Make Washington Street one way again! That’s the rallying cry of dozens of Dumbo residents who are tired of the honking and the gridlock.

“The two-way traffic congestion on Washington Street between Front and York has become a growing issue,” local Jamel Talbi told Brownstoner. “We’re not even in the high season yet and already we’re hearing the honking and seeing the gridlock caused by cars trying to pass each other as they drive through the neighborhood. This causes several issues, not least among them safety.”

Talbi last week posted a petition on Change.org to make the block one way. So far, it has garnered 92 supporters.

brooklyn streets safety dumbo washington street map
Base map via NYCityMap

For the two blocks nearest the waterfront, from Plymouth to Front, Washington is already one way, Google Maps shows. This is also, not incidentally, one of the most popular spots in the borough for photos — where photogs flock to snap the view of the Empire State Building framed by the Manhattan Bridge.

But at York, the street becomes two way before morphing into Cadman Plaza East as it emerges from the BQE.

Photo by Hannah Frishberg
Photogs gather at the base of Washington Street. Photo by Hannah Frishberg

It was not always thus. In Dumbo, all of Washington was one way, from Plymouth to York. It changed in 2010, when the City made the block of Washington between Front and York into a two-way street, as we reported at the time.

In the meantime, Dumbo has become more popular — and congested, according to Talbi.

“I don’t believe anybody could have reasonably predicted the population explosion little Dumbo has experienced in the last few years (and which continues to rise), or the crowds of visitors that descend daily to visit the park, snap photos and grab pizza,” says the petition.

Photo by Susan De Vries
The block on a quiet morning. Photo by Susan De Vries

Talbi has spoken with the community board and written to the Brooklyn DOT commissioner. The petition “demonstrates broad support for the change,” he said.

Several petitioners expressed concerns over safety. “Our street is dangerous, congested, and someone is going to get hurt — likely a tourist taking photos, or a child crossing the street,” wrote one.

What do you think? Should the block of Washington Street between Front and York be one way or two?

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