CB 5 Votes Unanimously for DOT Study of Fifth and Sixth Avenue Redesign

After a unanimous vote by its transportation committee last month, Manhattan Community Board 5 voted unanimously last night for DOT to study a complete streets redesign of Fifth and Sixth Avenues to better accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders on two of the busiest avenues in Midtown.

The resolution asks NYPD "to more stringently enforce automobile and bicycle laws" while also requesting a study from DOT "of the merits and feasibility of re-designs of Fifth and Sixth Avenues." The resolution was amended at last night's meeting to ask DOT to take the needs of food cart vendors into account with any design it may propose.

Ilona Kramer, chief of staff to Council Member Dan Garodnick, told the board last night that due to redistricting, starting next year Garodnick will represent a large portion of CB 5. Kramer said Garodnick, who has expressed support for a safety study of Fifth and Sixth Avenues, was aware that the board had a resolution about the issue on its agenda last night.

Transportation Alternatives volunteers had collected 10,000 petition signatures and 1,500 handwritten letters, which were delivered to the board last night. "Ten thousand signatures is not insignificant," said Raju Mann, CB 5's transportation committee chair, who spoke in favor of the resolution.

In addition, 59 businesses have signed on in support of a complete street redesign. Volunteer Janet Liff said the owner of a Jamba Juice told her: "Complete streets? Pedestrians love those. And whatever's good for pedestrians is good for business."

Eight people spoke in favor of the resolution, and only one, who called for a ban on bicycles on Fifth Avenue at last month's committee meeting, spoke against it. Attorney Steve Vaccaro, who attended last night's meeting, praised CB 5's "no drama, no hate" approach to the issue, which stands in stark contrast with some other community board meetings on street redesign requests.

A redesign of Fifth and Sixth Avenues would also include portions of Community Boards 2 and 4, which are likely to take up the issue in the new year.

Thanks to Steve Vaccaro and Albert Ahronheim for notes from last night's meeting.