Community Hears Problems, Offers Solutions
By Harold Egeln
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
WINDSOR TERRACE — There are too many trucks, speeding vehicles, parking problems, traffic noise and dangers to pedestrians throughout Windsor Terrace. At least that’s what upset residents and neighbors said, spelling out their complaints and suggesting solutions at a traffic and transportation forum held Thursday evening at Grand Prospect Hall.
It was the first time that Community Board Seven joined forces with the Windsor Terrace Alliance, a newly formed activist community group of residents and business people led by Lauren Collins. "We're very happy that a group has been formed in Windsor Terrace," said Randy Peers, chair of Board Seven, which serves Sunset Park and Windsor Terrace. With him were Fred Xueber, chair of the board’s traffic and transit committee, and several other board members.
The two-hour speak-out featuring a couple dozen speakers was the result of the alliance's recent online survey to identify local traffic and transportation problems, and find solutions, said the leaders of the forum. The most persistent problems include traffic congestion and chaos at Prospect Park Southwest, the Park Circle, Caton Avenue and speeding trucks.
The survey identified the problems, leading off with Prospect Park Southwest, with speeding vehicles, lots of noise, traffic backups and many big-wheeler trucks. At the Park Circle by the Parade Ground, vehicles barreling down Prospect Park Southwest head straight across, cutting off others at the circle and making it hard for pedestrians crossing as cars head for a right turn onto Coney Island Avenue.
“Traffic is always going down at a great rate of speed to the Park Circle,” said homeowner Steve Cole. “A radar gun at the end would help police identify speeders. Put a speed trap at the bottom of the hill by the circle.”
“The traffic signal at the corner of Prospect Park Southwest and Greenwood Avenue is not synchronized,” said another resident. “Drivers cross through the red light to make the next green light that’s coming.” She suggested placing a camera at the first light to catch violators.
A young boy told the forum about speeders at Prospect Park Southwest and Vanderbilt Street, and how he and other children make a speedy trip across the road when the traffic light reads “walk.” If there’s a car coming at 65 mph and people don’t make it, the boy said, “That’s not going to be good.”
Caton Avenue Traffic Dangers
Caton Avenue is a stretch of roadway with congestion and speeding vehicles with out-of-sync traffic lights, the survey and speakers noted. There are backups from Caton onto McDonald Avenue, forcing some drivers to seek escape onto side streets where they are often seen speeding. A resident near Caton Avenue added that truck traffic there is not always related to local deliveries.
Suggested solutions include more traffic cops during rush hours, closing the Fort Hamilton Parkway exit from the Prospect Expressway at the same time, and making left-hand turns from McDonald onto Caton illegal.
At The Fort Hamilton Parkway overpass, drivers are seen ignoring red lights at East Fifth Street. It is near two schools, a playground and a library. It was suggested that “reduced speed limit” signs would help. As it is, the East Fifth Street exit has only a hard-to-see stop sign, which cars often rush through without stopping.
Don't Discontinue B69 Bus, Rider Says
The city has been threatening to discontinue the B69 bus route between Windsor Terrace and Prospect Heights, one resident complained. The bus runs every half-hour except for the morning rush hour, when it runs more often.
A brief discussion on the impact of the city’s congestion pricing and residential parking permit proposals followed. “Congestion pricing will have an impact, and it’s right around the corner,” said Peers. The board will hold two hearings on the issue, one for each community.
Assemblyman Jim Brennan said a state legislature traffic committee on congestion pricing and residential parking permits will release a committee report by the end of this month. The City Council, he noted, is in charge of the residential parking permit issue, there’s talk of a pilot program in Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, and Fort Greene.
Of the problem of trucks on local streets, Brennan said, “If the DOT allowed trucks on the Belt Parkway, our communities would benefit tremendously.”
© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2007
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