This just in from Eric McClure of Park Slope Neighbors.

Officials with the New York City Department of Transportation late last month announced a significant makeover for Grand Army Plaza, which will make the plaza easier and safer for drivers to navigate, more accessible and safer for pedestrians to negotiate, and more logical and safer for cyclists to traverse.

Plans for the redesign were unveiled at a joint meeting of the Community Board 6 and Community Board 8 transportation committees on April 29th at the Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Branch.  Major changes include a physical barrier and new traffic signal for Park Slope-bound vehicles headed from the inner ring to Union Street and Prospect Park West, which will eliminate the need for drivers to jockey across a six-lane merge; enlarged medians and several additional crosswalks to enable easier pedestrian access to the Bailey Fountain and the Arch; an enlarged and bollard-protected Green Market space; and the conversion of the one-way, on-street Plaza Street bike lane to a two-way, physically separated bike path situated between the curb and parked cars.

You can have a look at a PDF of NYC DOT’s complete plan and presentation here: http://tinyurl.com/newGAP.

The project, which NYC DOT hopes to commence in August, should make Grand Army Plaza considerably more pleasant, and safer, for everyone using it.  With asphalt unused by cars reclaimed for pedestrians and cyclists, the entire experience of the Plaza should be significantly upgraded.

At the same meeting, NYC DOT reaffirmed that it will begin work on the Prospect Park West Bicycle Path and Traffic Calming project next month.  The project will remove one travel lane from Prospect Park West, and will replace it with a two-way, physically separated bike path along the park-side curb.  While aimed principally at increasing safety and slowing traffic on perpetually speeding-plagued PPW, the bike path will add an important north-south connection to the cycling network.  Details of the plan are available in a PDF here: http://tinyurl.com/PPW2010.

Taken together, these two important projects, which NYC DOT will accomplish without the need for any capital funds, will represent a significant leap forward in making our neighborhood’s streets calmer, more balanced, and most importantly, safer for all users.  Thanks to all of you who attended the meeting on the 29th to voice support for NYC DOT’s efforts.