DeKalb Avenue Could Become a More Complete Street

One of DeKalb Avenue’s potential new configurations.

A major route to Downtown Brooklyn and its East River crossings is set to receive some crucial safety improvements this summer. You can learn more about it tonight, when DOT presents its DeKalb Avenue Traffic Calming and Bicycle Lane Project (download it) to Brooklyn Community Board 3’s Transportation Committee. The plan calls for adding a buffered bike lane and metered parking while taking away one lane of traffic during off-peak times.

From DOT’s announcement:

Like many North Brooklyn neighborhoods, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill and Bedford Stuyvesant are growing cycling communities. DeKalb Avenue is an important and heavily used multi-modal commuter corridor spanning all three neighborhoods. Many commuters travel on DeKalb Avenue to work, shop or connect with transit in Downtown Brooklyn on the heavily-used B38 bus line, by car or by bike, but there is no dedicated space for cyclists. The project aims to improve safety and comfort for cyclists and calm traffic on DeKalb Avenue, while preserving the multimodal capacity of the avenue. Implementation of the project is scheduled for June 2008.

The meeting is tonight at 7:00 p.m., 1360 Fulton St. (bet. New York and Brooklyn Aves.), 2nd Floor. DOT is also holding a meeting with Community Board 2 tomorrow night.