Councilman David G. Greenfield is requesting that the MTA install flashing yellow warning signals at all railroad underpasses in Midwood to prevent incidents of trucks and large vehicles becoming stuck and causing traffic accidents and backups. In a letter to MTA Acting President Carmen Bianco and Brooklyn Department of Transportation Commissioner Joseph Palmieri, Councilman Greenfield asks that these signals be installed along avenues that cross beneath the railroad tracks, which run between E. 15th Street and E. 16th Street and serve the B and Q trains.

Currently, there are only small white and black signs indicating to oncoming traffic the maximum height of vehicles that can safely pass under the tracks. As a result, there have been numerous incidents of drivers, especially in tractor trailers, not noticing or disregarding the signs and becoming stuck. These accidents often occur along busy commercial corridors such as Avenue J and Avenue P as truck drivers unfamiliar with the area travel through while making deliveries to local businesses. To help prevent this from occurring, Councilman Greenfield is requesting that the MTA install flashing yellow lights at each bridge from Avenue J south towards Sheepshead Bay.

“This is a simple and inexpensive step that the MTA can take to improve safety and help prevent traffic jams throughout our community. Aside from causing headaches for other drives, these incidents of drivers ignoring the existing signs and becoming stuck beneath the bridge can cause serious accidents or significant damage to the overpass. With that in mind, I hope the MTA will agree that it makes sense to install clearer, more visible flashing signals at those locations,” said Councilman Greenfield.

(YWN Desk – NYC)