Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bicycle Infrastructure

Electeds Urge DOT to Make Safety Improvements PS 41 Parents Asked For

Elected officials, Community Board 2, and parents and staff at PS41 want a protected bike lane and shorter crossing distances on Seventh Avenue South. Is DOT listening?
Elected officials, Community Board 2, and parents and staff at PS41 want a protected bike lane and shorter crossing distances on Seventh Avenue South. Is DOT listening? Image: PDF
Elected officials, Community Board 2, and parents and staff at PS41 want a protected bike lane and shorter crossing distances on Seventh Avenue South. Is DOT listening?

Local, state, and federal electeds are calling on DOT to make long-sought safety improvements in the West Village, including a protected bikeway on Seventh Avenue South.

In a June 30 letter to DOT, City Council Member Corey Johnson, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Assembly Member Deborah Glick, State Senator Brad Hoylman, and U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler asked DOT to act on street safety resolutions passed by Community Board 2 in 2014.

One of those resolutions requested that DOT expand the West Village Slow Zone, installed in 2015, east from Seventh Avenue to Sixth Avenue, with north-south boundaries at W. 11th Street and W. Houston Street. The other called for a redesign of Seventh Avenue South from Canal Street to W. 14th Street, including a protected bike lane, shorter crosswalks, and more pedestrian space [PDF].

The campaign for Seventh Avenue improvements is spearheaded by parents and staff at PS 41, which is located on W. 11th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues.

"As children and their caregivers travel to and from the school, they are too often forced to navigate among speeding cars -- conditions that have resulted in both actual hits and near misses," the letter [PDF] reads. "The same school community would also benefit from a Complete Street redesign of Seventh Avenue, which has the potential to greatly improve pedestrian crossing times and reduce traffic collisions."

DOT rejected the Slow Zone expansion two years ago. Rather than redraw the boundaries of the zone, which had yet to be installed at that point, DOT said locals should request a second Slow Zone abutting the first one. DOT routinely receives more Slow Zone applications than it can handle and the approval and implementation process can take years.

Seventh Avenue South cuts through the West Village street grid at an angle, and has many multi-legged intersections that see a lot of crashes. DOT made a few changes to the street last year, including a redesign where Seventh meets Christopher, West 4th, and Grove streets. At that time, Manhattan Borough Commissioner Margaret Forgione told DNAinfo DOT had “no plans” for further improvements.

"When the safety of children and seniors is involved, the City should spare no expense in enacting the highest standards of pedestrian safety, and we feel that the measures outlined in these resolutions would help achieve those standards," reads the June 30 letter. "These measures would also benefit countless other pedestrians that frequent these streets, from seniors trying to access the Greenwich House Senior Center, to the thousands of residents, shoppers and tourists that walk these historic streets day and night."

We've asked DOT for comment on the letter.

Seventh Avenue South has many multi-legged intersections that are dangerous to cross on foot. Images: PDF
Seventh Avenue South has many multi-legged intersections that are dangerous to cross on foot. Image: PDF
Seventh Avenue South has many multi-legged intersections that are dangerous to cross on foot. Images: PDF

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

DOT Asks Judge to Dismiss Streetsblog’s Lawsuit over Agency’s Public Info Stall

The DOT is arguing that its slow response time before providing or not providing information is "reasonable."

November 12, 2024

Tuesday’s Headline: Six-Figure Ad Buy Edition

Congestion pricing supporters call Gov. Hochul out with a six-figure ad buy. Plus more news.

November 12, 2024

DOT: Tremont Ave. Busway to Be Installed in Spring

The 0.6-mile busway will only allow trucks and buses to use the entire stretch, while car drivers will need to leave the street at the first available turn.

November 11, 2024

Monday’s Headlines: Hochul’s No Political Veteran Edition

Yes, it's Veteran's Day, but we really wanted to give you a daily headlines roundup because of all the news that broke over the weekend.

November 11, 2024

PUMP THE BRAKES: A Veteran Driving Instructor Laments Rising Dangers on The Road

I’ve seen firsthand over 25 years as a driving instructor and DMV License Examiner that an increasing number of drivers no longer deserve that privilege.

November 11, 2024
See all posts