Tame a dangerous intersection: Atlantic and Washington Aves.
We the undersigned request that the dangerous intersection of Atlantic, Washington, and Underhill Avenues in Brooklyn be tamed. Five-spoked intersections are notoriously hazardous. At this one, Atlantic Avenue is a six-lane, high-speed highway. Traffic accidents are so common that the stoplight has been knocked down twice in the last eight years.
The A/C subway stop one block away ensures a steady flow of pedestrians, and Prospect Heights' growing population means those numbers will only increase. Most pedestrians balk the first time they try to cross Atlantic Avenue here. It's intimidating, and with reason. More than forty pedestrians and cyclists were struck at this spot in the last decade.
The solution we propose is simple: curb extensions. Jutting the sidewalk into the parking lanes on both sides of Atlantic Avenue will make the crosswalk two lanes shorter - a tremendous pedestrian benefit - without hampering traffic flow. Curb extensions have been successfully implemented throughout the city and have a proven track record for safety and efficacy.
We further propose installing bollards at the ends of the medians. Short, strong posts will protect pedestrians caught mid-avenue, while preventing future collisions with the stoplight.
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