This evening, officials with the Department of Transportation will go before Community Board 3 to outline their plans for a protected bike lane on Chrystie Street.
In the rendering posted above, you can see the proposal: a two-way bike path on the east side of Chrystie from East Houston Street to Canal Street, with a parking lane separating bicyclists from automobile traffic. In February of last year, CB3 approved a resolution calling for the upgrade. A local bike advocate, Dave “Poco” Abraham, campaigned for the changes on Chrystie Street, where faded lines and heavy truck traffic make conditions treacherous for cyclists.
A few more details from Gothamist, which was first to publish the renderings yesterday:
The DOT says the lane could be installed as soon as Fall 2016. Southbound cyclists on Second Avenue will have a safe path to the Manhattan Bridge, and northbound cyclists will be able to turn right off of Chrystie to merge onto the protected northbound lane on 1st Avenue. Cyclists will be separated from traffic by a parking lane from Canal to Grand, and again from Rivington to Houston. The stretch between Grand and Rivington, where the road is narrower, will be protected by flexible delineators… (There) will be no traffic lane reduction (the DOT pointed out that one of the southbound lanes was almost entirely eliminated back in 2008, calming traffic significantly). The proposal also calls for the addition of four new pedestrian islands, and a complete resurfacing of the road—a process that the DOT estimates will require about two or three weeks of overnight work.
If you’d like to offer feedback on the plan, show up at tonight’s transportation committee meeting. It begins at 6:30 p.m. at Seward Park Extension, 56 Essex St. Here’s the full agenda:
1. Approval of previous month’s minutes
2. Request for support to retrofit CB 3 tree pits as support for infrastructure that is more absorbent of storm water
3. DOT presentation on upgrade of 2-way protected bicycle lane on Chrystie Street from Canal Street to Houston
4. Proposed traffic calming measures and bicycle route on Pitt Street from Grand Street to Houston Street
5. 180 Orchard St (Indigo Hotel) Request for 28 foot loading zone for guests
UPDATED 3:22 p.m. The Department of Transportation put out a press release this afternoon. Relevant excerpts:
With nearly 3,000 daily cyclists, Chrystie Street is a major cycling connection to the Manhattan Bridge and serves as a Priority Area for Vision Zero, the de Blasio Administration’s ambitious plan to eliminate deaths and injuries on New York City roadways. DOT’s new safety proposal includes a two-way bike lane on the east side of Chrystie Street, protected by a combination of parked cars, jersey barriers, and delineators. While the number of car-travel lanes will remain the same, the proposal will reduce problematic double parking and provide a more continuous connection from Second Avenue to the Manhattan Bridge. The proposal also includes construction of three new pedestrian islands at 2nd Street and Second Avenue, Stanton Street, and Rivington Street. This shortens pedestrian crossings and improves access to Sara Roosevelt Park. At the intersection of Canal and Chrystie Street, DOT will redesign the existing pedestrian island, as well as install jersey barriers where cyclists turn onto Chrystie Street from Canal Street. At the intersection of Chrystie Street and Delancey Street, a protected signal phase and jersey barriers will be added, allowing cyclists to cross Delancey safely and enhancing safety for pedestrians. The change will also improve efficiency of the heavy traffic turning left bound for the Williamburg Bridge. At the intersection of Houston Street, DOT will similarly add a protected signal phase to reduce conflicts. In its current configuration, Chrystie Street presents challenges for cyclists, with a heavy volume of trucks and other vehicles during peak hours. Southbound cyclists on Second Avenue north of Houston Street must cross from the bike lane on the east curb to an unprotected bike lane on the west side of Chrystie, only to cross Chrystie Street again to its east side for the Manhattan Bridge bike path entrance. The proposed new configuration will limit these unnecessary crossings, and provide a more seamless and direct trip from Second Avenue to the Manhattan Bridge. Following the community board process, the DOT will begin work on Chrystie Street this fall, including resurfacing of the street from Houston Street to Canal Street.
