Assemblyman Lentol and Community Board 1 Members Do Site Visit with Brooklyn Borough DOT Commissioner to Discuss Traffic Concerns at Wythe Avenue, Flushing Avenue Intersections.

Assemblyman Joe Lentol (D – North Brooklyn) met with Rabbi Abe Perlstein, First Vice Chair of Community Board 1, Simon Weiser, Co-Chair of the Community Board’s Transportation Committee, Gerry Esposito, the Community Board’s District Manager, and Brooklyn Borough Department of Transportation Commissioner Keith Bray last week for a site visit to review the traffic congestion and safety problems at the intersection of Wythe Avenue and Williamsburg Street West and at the Flushing Avenue exit on the eastbound side of the BQE.

“The problem is that you have traffic exiting the BQE and merging with traffic from Williamsburg Street West,” said Lentol.  “Half the people want to turn on Wythe Avenue and half want to go straight through, but the merge is what makes it difficult.  As for Flushing Avenue, the backup during peak hours is tremendous and a huge inconvenience for people who get stuck there.  We’re trying to find creative solutions to these problems.”

(left to right) Rabbi Abe Perlstein, Samuel Stern, Simon Weiser, DOT Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Keith Bray, Assemblyman Joe Lentol, and CB 1 District Manager Gerry Esposito

The community Board members agreed that it was a productive meeting.

“I'm thankful to Brooklyn CB1 Chair Dealice Fuller and Manager Gerry Esposito for arranging for the on-site visit.  A special thanks to Borough Commissioner Keith Bray for making the time for the visit, and thoroughly analyzing the problem and possible solutions,” said Rabbi Abraham Perlstein, First Vice Chair of Community Board.  “We were pleasantly surprised that on a quiet August Friday, Assemblyman Lentol was on call and hard at work, showing up to assisting in improving the traffic and safety in the area.”

“The bottleneck at the BQE Flushing Avenue exit is unbearable to the neighborhood, and it often backs up the BQE.  The Wythe Avenue exit also needs improvements.  I'm thankful to DOT Borough Commissioner Bray for taking his time to review the problems, and for working on improvement to mitigate the traffic nightmare on Flushing Avenue,” said Rabbi David Niederman, President of the UJO of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn.  “A special shout out to Assemblyman Joe Lentol, for his personal devotion to improve the traffic movement in the area, by securing funding for the South Williamsburg Transportation Study, working on trouble-blocks in the area, and for joining us now to review and seek solutions for the traffic issues at the BQE exits.  I'm also very thankful to the Community Board Chair Fuller, Manager Esposito, and the members who are working tirelessly on these issues.”

Source: Press Release by Assemblyman Lentol's office.

December 26, 2014 Column: Meeting with DOT Commissioner to Discuss Wallabout-Flushing Traffic

December 26, 2015, Column: HRA Commissioner Meets with UJO; Large Crowd at Wallabout-Flushing Meeting with... by United Jewish Column

The article on page 22 and 23 reported on a very-successful meeting with the DOT - arranged by the UJO together with Councilman Levin and Assemblyman Lentol - to discuss severe traffic issues on Wallabout Street and Flushing Avenue.
Brooklyn DOT Commissioner Mr. Keith Bray led the meeting; Councilman Levin attended, together with representatives of Assemblyman Lentol and Senator Squadron.
Attendees expressed overwhelming support for the UJO-proposed plan to turn Wallabout into a one-way street for the safety of the area and to ease congestion; DOT will consider improvements to the plan suggested by residents.

August 15, 2014 (2): Councilman Levin and Assemblyman Lentol's Office Discuss Traffic Improvements to Wallabout and Flushing with Residents and Store Owners at UJO Meeting

The second item in last week's column reported on a meeting, arranged by the UJO, with residents, store owners and other stakeholders from Wallabout St. and Flushing Avenue area to discuss the current traffic bottleneck in the area and the resulting safety concerns.

Councilman Levin (pictured over a map with a Flushing Ave. store-owner) and a representative of Assemblyman Lentol's office attended the meeting. They had a thorough discussions of the issues and on the improvements that are needed. They will work with the DOT to implement the proposed solutions for the safety and better traffic flow in the area.

The UJO expresses its thanks to Councilman Levin for his personal participation and for delving into the issue, and for Assemblyman Lentol for joining on he issue. A special thanks goes to Pesach Tikva for providing space for the meeting on Wallabout St., as a service for the area.

Here is an earlier article on the issue:

http://ujocolumn.blogspot.com/2014/06/june-13-2014-column-second-chance-for.html

UJO Column, August 15, 2014

June 13, 2014 Column: Second Chance for Residents and Business Owners to Review DOT Proposed Changes for Wallabout/Flushing

DOT To Hold Another Presentation On their Proposed Changes for Wallabout Flushing, As per Request by Rabbi Niederman Adopted by Community Board 1

Residents and Business Owners Encouraged to Share their Opinion at the July Hearing (Date Rescheduled After Publication of Article)

Last week UJO column's top item reported in detail on the plans to turn Wallabout St. - starting from Heyward St. - into a one-way street towards Lee Ave. It follows a number of accidents in recent years on that stretch. The plan is in conjunction with requests of Community Board 1, Councilman Stephen Levin, and Rabbi Niederman, as per recommendations by Hatzalah members and others concerned by the heavy traffic and hazards on Wallabout St, a major residential and shopping corridor.

Last Tuesday, the DOT presented its plans in front of the Community Board. Several aspects of the plan drew complaints, including the fact that the rerouting the traffic towards Kent Ave. to Flushing Avenue will translate into a the elimination of parking during the day on Flushing Avenue between Bedford and Lee Avenue, that will be converted into a "no standing from 7 AM to 7 PM" zone. That raises concerns among store owners, especially new businesses on that street, that the lack of parking will turn away customers. As per Rabbi Niederman's suggestion, adopted by the board, DOT will review these issues and will hold another presentation where it will have more information on various questions raised.

The upcoming presentation will take place in July (at the time of the publication of Der Yid it was set to take place June 23, but it was postponed). The UJO will announce the date of the presentation, and encourages all who will be affected by the changes to attend the hearing to share their opinion on the plan. The UJO is also publishing the plan - presented last week - below, so those who are unable to attend can review the current plan and submit comments, so the UJO can take them into the account during the upcoming discussion and to share them with the DOT. The comments - for those who are unable to attend - may be emailed to june23@unitedjewish.org.

UJO Column, Der Yid June 13

Wallabout St - Presentation for CB1 Transpo Committee by United Jewish Column