Starting November 8, several traffic and bus changes are coming to intersections and streets in the Fort Greene area and around the Atlantic/Flatbush/3rd/4th Avenue hub.
The changes also include two bus routes – the B103 and the B37 as they travel through this hub.
Representatives form the city Department of Transportation (DOT) explained the changes at last week’s Community Board 2 Transportation Committee meeting.
Under the changes, Hanson Place, which runs in front of the former Williamsburg Bank Building, will no longer be accessible to vehicular traffic from the 4th Avenue and Flatbush Avenue intersection, as a median will be constructed.
Additionally, Hanson Place will be converted to a two-way street between Ashland Place and South Portland Avenue.
Third Avenue between Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue will be converted to a one-way northbound. Additionally, motorists traveling on Third Avenue will now be permitted to make a left turn onto Atlantic Avenue.
The making of Third Avenue one-way will force the rerouting of the B37 and B103 to Fourth Avenue in this stretch of roadway.
Also being closed is the west slip of Flatbush Avenue at Temple Square where 4th Avenue, Flatbush Avenue and Ashland Place meet up just south of State Street.
Additionally, the DOT will eliminate possible head-on conflicts by converting South Elliot Place to one-way southbound, and Academy Park Place to one-way eastbound.
Currently, both these thoroughfares are one-way northbound south of Hanson Place.
The timing of signal crossing for pedestrians is also being increased at several intersections along the Flatbush and 4th Avenue crossings.
According to the DOT website, pedestrians now encounter conflicts with vehicles accessing Hanson Place/Ashland Place from both 4th Avenue and Flatbush Avenue.
The DOT will also create a raised sidewalk between Flatbush Avenue and the intersection of Hanson Place/Ashland Place, which will protect pedestrians accessing Atlantic Terminal, One Hanson Place, and other destinations in this growing part of Downtown Brooklyn.
Following the presentation, committee members and CB 2 District Manager Rob Perris pointed out that traffic agents in the area are apt to follow their own ideas in moving traffic instead of following the new signal phasing.
Shirley McRae, the former CB 2 Chair and current borough representative to the city Planning Commission, came to complain about the changes in Fort Greene.
The DOT should have talked to the community before deciding on what changes are made, said McRae.
Perris said that CB 2 Transportation Committee members told him they were disappointed that there wasn’t more of a dialogue before these implementations were decided upon.
“The committee was by and large quite pleased with what was presented, but why couldn’t this be presented three months earlier?” questioned Perris.
“That would give the DOT time to build community buy-in, and more fully incorporate community feedback,” he added.
To view all the changes complete with photos and maps, log onto www.nyc.gov/dot.
