Coney Islanders are celebrating the set up of latest four-way cease indicators and painted crosswalks at a bustling and notably harmful Surf Avenue intersection.
The neighborhood has lengthy petitioned the town for an improved crosswalk on the nook of Surf Avenue and West thirty seventh Avenue, with Group Board 13 going so far as passing a decision calling for added security measures.
“Our workplace has repeatedly petitioned [the Department of Transportation] to behave on the problem, and to return see the intersection firsthand,” Council Member Ari Kagan advised Brownstoner sister pub Brooklyn Paper. “Prior requests had merely fallen on deaf ears.”
Earlier this month, Kagan’s workplace introduced DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, Brooklyn Commissioner Keith Bray and Chair of the Council’s Committee on Transportation Selvena Brooks-Powers to the intersection. There, Kagan mentioned the three “noticed the unacceptable state of affairs, and promised to take motion by the top of the month.”
On Friday, July 22, locals noticed their years of exhausting work come to fruition.
So excited to see the #TransportationAndInfrastructure excursions have been capable of assist elevate points that result in safer streets. Thanks a lot, @CMAriKagan47, in your advocacy on behalf of your district. Now, your residents will be capable of cross the road safely! Extra to return. https://t.co/X486jb0cH1
— CMSelvenaBrooksPowers (@CMBrooksPowers) July 22, 2022
The crossing — positioned close to the Scheuer Home of Coney Island, a senior housing facility and neighborhood middle — is a crucial one for native elders, Kagan mentioned. It is also the closest intersection to the doorway to Seagate, a gated neighborhood alongside the Riegelmann Boardwalk.
“It was some of the harmful intersections in Coney Island,” Kagan mentioned, “not only for pedestrians however for drivers as nicely, if you happen to’re a driver going to Seagate or from Seagate.”
Crash stories present that the southern Brooklyn neighborhoods of Brighton Seashore, Sea Gate and Coney Island have seen a mixed 23 crashes throughout the final month.
Exacerbating the problem on Surf Avenue and West thirty seventh Avenue, Kagan mentioned, is the location of a close-by bus cease, which the pol mentioned usually causes blindspots for drivers.
The busy intersection made it exhausting for the aged to cross safely, locals mentioned. Photograph by Arthur de Gaeta
“If there is a bus staying there on the actual cease and you are a senior desirous to cross Surf Avenue, you [can’t] see what is going on on behind the bus and if you happen to’re a driver, you [can’t] see the senior,” the council member mentioned. “You are not going to decelerate, if you happen to [can’t] see anyone.”
The pol believes that, with the work of DOT, the intersection will go from being one of many peninsula’s most harmful to being one of many most secure.
“The neighborhood has been overwhelmingly supportive. All native associations and organizations are in assist, together with the Sea Gate Affiliation, Jewish Group Council of Higher Coney Island and JASA, that are [both] positioned on the intersection, in addition to the local people board,” mentioned Kagan. “Seniors and folks with disabilities particularly are blissful, as crossing the road prior was actually life threatening.”
DOT didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Editor’s be aware: A model of this story initially ran in Brooklyn Paper. Click on right here to see the unique story.
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