Joseph Palmieri
Borough Commissioner
Department of Transportation
16 Court Street, 16th floor
Brooklyn, New York 11241

Dear Commissioner Palmieri:
 
I am writing to advise you that at its May 13, 2009 general meeting Brooklyn Community Board
6 resolved by a vote of 18 in favor, 9 against with 3 abstentions, to conditionally approve the
department’s proposal to reduce from 3 to 2 driving lanes and install two-way bicycle lanes in
the parking lane with a painted median on the eastside of Prospect Park West between Union
Street and Bartel Pritchard Square in our district.
 
After hearing a presentation from the department at its April 16, 2009 meeting, our
Transportation Committee first wanted to thank the department for returning to us with a
substantial traffic calming proposal.  As you are aware, we have been seeking relief from
speeding traffic along the Prospect Park West corridor for some time now, and we appreciate the
opportunity to work with you to bring much-needed traffic calming to this particular location.
 
In that spirit, our support for the department’s proposal was conditioned on the following due to
our concerns that this ground-breaking proposal has the potential to create other dangerous
conditions, if not implemented with great care.
 
First, we believe that, along with the installation of the bicycle lanes, a separate set of traffic
signals should be installed to control the southbound and northbound bicycle traffic, particularly
the northbound traffic that would not otherwise have any visible traffic signals.  We note that on
the westside of Manhattan the department has installed a separate set of signals for bicycle traffic
control and we would expect nothing less for Prospect Park West.
 
Second, the department must study the Prospect Park West vehicular (including but not limited
to personal vehicles, MTA buses, school buses, trucks, etc.) loading and unloading locations,
especially at peak use times, and ensure that the proposed changes are implemented in a manner
which does not result in a doubling-up of vehicles that blocks traffic and constricts moving
250 Baltic Street • Brooklyn, New York 11201-6401 • www.BrooklynCB6.org 
t: (718) 643-3027 • f: (718) 624-8410 • e: info@BrooklynCB6.org
traffic to just one lane.  Particular hot spots requiring study include the curbsides around the Poly
Prep School at 50 Prospect Park West, 9th Street park entrance, and the Pavilion Movie Theater
at 188 Prospect Park West.
 
Third, that a fully built-out raised median replace the proposed striped median which is intended
to physically separate the two-way bicycle traffic from the eastside parking lane as soon as
possible.  We realize that this might involve some capital work on the department’s part, but we
believe that it is an essential component toward making the physical separation complete. 
Ultimately, it is our belief that motorized vehicles, non-motorized vehicles and pedestrians all
will be safest if there is a raised median separating the bicycle lanes from the parking lane.  We
would encourage you to continue to work with us and the Parks Department to develop an
appropriately sensitive design for these medians so that they will compliment the historic nature
of the park and the existing special treatments that are already in place along the Prospect Park
West eastside sidewalk.
 
Our discussion about this issue did raise a number of additional questions that we were unable to
address, which we would like your help in understanding.  For that reason, and to allow for time
for the department to work through the conditions above, a supplemental resolution was adopted
by the Board by a vote of 16 in favor, 14 against, with no abstentions, that the department delay
the installation of the bicycle lanes until September 2009.  Between now and then we would like
the department to address the above conditions and the following:
 
1) How would the eastside curb, bicycle lanes, and median area get cleaned, presumably by the
Department of Sanitation’s mechanical brooms?
2) What would happen to storm water run-off at the eastside curb, bicycle lanes, and median
areas?  Where would it drain?
3) How can we balance park users’ loading and unloading needs with the community’s desire to
preserve and retain the maximum amount of parking on Prospect Park West?
4) Will the existing Street Cleaning Regulation and any other curbside signage be relocated
from the eastside sidewalk onto the traffic medians?
 
We look forward to your answers and continuing to work with you to improve safety along
Prospect Park West as quickly as possible.
 
Thank you for your attention.
 
 
Sincerely,
 
 
 
Richard S. Bashner
Chairperson
 
 250 Baltic Street • Brooklyn, New York 11201-6401 • www.BrooklynCB6.org 
t: (718) 643-3027 • f: (718) 624-8410 • e: info@BrooklynCB6.org
 
 
cc: Hon. Marty Markowitz
      Hon. David Yassky
      Hon. Bill de Blasio
      Commissioner Jannette Sadik-Khan, DOT
      Prospect Park Administrator Tupper Thomas, DPR/PPA
      Ken Freeman, President, Park Slope Civic Council
      Robert Witherwax, Grand Army Plaza Coalition
      Randy Peers, Chairperson, Brooklyn CB7