Vernon Boulevard-Queens East River Greenway

VernonVernon BoulevardBoulevard QueensQueens EastEast RiverRiver GreenwayGreenway

Presentation to Queens NYC Department of Transportation Community Boards 1 & 2 Office of Alternative Modes April 2008 WhyWhy areare wewe here?here?

• Bicycle Fatality & Serious Injury Study – Improve Safety • Mayor’s PlaNYC – A Greener Transportation Network • NYC Bicycle Master Plan (1997) • A Greenway Plan For NYC (1993) • Queens East River & North Shore Greenway (2006)

ProjectProject LimitsLimits

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r b i B i sk Proposed On-Street Bicycle Route r la T Pu Existing On-Street Bicycle Lane Existing Off-Street Path N 3 ObjectivesObjectives ofof ProjectProject 1. Safer Vernon Blvd for All 2. Cycling as a Real Transportation Choice for Residents & Visitors 3. Connections & Access to Waterfront, Neighborhoods & Amenities 4. Maintenance of Vehicular Access Where Needed 5. Momentum Toward Greater, Greener Long-Term Vision

4 1.1. SaferSafer VernonVernon WideWide LanesLanes && SpeedingSpeeding

Existing Condition y Unmarked moving lane on 45’ road y Equivalent of 15’ moving lane y Lanes appear wider when/where parking utilization is low

Planned Condition y Buffer & lane line markings ◦ Will narrow moving lanes to 11’ at all times & calm traffic

5 1.1. SaferSafer VernonVernon InfrequentInfrequent TrafficTraffic ControlsControls && SpeedingSpeeding y Downtown Hunter’s Point –18 controls/mile y North of Hunter’s Point – 4.5 controls/mile Improvement Plans y New signal at Queens Plaza South y Buffer & lane line markings ◦ Effective calming for other corridors with infrequent signals

6 1.1. SaferSafer VernonVernon RoadwayRoadway CurvesCurves

Existing Condition

y Curves and wide moving lanes make for uncomfortable street ◦ Vehicle veer where cyclists operate ◦ Difficulty for crossing pedestrians ◦ Challenge to motorists

Planned Conditions y New &enhanced warning signage y Buffer & lane line markings ◦ Defined moving lanes provide visual cues on curves

7 2.2. CyclingCycling asas aa RealReal TransportationTransportation ChoiceChoice Existing Condition y No dedicated space for cycling y Uncomfortable cycling environment y Insufficient room for S I D E W ALK S IDEW

CENTERLINE safe passing by 22.5’ 22.5’ vehicles Combined Combined A L K Parking & Moving Lane Parking & Moving Lane S I D E W

Northbound Southbound East Planned Condition West y Wide bicycle lanes y Buffers from moving traffic S I D E W ALK S IDEW 5’ CENTERLINE 6’ 8’ 11’ 11’ A L K Parking Moving Moving Lane Lane Lane

S I D E W 8 3.3. ConnectionsConnections && AccessAccess toto Waterfront,Waterfront, NeighborhoodsNeighborhoods && AmenitiesAmenities

y Improve pedestrian & bicycle links Connections Made y Current transportation links weak y Neighborhoods (limited transit & parking) ◦ Astoria “Downtown” Hunters Point ◦ Ravenswood Whitey Ford Field Park ◦ Long Island City

◦ Hunter’s Point & its services

y Parks & Waterfront Attractions

◦ Astoria Park & Pool ◦ Shore Towers Esplanade

◦ Whitey Ford Field Park

◦ Hallets Cove Esplanade

◦ Socrates Sculpture Park

◦ Rainey Park & Cosco Esplanade

◦ Queensbridge Park & Greenway Path Astoria Pool y Mass Transit 9 Bicycle Parking Shelter at Subway ◦ 7 – Vernon Blvd / Jackson Ave

3. Connections & Access NewNew StrongStrong ConnectionConnection toto QueensbridgeQueensbridge ParkPark && ItsIts GreenwayGreenway PathPath

Existing Condition y Greenway path is isolated y Difficult for pedestrians and cyclists to exit & enter park & path

Planned Conditions y 2 New Landscaped Refuge Islands

◦ Hi-Visibility Signs & Markings Existing entrance to park greenway ◦ Calm traffic Plan for new island and markings ◦ Ease crossing at access points, particularly for 2-way streets

10 Rendering of improved connection 3. Connections & Access NewNew StrongStrong ConnectionConnection toto QueensbridgeQueensbridge ParkPark && ItsIts GreenwayGreenway PathPath

