DOT To Calm Traffic on Hicks St. Via More Parking, Narrower Lanes

The Department of Transportation presented plans for traffic calming measures to be implemented along Hicks Street at a Community Boards 6 meeting on Thursday night, citing the removal of rush hour regulations and narrower lanes as two major changes which will impact drivers.

The corridor, which runs from Hamilton Avenue to Atlantic Avenue, has been the site of including , in the past year alone. 

Councilmember Brad Lander, community members and other elected officials have been increasingly vocal about their concerns regarding the roadway. Approximately 1,000 cars drive down Hicks Street per hour, many using it as a means to bypass the BQE. The current configuration includes five pedestrian crossings leading from Hicks Street over BQE, as well as four car crossings.

The major issues are:

-During the 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. rush hour, no parking is available. So the 28-foot wide street has wide open feel and makes speeding tempting.

-There are no sight lines at the five pedestrian crossings on the BQE side, due to an existing fence and sidewalk is not long enough

-Because parking is only allowed in between rush hours, the "wide open" feel continues throughout day. No one takes advantage of parking in the interim hours.

“What we wanted to look at is the concerns of the community and see what we can use from our tool kit with paint, signs and what we can do for a quick fix,” said Josh Benson, director of bicycle and pedestrian programs at the DOT.

The proposed plan is to make two permanent lanes, 10.5 feet each with a 7 foot parking lane/curb extension on the east side of the corridor. DOT also proposed shortening and highlighting crossings with painted curb extentions.

Benson stated that there needs to be two lanes at all times because of traffic volume—more than 200 cars use the roadway per 15 minutess from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Two moving lanes will maintain traffic flow, reduce neighborhood cut through and curb extensions, he said. Meanwhile, new planters and bollards will shorten and highlight crossings. 

“Thank you, DOT for responding to this problem," said Jerry Armer, a member of CB6 and the Cobble Hill Association. "It has been apparent for years. We feel like this is a great plan for the interim. We’d like to see more neck downs become permanent. But, for now, residents of Hicks Street are going to be very happy. Our only problem with this is that it’s not more permanent and this plan doesn’t have countdown clocks for the pedestrian crossings."

Not all those present were as enthusiastic.

“I frankly think we are missing something—one step better with the same tools would be to lengthen the curbs along the fence of the BQE," said Eli Gottlieb, Warren Street resident. "Right now, the curb cuts go down into moving traffic lanes. It’s dangerous for kids. And during the winter with ice, any one can just slip right into moving traffic. There is no visibility on the corners, you have to inch around the corner while cars run red lights. This plan is short -ighted and I urge you to expand the curbs along the BQE. Even just a couple feet will improve safety on the sidewalks on the bridge side.”

Marilyn Pettit, a representative of the CB6 transit committee and resident of Red Hook voiced her concerns for cyclists.

“You cannot bicycle safety from northbound Hicks Street if you’re coming from Red Hook," she said. "You have to be on the sidewalk, there is no other choice.” 

Ultimately, however, there wasn't much wiggle room at this juncture for nudging the DOT beyond their plans.

“This is far from the best, but it is necessary interim step," summed up Armer. "It’s the first step. We can have the city DOT do whatever they want with the street, but the fence is the fence and that belongs to the state DOT.”

The CB6 passed a motion to accept the DOT’s plan with a friendly amendment to install countdown clocks at each pedestrian bridge crossing and requesting that the DOT report back regarding the possiblility to add curb space to BQE sidewalks.