Kent Traffic Shifts to Wythe
[nggallery id=”35490″ template=galleryview] As we have been discussing, the Department of Transportation implemented one-way traffic on a portion of Kent Avenue, between Clymer and Broadway (download the plan from the DOT website). Since Kent Avenue was a major southbound thoroughfare, many trucks, cars, and construction vehicles have rerouted one block east to Wythe Avenue. The…
[nggallery id=”35490″ template=galleryview]
As we have been discussing, the Department of Transportation implemented one-way traffic on a portion of Kent Avenue, between Clymer and Broadway (download the plan from the DOT website). Since Kent Avenue was a major southbound thoroughfare, many trucks, cars, and construction vehicles have rerouted one block east to Wythe Avenue. The DOT, in its objectives for the restructuring of Kent Avenue, planned to install “new guide signs to inform truckers and other motorists of preferred routes: Greenpoint Avenue, McGuinness Boulevard, and Meeker Ave./BQE.” Currently, there is a sign on Kent Avenue, north of Broadway where traffic still runs two ways, reminding vehicles to turn left on Broadway, but no other signage telling drivers to continue on any recommended route. As when the DOT proposed these changes, some residents are concerned for public safety. One reader wrote to us saying, “it will probably take a major accident, hit-and-run, or other tragedy to get the DOT to consider policing the change in traffic pattern and to direct trucks to the correct route.” Hopefully it will not be so extreme, and the DOT can find an effective method for managing the southbound traffic. GMAP
Kent Ave Goes One-way Today [Brownstoner]
The Kent Avenue Conundrum [Brownstoner]
Boiling Point for Kent Avenue Bike Lane [Brownstoner]
sorry for all the typos. smart phone not so smart today.
I expect the city government to do what is best for the enitre community. Making Kent 1 way isn’t best for everyone, its best for a few. It sure isn’t best for those who live work ,and play on wythe. Enforcement of the traffic laws might have been a good start. Speedbumps would have been another. Hey, how about a few more stop signs? I think that might have cost less than the 3.5 mill the city dumped to change this over.
“DOT will be pressured into putting up better signage and trucks will eventually be detoured properly”
BJ, I didn’t expect everything to be 100%. I did expect some traffic cops directing traffic out there. Should DOT have to be pressured into putting up the correct signage for their changes? Should trucks have to be “eventually detoured properly”?
Someone is going to get hurt badly. Yeah I expect better than that.
zinka’s right – not sure what people are complaining about. Kent was essentially a highway, and this will make it safer. DOT will be pressured into putting up better signage and trucks will eventually be detoured properly – what, you expected things would be running 100% smoothly instantly? Let’s be real here.
According to the DOT, the previous layout was 19′-20′ wide in each direction, including the bike lane and buffer. Stripes aren’t physical objects, so they don’t generally slow drivers down. It was a total speedway.
There are certainly some short-term pains as people get used to the new layout, but I think in a few months we’ll be really happy with it.
*driving
I was outside from 6:00 to 6:30 last night, and it was a total s***show. I saw at least three 18 wheelers disregard the signage and barricade to continue southbound south of Broadway. Wythe was a nightmare to cross, something it never was before.
I think the great pleasure was having a north/south throughfare. Its something I’m going to miss.
20 feet clear each way? What street were you diving on?
This is a disater waiting to happen says the guy who lives on Kent.
ditto: Often, but not always. Perceived width and number of obstacles (e.g. parked cars) has more to do with it. In this case, the new traffic lane will be 10-11′ with parked cars on either side. Drivers won’t drive fast under those circumstances. Previously, there was more like 20′ clear each way counting the bike lanes. Drivers ZOOM under those circumstances.
zinka: one-way streest have higher traffic speeds than two-way streets.
Kent was a “great pleasure”? It was a highway-like street with out-of-control speeding traffic. This change will be wonderful.