By Mike O’Keefe
news@huntspointexpress.com
Major changes are in store for drivers and pedestrians at Crames Square near the Bruckner Expressway, and while the new arrangements may take some getting used to, officials say everyone will be happy with them—eventually.
The city’s Dept of Transportation is set to begin construction to relieve congestion and chaos at the accident-prone maze of intersections around Southern Boulevard, Hunts Point Ave and E. 163rd Street this fall, after conducting research and holding a public forum in 2009 to consider options to make the crossings safer.
The changes will greatly increase safety for pedestrians and drivers, agency officials maintain. In a 2007 study, a DOT study found that many accidents occur at the intersections of E. 163rd St., Southern Boulevard and Hunts Point Ave when pedestrians are crossing with the signal, indicating that drivers are often at fault for failing to yield.
“Safety is our top priority,” a DOT representative said, and added that the agency is looking to “reduce the number of crashes that occur at local intersections while also simplifying traffic flow.”
Among the changes, new landscaped “refuge islands” will be built in the middle of Southern Boulevard, East 163rd St. and Hunts Point Ave, allowing pedestrians to stand in safety if caught in traffic while crossing.
Left turns onto E. 163rd St. will be prohibited for vehicles headed north on Southern Boulevard, as will lefts from E. 163rd St. onto northbound or southbound Southern Boulevard, and from Hunts Point Ave onto southbound Southern Boulevard. The DOT cites “reducing pedestrian and vehicle conflicts” for its decision to make left turns in the intersections a thing of the past.
Other changes include conversion of Hoe Ave from a one-way southbound to a one-way northbound street; adding a stop sign on E. 163rd St. at Hoe Ave to help slow traffic getting off Bruckner Boulevard; and adding curb-side parking on Bruckner Boulevard between Faile St. and Hoe Ave. to calm traffic.
Public transportation won’t go untouched by the new measures. The Bx5 westbound stop will be moved from its present location on busy Bruckner Boulevard at the corner of Hunts Point Ave to E. 163rd St. between Southern Boulevard and Hoe Ave, to reduce congestion.
Munimeters will replace coin meters on Southern Boulevard, to create more parking for businesses.
Raphael Salamanca, the Community Board 2 District Manager, referred to the changes as “traffic calming,” and believes they will help make the area safer for pedestrians and drivers.
“Who’s going to be upset?” said Rafael Salamanca. “Everyone. Because this is change.”
“The drivers are going to be frustrated for a little while,” he said. “But it’s going to increase safety, and that means it is definitely worth it.”
The DOT expects the various construction projects to be done by November.