticks out her tongue.

“I can smell it, I can taste it. It’s all over our vehicles and when its windy, it comes in our homes,” she said at a meeting convened last week to address the problem.

Jimenez is one of several vexed homeowners living near a mountain of salt stored at American Stevedoring International’s container terminal abutting the Columbia Street waterfront district....

At the meeting, Matt Yates the director of commercial operations for American Stevedoring International, took full responsibility for the predicament, apologizing to residents and admitting that mistakes have been made in handling the mineral. “The buck stops here,” he said. “Our job is to manage the port and supervise it.”

Yates said that in the short term, the salt, which is imported from South America and Canada and stored near the Columbia Street side of the port, would be better managed and covered properly. He promised to return to the community with specifics and a long term plan, one that could involve moving the pile farther away from residents’ homes.

“We probably should have thought of a more internal location,” Yates said. “We didn’t think enough about how this was going to impact the community.”

At the meeting, held at the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health on Columbia Street, Yates was flanked by City Councilmembers Steve Levin and Brad Lander, along with state Senator Daniel Squadron....

Columbia Street resident Norman Cox, the president of the Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association, said he was heartened by the presence of the elected officials, and impressed by Yates’ effort. “But I won’t be totally satisfied until the pule is gone,” he said. “I really don’t think it’s appropriate there.”

Local resident Terry Hasan wasn’t as impressed. “The take away, when all is said and done, is that I don’t know how much is going to change,” he said. “To change, you have to either eliminate the salt pile or tell us very specific changes [that will be enacted] to manage the pile. Until then, it’s just ‘hey, we’ll do our best.’”

Public Meeting with American Stevedoring regarding the Salt Pile

Community Meeting

with American Stevedoring Inc. (ASI) and
Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association (CoWNA)

to discuss community concerns regarding:

the Salt Pile on Columbia Street pier

Thursday, February 11th, 2010
6:00 PM

Postgraduate Center for Mental Health
Community Room
177 Columbia Street (at Degraw Street), 5th Floor

Sponsored by:
Councilmember Brad Lander
State Senator Daniel Squadron
Assemblywoman Joan L. Millman
Councilmember Stephen Levin

For more information, please contact Michael Curtin
in Councilmember Lander's office
718-499-1090 or mcurtin { at } council.nyc.gov

Safer Streets Survey: Community Input Needed

Due to our recent petitioning, letter writing, and the generous support of various elected officials, the Department of Transportation has agreed to conduct studies of the Columbia Waterfront neighborhood over the next couple of months.

Some members of COWNA, along with staff members from the offices of various elected officials, will be conducting a walk-through of the neighborhood with DOT officials in mid-February.

An important goal during this meeting will be to present the DOT with as much data, information, and community input as possible, thereby alerting them of specific issues and concerns, as well as to discuss some potential solutions. Please take 10 minutes of your time to fill in this "Safer Streets Survey"

Your survey responses will be strictly confidential and data from this research will be reported only in the aggregate.

Car crashes through storefront on Van Brunt

A car crashed through a storefront on Van Brunt near Dikeman today. I'm not sure of the details yet, but either way, this serves as a harsh reminder that traffic isn't just a Columbia st. issue, but a concern throughout the neighborhood. Much of the traffic on Van Brunt passes through Columbia St. to get there, and vice versa, and therefore the issue needs to be addressed on a neighborhood wide scale!


{Photo by Lisa C.}

Another accident today/ Columbia St. traffic update

There was another accident on Columbia St. and President St. this morning involving a car and a motorcycle. It happened during the 8 am hour, and it seems that the motorcyclist was taken away in an ambulance. Two reports so far say that he is presumed to have had a broken leg.

Given this incident, its probably a good time to give the community an update on the petition that we previously circulated and other related efforts.

Steps taken to date:

• A petition with 170 signatures was mailed to DOT Commissioner Sadik-Khan last week requesting the implementation of traffic calming and safety measures along Columbia St. (thanks to everyone who signed!). Copies have also been forwarded to the offices of Brad Lander, Joan Millman, Marty Markowitz, Daniel Squadron, Bill de Blasio, and Community Board 6. This petition follows two previous letters mailed in by the Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association to the DOT.

