VernonVernon BoulevardBoulevard QueensQueens EastEast RiverRiver GreenwayGreenway 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) 2 ProjectProject LimitsLimits Br o r bo s n e ue Q Vernon Blvd i Br sk r la 20 Pu B Proposed On-Street Bicycle Route o th r o Ave Existing On-Street Bicycle Lane b i r Existing Off-Street Path T 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 N 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 IDEW ALK 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 IDEW ALK 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 3.3. ConnectionsConnections && AccessAccess NewNew StrongStrong ConnectionConnection toto QueensbridgeQueensbridge Qns Plza S Queensboro South Entrance Bridge AreaArea ofof WorkWork ParkPark && ItsIts GreenwayGreenway PathPath 41st Ave N North Entrance 40th Ave 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 parkingparkingParkPark && HousesHouses atat QueensbridgeQueensbridge y Bike path currently provided in park Areas to Remove Curbside Access ◦ Shared lane markings for Vernon adjacent park Areas Not Required y Island at park entrances will calm traffic to Remove Curbside Access Terra Cotta Bldg Queensbridge Park Keyspan DOT e S 14 e v v a A z A t l s h t P 1 0 4 s 4 n Q Maintenance of Vehicular Access 4. --StreetStreet ParkingParking && LoadingLoading ParkingParking LossLoss onon WestWest CurbCurb AdjacentAdjacent e g id PropertiesProperties withwith OffOff r b k s r n a e 4 th P 0 e Av u e 41 st Q T Av O e D Que ensb - Bri oro n dge o d C E 43 rd Ave E 44th Ave O D Areas to Remove 44th Dr Curbside Access l ’ 45th Rd d Areas Not Required n I to Remove 46th Rd Curbside Access / th l ’ 47 Rd m th l ’ 49 Ave m s 15 o e C R 51st Ave 4. Maintenance of Vehicular Access Parking Loss on West Curb Adjacent Properties with Off - Street Parking & Loading Rainey KeySpan Ind’l Park Socrates C Res’l os Sculpture tc o Park Ind’l 4 0 3 3 3 3 3 t 5 4 h 6 8 7 t t Av t h t h t h h h B 3 3 3 3 A A A A A 1 r e 0 M 1 0 o v v v st v v t s t a h e e a e h e e t D d i R n A D w r v d A r a e v y e Areas to Remove Curbside Access Areas Not Required to Remove Curbside Access 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] N 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.