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North Entrance South Entrance 11 3. Connections & Access NewNew SignsSigns && MarkingsMarkings toto ClearlyClearly GuideGuide UsersUsers toto && FromFrom ExcitingExciting AmenitiesAmenities

Example Bicycle Guide Signs Entry to Hallets Cove Esplanade

Example Greenway Signs Example “Gateway” Markings for Paths 12 4. Maintenance of Vehicular Access NoNo ParkingParking LossLoss inin CalmerCalmer ““DowntownDowntown”” HunterHunter’’ss PointPoint

y Frequent traffic signals and “main N street” commercial activity already calm traffic y Small businesses need curbside access y Cyclists accommodated with shared lane signs and markings

Hunters Point Traffic Signals

13 Example Shared Lane Markings Vernon Blvd at 48th Ave 4. Maintenance of Vehicular Access PlanPlan preservespreserves parkingparking atat QueensbridgeQueensbridge ParkPark && HousesHouses y Bike path currently provided in park ◦ Shared lane markings for Vernon adjacent park y Island at park entrances will calm traffic Areas to Remove Curbside Access Areas Not Required T to Remove erra Cotta Bldg Curbside Access DOT Queens bridge Park Keyspan

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4 h t 0 4 4. Maintenance of Vehicular Access ParkingParking LossLoss onon WestWest CurbCurb AdjacentAdjacent PropertiesProperties withwith OffOff--StreetStreet ParkingParking && LoadingLoading

e g rid b s k n r e a e P u 4 Q 0 th T 4 A 1 s v O t e D Av - e n Q o ue d B en C E rid sb 4 ge oro 3 rd E Av O e t D 44 h Ave 44th l D ’ r

d t n 45 h I Rd Areas to Remove Curbside Access

/ 4 th l 6 ’ Rd m 47th Areas Not Required l Rd m ’ s t o 49 h to Remove e A C ve R Curbside Access 51st Ave

15 4. Maintenance of Vehicular Access ParkingParking LossLoss onon WestWest CurbCurb AdjacentAdjacent PropertiesProperties withwith OffOff--StreetStreet ParkingParking && LoadingLoading

’l s e R s e e r t ’l a u r t d e p n ain Av c l I M o u k S c r a 3 th S 0 R y P 3 d e co 0 th in st 3 D k o 1 st r a r C 3 A R 1 st ve Pa Br Dr oa dw ’l a Areas to Remove d 34 th y n I A ve Curbside Access 35 th A ve Areas Not Required n a 36 th p A to Remove S 3 ve y 7 th Curbside Access e Av K e 38 th A 4 ve 0 th Av e 16 4. Maintenance of Vehicular Access ActivelyActively SurveySurvey && MonitorMonitor SideSide && ParallelParallel StreetsStreets forfor ParkingParking OpportunitiesOpportunities

y Respond to Evolving Land Uses ◦ Potential to alter regulations from No Parking (Industrial) regulations

y Input and Information from Local Community Essential

Potential Parking Opportunities 17 5.5. MomentumMomentum TowardToward Greater,Greater, GreenerGreener LongLong--TermTerm VisionVision y Safer, balanced & more connected Vernon by Summer 2008 y Improvement assist in attracting additional funding y One element of long-term vision for Queens waterfront areas

[Map of larger QERNS area]

Queens East River North Shore Greenway Target Area 18 4. Momentum Toward Greater Vision UpcomingUpcoming && PotentialPotential ImprovementsImprovements y Parks Department Projects ◦ Queensbridge Park ◦ Rainey Park ◦ Astoria Park y Studies & capital projects to improve and green problematic intersections ◦ Community input important to prioritize ◦ Example Intersections: x 11 th / Jackson/ Pulaski Bridge x Broadway / Vernon x Vernon/ 8th / Main [Aerial of one complex intersection with caption]

Vernon Boulevard @ Broadway: 19 Socrates Sculpture Park ProjectProject SummarySummary –– AchievingAchieving ObjectivesObjectives

1. Safer Vernon y Signs & markings to calm traffic 2. Cycling a Real Option y Dedicated space buffered from traffic 3. Connections to Important y Lanes, islands & signs link Attractions neighborhoods & amenities 4. Maintenance of Needed y Parking loss only where Access necessary 5. Momentum to Long Term y One project of Multi-Agency Vision Effort

20 NextNext StepsSteps

1. Community & Stakeholder Input y Side & parallel street parking opportunities y Focus Intersections 2. Project Refinement 3. Implementation y June & July 2008 Target 4. Evaluation 5. Pursuit of Longer Term Improvements

21 EndEnd ofof PresentationPresentation