• We have confirmation from the offices of Lander (Councilman elect), Millman (State Assemblywoman), and Markowitz (Borough President) that they will support the community's request. Some of this support has happened already: Markowitz's office has had multiple conversations with staff from the Brooklyn DOT office to find out more information and look into options, Joan Millman sent a follow up letter to Commissioner Sadik-Khan in support of the petition, and Brad Lander will be bringing it up in upcoming meetings with DOT officials.
  

Next Steps:

• If you happen to see or have a relationship with any of the above confirmed supporters, express your thanks to them and remind them of the urgency of the matter

• If you happen to see or have a relationship with any of the elected officials that have not yet responded, please write in or mention the issue to them and ask that they provide some level of support

• Finally, please feel free to let us know about any other offices that we should forward it to. You can also send in your own letters, emails, and calls to urge elected officials and city agencies to support this.
  

Reminder: SIgn the traffic petition!

Please remember to sign the Columbia St. traffic calming and safety petition this week.

Currently, there are petitions available for signature at:

The Coffee Den (Union and Hicks)
Everyday Athlete Kids (Columbia b/w Carroll and Summit)

This petition will serve to follow up to letters sent by COWNA in the past, and serve as an important first step in demonstrating community buy-in of the issue to elected officials, the DOT, and other city offices. Some elected officials have responded favorably to emails we've sent them, but we need to keep the issue alive and show them that it really matters to us.

Anyone who would like to volunteer to collect signatures, either on the street, in their buildings or otherwise, please let us know.

Also, if any other business has printed petitions to have available on site, please let us know and we will direct people your way as well.

UPDATE: You can also view the petition here and print out for collecting signatures from your friends and neighbors:

Columbia Street Traffic Petition

Petition for Columbia St. traffic calming and safety!!!

In light of recent accidents and ongoing traffic issues along Columbia St, many of our readers, contacts, and friends in the community have expressed real concern about safety and noise issues.

As a result, we have decided to put together a petition. When complete, we will forward it to the DOT and other city agencies and officials.

There are several ways that you can sign this petition:

1) Come to the Halloween event at Mother Cabrini Park/the Urban Meadow this Saturday from 10-12am. We will have the petition available at one of our tables.

2) Stop by the Coffee Den anytime next week. They have agreed to have petition forms available.

3) If neither of these options work for you, please email us and we'll work something out.

Finally, if you have time and are passionate about this issue, we also invite you to collect signatures from your friends and neighbors. Please contact us if interested.

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Haven't been following this issue recently? See the posts below for some info - although this issue has been ongoing for much longer than these posts

Columbia St. crash photos from 10/14 and 10/18
Accident Report from 76th Precinct
COWNA's recent attempts on this issue
Accident at Columbia and Summit 10/18
Information on the issue from CB6
Initial accident post on 10/18 (w/ numerous comments)

76th Precinct Community Council meeting 11/3

Captain Kenneth Corey of the 76th Precinct has been getting a lot of media and internet attention lately for his online presence, but we honestly think its a great thing

He sent out a reminder to the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association list this week to remind people about the 76th Precinct Community Council meeting on 11/3:

The 76th Precinct Community Council meets on the first Tuesday evening of
every month except July and August. Our next meeting is on *Tuesday
November 3rd - Election Day* at 7:30 p.m. at the 76th Precinct Station
House, 191 Union Street between Hicks and Henry Streets. The meeting is open
to everyone.

I haven't had a chance to go to one of these meetings yet, but between online presence and open meetings, our local precinct is making a true effort to communicate with the community and be aware of any issues.

Check out this week's Daily News and Gothamist articles on the Captain

Columbia St. crash photos from 10/14 and 10/18

The following photos were taken by YumKim Yee, a member of the COWNA Public Services Committee. YumKim was also responsible for writing the letter to the DOT back in June that we previously mentioned.

We would like to urge readers to continue to snap photos like these, take note of dates and times, and submit them so that we can continue to document how dangerous this stretch of Columbia St. is.

Accident at President and Columbia on 10/18/09:




YumKim's comments:

Involved 2 cars on a Sunday afternoon of 10/18 where there were several injuries. Note the red car that went over the sidewalk & into the bushes in front of the building. By coincidence, this accident location is the very takes place where we asked DOT, 76th Pct & CB6 to install a traffic light/stop sign but was told that there was not enough incidents to warrant it.

