Image Credit: City of New York

Yesterday, Mayor de Blasio released the Vision Zero Action Plan, a strategic plan to eliminate all traffic-related deaths in New York City.  This is great news for all New Yorkers.  But what does it mean for the Park Avenue Pedestrian Safety Project?

Let’s take a look:

• The Mayor’s plan recommends reducing the citywide speed limit to 25 mph (which will require cooperation from Albany).  We know that speeding is rampant on Park Ave: as much as 74% of drivers speed.  And we know that speeding is the leading cause of injury and death.
• NYPD is called on to improve speeding-detection equipment and increase enforcement.  We’ve been in touch with the 88th Precinct.  They know that speeding is a problem on Park Ave and have already stepped up enforcement.
• The action plan reiterates the Mayor’s call for DOT to “implement safety engineering improvements to 50 intersections and corridors.”  The plan also says DOT will create “25 new arterial slow zones.”  It’s unclear where Park Avenue fits in here.  However, we’re hopeful that DOT will use the work that we’ve done and propose changes to Park Ave.
• The action plan says that DOT will “conduct extensive community outreach” for major safety projects.  We have already done outreach and are available to assist DOT when the time comes.

Most importantly, the Mayor clearly says that all traffic-related fatalities are unacceptable and preventable.  We look forward to continuing to work with DOT and NYPD to improve traffic safety on Park Avenue and all of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill.