The streets surrounding three Brownsville schools will become much safer for students and pedestrians thanks to a $1 million cash infusion secured by U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries for his district in the fiscal year 2024 government funding bill.
The House Democratic leader joined Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, NYC Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Thomas Foley, Department of Education leaders, parents, and students outside P.S. 156 at 104 Sutter Ave. on Friday, where he presented the community with the $1 million check allocated for improving pedestrian visibility and safety.
The three schools — P.S. 156 Waverly, P.S. 189 The Bilingual Center and P.S. 327 Dr. Jose B. English School — are located within blocks of each other and were selected for the “Safe Route to Schools” initiative based on the number of crashes in the area. The safety improvements include installing traffic signals, crosswalks, sidewalks, realigning intersections, curb and sidewalk extensions, ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps, bus pads, landscaping, utility work, street lights, and signal timing modifications.
“Equity is a top priority for the administration led by Mayor Eric Adams, Leader Jeffries, and all leaders in our city, and in how we implement our work across the city at DOT,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “So it makes me very proud when we can join together to deliberate safety improvements in every part of our city.”
In addition to the safety improvements, Rodriguez announced that the speed limit outside P.S. 156 on Sutter Avenue between Legion and Grafton streets, as well as the school zones at P.S. 189 and P.S. 327, will be lowered to 15 mph in accordance with Sammy’s Law.
“We will be making [lowering the speed limit] a priority, especially in underserved communities where the data is showing that there’s a number of crashes,” Rodriguez said.
DDC Commissioner Foley said his department “literally” built “cool things throughout the city,” and street safety improvements were one of them. Construction will begin in the fall and is expected to be finished within five to six months.
“We’re delighted with the investment from the leader and we’re looking forward to completing our work on schedule and on budget,” Foley declared.
Superintendent of District 23 Dr. Khalek Kirkland called Jeffries a true friend of Brownsville and pointed out that the Department of Education’s number one priority was keeping students safe.
“Congressman Jeffries, this action is going to do just that,” Kirkland said. “So again, I want to thank you personally.”
P.S. 156 principal Naiyma Moore was “super excited” about the investment that will keep students, staff, and parents safe.
“We are thrilled, and we want to say thank you to Representative Jeffries for the continued investment in our community,” Moore said. “We look forward to continuing to partner with all the agencies to ensure that our children have a safe passageway to school.”
Jeffries pointed out that Brooklyn neighborhoods like Brownsville, East New York, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and Canarsie didn’t always receive the investments necessary to improve the quality of life. The $1 million financial boost for street safety is part of the House of Representatives’ effort to support community-based projects aimed at improving the lives of their constituents.
“It was my honor to fight to secure a million dollars to make sure that we make the type of safety and pedestrian improvements that will keep our children at P.S. 156 and throughout Brownsville secure so they can come to school and be educated and learn and go off to prepare themselves to be whatever they want in this life,” Jeffries said.
In an off-topic Q&A with reporters after the check presentation, Jeffries was asked what he thought would happen to federal infrastructure investments should Donald Trump win the presidential election in November.
The pol explained that Congress passed the Infrastructure Act with bipartisan support under President Joe Biden, calling the president’s track record regarding infrastructure investments “tremendous.”
“As a result of the infrastructure law that was championed by President Biden, we’ve been able to invest in our crumbling bridges, roads, tunnels, airports, our sewer and water systems, our mass transit systems, and also to bring high-speed internet access to communities like Brownsville and East New York and other traditionally underrepresented neighborhoods,” Jeffries said.