Accident at Union St. and Columbia on 10/14/09 around 8am:

YumKim's comments:

Occurred at "8am" on Wednesday morning of 10/14. It involved a white van traveling s/bound on Columbia St. followed by a yellow taxi (I took the shot from my window above). Fortunately no fatalities from both cars (incl. taxi passengers) but you can imagine that someone could have been pinned between the taxi and pole/parked car...


And if you're just tuning in, don't forget the other crash that occurred on 10/18 within very shortly before the one pictured above

Accident report from 76th Precinct

Below is the response we've received from the 76th precinct regarding the accidents on Sunday. We apologize for earlier reports that suggested that pedestrians were hit, but were working with very limited and unofficial reports at the time. In any case, this corner has had a number of accidents in recent memory and is dangerous for drivers and pedestrians.

Here is the information on the accidents you requested, based upon my review of the reports prepared by the responding officers.

At approximately 1:05 PM, there was a 2 car accident on Summit and Columbia Streets, no one was injured. As you are probably aware, that intersection is controlled by a 3-way stop sign. 3 vehicles approached the intersection at about the same time, and all stopped at the signs. The vehicle on Summit Street proceeded straight. The two vehicles on Columbia Street then entered the intersection, the vehicle that had been travelling South bound on Columbia Street attempted to make a left turn onto Summit Street and was struck by the vehicle that was travelling North bound.

At approximately 1:25 PM there was a 2 car accident on President and Columbia Streets in which 6 people were injured. I noticed that on your blog, someone posted that there were pedestrians involved. This is not the case. One of the vehicles was occupied solely by the male driver, and the other vehicle had 5 occupants, all female, ranging in age from 13 - 35 . In this accident, both vehicles were travelling in opposite directions on Columbia Street, one of the vehicles attempted to make a left turn onto President Street, and was struck by the other vehicle, which was going straight. The vehicle that was continuing straight subsequently crashed into some bushes.

I hope I have provided the details you were looking for. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance.

As you may be aware, the 76th Precinct Community Council meets on the first Tuesday evening of every month except July and August. Our next meeting is on Tuesday November 3rd at 7:30 p.m. at the 76th Precinct Station House, 191 Union Street between Hicks and Henry Streets. The meeting is open to everyone.

Captain Kenneth E. Corey

Commanding Officer, 76th Precinct

COWNA's recent attempts regarding President and Columbia

Frederick from COWNA sent us some information regarding their attempts over the past several months to get the DOT to take action at the corner of President and Columbia St (because as we all know, yesterday's accident was the most recent among many). Here is a what he told us:

The Public Services Committee [of COWNA] wrote a letter to the DOT, CB6 and the 76^th Precinct in late June in which we proposed a traffic light or at least a stop sign at Columbia and President. The DOT did not reply in any form to this letter, but the 76^th Precinct wrote back on July 1, claiming that they forwarded the letter to DOT. Leroy Branch of CB6 also called back and claimed that they would mail our letter to DOT. There has been no further signs of activity from the DOT despite a reminder being sent in September. The 76^th Precinct also stated that a DOT study indicated that there was no need for a traffic light at Columbia and President.

COWNA has also demanded a copy of the DOT traffic study of Columbia Street, since we frankly assume that their data is dated and not relevant to the way traffic developed over the course of the last two or so years. We wanted to read the traffic study both from the viewpoint of traffic density and emissions, since we still would like to establish a baseline level of traffic and emission levels before new businesses, most notably Phoenix and any traffic related to new construction in Red Hook, may have an effect on overall traffic. The DOT replied to the request for the study on August 20. They claimed that they sent our request for the Columbia Street Traffic Study to the Department of Design and Construction. As of last week, we had not received a copy of the study.

Obviously the DOT has not been very responsive up to this point, and now someone else is hurt because of it. Will this finally compel them to do an updated study? If not a traffic light or stop sign, can we at least get additional speed limit signs, children crossing signs, removal of parking spaces from near the corners, neckdowns, or anything else to help the situation?

