NEW YORK—The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council will hold an event about pedestrian projects around New York City July 18.
The city’s Department of Transportation (DOT) Pedestrian Projects Group will discuss how they “have tamed traffic at some of the city’s most vehicle-dominated locations,” including the Hoyt-RFK Bridge interchange in Astoria, and Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn—with discussion about more minor safety improvements that have been made at places such as the corner of Nagle Avenue and 10th Avenue in Manhattan.
Traffic changes have behind unprecedented low traffic fatalities, according to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who announced in December 2011 that fatalities had decreased 40 percent from 2001 to 237. Bloomberg and other city officials made the announcement at Grand Army Plaza, which was majorly redesigned by adding pedestrian islands, crosswalks, and a new traffic signal.
Other pedestrian-friendly changes include the expanding Neighborhood Slow Zone program. The first zone, which reduces the speed limit from 30 mph to 20 mph with additional visual signs indicating the lower limit, was introduced in the Claremont neighborhood of the Bronx in November last year; the city announced July 10 that 13 new areas have been preliminarily selected for similar slow zones, including New Brighton/St. George in Staten Island, Corona in Queens, and Inwood in northern Manhattan. Data gathered so far from the Claremont zone shows top speeds have been reduced by about 10 percent.
The July 18 free event will be held at noon in the transportation council’s office at 199 Water Street, 22nd floor. It can be attended through webinar as well. RSVP in person to [email protected] or go to http://ept.ms/NwKGV0 for webinar registration.
The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.
