Crossing one Brooklyn’s most dangerous thoroughfares is about get much safer.
City officials today said they plan to soon equip all Flatbush Avenue intersections in Downtown Brooklyn between Fulton Street and Grand Army Plaza with safety-enhancing pedestrian countdown signals.
Installation is set to begin in six to nine months as part of a citywide contract and should be complete within a year, said Christopher Hrones, the Downtown Brooklyn transportation coordinator for the city Department of Transportation, in an e-mail to elected officials and civic groups.
“These signals are among 1,500 the Department of Transportation recently plans to install at intersections selected for their above average roadway width, unique layout, and high rates of accidents involving pedestrians,” Hrones said. “They count down the number of seconds remaining before the ‘flashing hand’ turns solid red, and help pedestrians determine whether there is enough time for them to cross the street.
“Studies and pilot programs have shown that they can significantly reduce the number of people in the crosswalk when the signal turns solid red.
“This effort is the latest in a series of area improvements that began with a resurfacing of Flatbush between Atlantic Avenue and Grand Army Plaza in May of last year.
“Since then, the corridor has seen the installation of new crosswalks and other pedestrian improvements at the Carlton Triangle; the prohibition of left turns from Flatbush to reduce congestion and improve safety; and, just last month, the alteration of signal timing to slow off-peak traffic and increase pedestrian crossing time. The combination of these efforts and the new countdown signals should significantly increase improve the walkability of this rapidly evolving corridor.”
Craig Hammerman, the district manager for Brooklyn Community Board 6, said he welcomes the new signal setup.
“Crossing Flatbush Avenue at any time of day is a daunting task because it’s a very wide street that cuts through on an unusual angle,” Hammerman said.