If people are looking to do something more about this issue right away, we can start by making some phone calls to the DOT's complaint line at : 718-225-5368 (CALL DOT) OR Dial 3-1-1 (these are the numbers suggested on Transportation Alternatives)

Accident at Columbia and Summit St on 10/18

One of our readers submitted this photo of an accident that occurred on Summit St. and Columbia st. within moments of the accident that happened at Columbia St. and President St. around 12:30

We're not sure if this is related, or if its some strange coincidence. We'd also like to point out that the above accident doesn't appear nearly as bad as the one at President (Edit: which involved 6 injuries) but that the combination of the two at the same time is quite scary.

Some information on traffic safety from CB6

In the process of sending out a number of emails regarding yesterday's accident, we received the following response from Craig Hammerman of Community Board 6. We'll continue to post more information as we receive it.

The intersection of Columbia and President Streets has been studied in the past by the Department of Transportation (DOT) for the installation of a traffic control device. A signal study tests a total of 14 warrants, in accordance with the Federal Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, to see whether the intersection would qualify for a signal. Such things as pedestrian volumes, vehicular volumes, vehicular movements, accident histories, etc. are all taken into consideration. Regardless of whether one person or one thousand people ask for a traffic signal, DOT will respond the same way by performing a study. And once a study has been performed, DOT will wait 18 months minimum before going out to study the same intersection again.

It is my understanding that my office, the offices of Assemblywoman Joan Millman, State Senator Daniel Squadron, and likely others, have all requested signal studies at this intersection and that DOT has found the installation of a traffic signal at this location to be unwarranted. I do not know the last time it was studied, but if it was within the past 18 months that would mean it is not eligible for study at this time.

Traffic signals, I should point out, are not the only way to control traffic and improve safety at intersections. There are other measures that can be taken, which DOT may want to explore further. Removal of parking spaces at corners, or "daylighting", for example, is another way that visibility at intersections can be improved for approaching traffic. It would seem that the most effective way to go about improving safety would be to get DOT out there to look at the intersection to see, from an engineering perspective, which measures in their tool-box they believe are most appropriate.

Please do feel free to stay in touch with our Assistant District Manager, Leroy Branch, at adm@brooklyncb6.org who can be helpful in communicating and following up with DOT, if that is something the communtiy would like to pursue.

I hope this is helpful.


Best, Craig

P.S. Accident reports are taken and kept on record at the local police precincts, in this case the 76th Precinct. And, for purposes of signal studies, only "preventable" (and reported!) accidents would count toward the total that DOT would be looking at, meaning that if a traffic signal would have helped prevent the accident then that accident would count. If a motorist got into an accident due to some mechanical failure, for example, that would not count toward the accident history used to justify the installation of a traffic signal. And unreported accidents wouldn't count at all.


Craig R. Hammerman
District Manager
Brooklyn Community Board 6

Bad accident - President and Columbia St.

EDIT: Please submit photos or other details about yesterday's accident and other recent accidents along Columbia St. to us. We are in the process of compiling info and reaching out to various officials and groups to take action. Stay tuned for ways to get involved.

EDIT 2: We've heard word from the 76th Precinct that no pedestrians were involved, and that it was two cars. While this is a relief in one sense, it is still troubling that this corner seems quite prone to accidents.

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There was a bad accident on the corner of Columbia Street and President Street today
We have already alerted a number of elected officials about it and the ongoing danger that this corner has become, but are looking to do more.

Please let us know of any details you might have about this and other accidents, and we'll use that information to get elected offices in the loop as well as possibly help create an online petition or letter writing campaign.

Neckdowns come to the Columbia Waterfront

These images are of neckdowns (sometimes referred to as bulbouts) that were recently installed by the Department of Transportation (DOT) at Hicks/Sackett and Hicks/Union on the Columbia Waterfront side of the BQE. Pedestrians should be very happy with the shorter crossing distances and the added visibility at these intersections will make it safer for all users. In addition, large trucks will be discouraged from straying off the truck route because they will simply no longer be able to make the turns. This appears to be part of the implementation of the Downtown Brooklyn Traffic Calming Report.

{Images and info above from Brian M.}

Additional info can be found at Transportation Alternatives here.