The gridlock, congestion and pedestrian safety issues that are plaguing the area surrounding Kings Highway and Nostrand Avenue since the SBS bus lane and other treatments were added are issues that many local residents are up in arms about.
Senator Felder is taking these issues seriously.
Felder called on DOT Commissioner Trottenberg and NYC Transit President Byford to take immediate steps to remedy the issues in a letter which follows below.
Earlier this week, Senator Felder and Councilmembers Chaim Deutsch and Jumaane Williams met to walk through the area and assess the issues and discuss possible solutions – see attached photo.
October 11, 2018
MTA New York City Transit
Andy Byford, President
2 Broadway
New York, NY 10004
Dear President Byford,
Over the past few weeks, my colleagues Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, Councilman Chaim Deutsch, Councilman Jumaane Williams and I have been inundated with complaints about unmanageable gridlock around Kings Highway and Nostrand Avenue. The new bus lane on Kings Highway coupled with the Nostrand Avenue treatments has created congestion that is wreaking havoc all the way to Flatbush Avenue and beyond.
This untenable situation is causing lengthy delays, endangering pedestrians and intensifying commuter stress. The negative effects of the select bus service lane are now becoming clear. Though your agency asserts that this is a work in progress these issues must be addressed and corrected immediately. To remedy this dangerous situation, we ask you to take any, and all necessary steps to ease traffic flow.
I look forward to your swift response.
Sincerely,
Simcha Felder
Senator, SD 17
SF/st
BCC/Polly Trottenberg, Commissioner, NYC DOT
Better picture of the madness. Cars end up making a u-turn because they don’t feel like sitting in traffic. pic.twitter.com/RwdAdMKKS6
— rebecca bernstein (@yehudarach) October 5, 2018
Hey @NYC_DOT you know that new turning lane you put on Nostrand Ave & Kings Highway? Well it’s made traffic worse. Traffic backed up almost an entire block. pic.twitter.com/StrfiEKSFU
— Yaakov (Jack) Kaplan (@Jkaplan215) October 4, 2018
YUP! Remember folks this is about safety and increasing fines….. I mean ridership. @MTA @NYC_DOT @JumaaneWilliams pic.twitter.com/AfmBpCEGn0
— Yehuda Cohen (@CohenYehuda) October 12, 2018
With record speed, @NYC_DOT installed its bus lane on Kings Hwy, which I suppose explains why they didn’t notice the dangerous conditions they left behind. pic.twitter.com/pCcvh6Axg2
— Kalman Yeger (@KalmanYeger) September 30, 2018
Here’s a quick fun fact about the new Kings Highway bus lanes…..
You know those big Access-A-Ride busses that are owned by @MTA & @nyctAAR !?
Yup they can’t travel in that lane either. #Tickets @KalmanYeger @SenMartyGolden @JumaaneWilliams pic.twitter.com/lwREkD2wd6
— Yehuda Cohen (@CohenYehuda) October 16, 2018
Hey @MTA, here’s an idea: Why don’t you park your car in one of @NYC_DOT‘s fancy Kings Highway buslanes, instead of blocking this @FDNY fire hydrant.#justathought pic.twitter.com/8GCArTElZ5
— Kalman Yeger (@KalmanYeger) October 16, 2018
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9 Responses
I am surprised Yeger is even cynically attacking the DOT as his wife now works for the mayor.
You see how far from the people the elected officials are. It wasn’t until they were getting knocked on Twitter did they respond.
Funny, I dive past there all the time and the only time I see a backup is because of double parked cars in the travel lane on Nostrand in front of the bagel store. Also Nostrand and Kings Highway is not a residential area. I love the new safety improvements.
And to add the backup heading North on Nostrand is more likely caused by Plaza Auto a block down blocking the entire street making it a one lane. Get them to stop parking on the sidewalk and double and triple parking and watch how much the flow would improve.
Come on people. Drive any day on Ave J between Ocean Ave and Coney Island Ave if you do the ten small blocks in less than 20 minutes you win a prize. There are usually four busses going in each direction at any given time and trucks double parked on every other block. Sen Felder’s office is on Ave J and E15 Street but he says nothing. Same with our local councilmen. All of a sudden they have an issue with bus lanes and traffic??? Fix traffic Ave J and M and 13th Ave or traffic trying to cross Ocean Parkeay on Ave j or Ave I. The whole neighborhood is one big gridlock and nobody cares. Nobody gives tickets for double parking. There are no traffic agents directing traffic but as soon as there’s publicity about bus lanes on Kings Hway everybody wants in.
The problems on Nostrabd caused by Plaza Auto need to be addressed first.
@CL – The issues with Ocean Parkway at Ave I & J are state issues, designed by people who have no idea what it means to drive in Brooklyn, but think they can solve all our problems anyway…
I agree with the above commentors. Nostrand Ave, between M & N, is a disaster because of all the Plaza Auto Mall dealerships and service. They are constantly double & triple parking their cars without any regard for the flow of traffic. It’s a 2 way street. They think they own the block. I’ve waited sometimes, stuck in middle of the block, and watch the traffic light turn green/yellow/red at least 3 times before we are able to move forward. They probably give kickbacks to our sleazy politicians, so everything is shaa shtil.
I’m not surprised Simcha Felder is making these complaints because it seems like he’s always looking for something to make a tzimmes about. There has always been a traffic problem which is the REASON they put in a bus lane, not the other way around. Giving buses priority helps the traffic because nobody will take the bus if it’s stuck in traffic and is slower than a car. There are other reasons causing traffic like double parked cars by Plaza Auto Mall (does having a car dealership entitle you to unlimited public space free of charge? Do you know how much it cost to get a sidewalk permit for a restaurant???)
And what pedestrian problem? Has there been any spike in pedestrians getting hit? Can they show us the numbers? Everything is available online here https://www.nycvzv.info/
I am, however, surprised that Kalman Yager is wasting his energy on this baseless complaining.