Columbia Street Gets Speedbump, Wants Traffic Light

Cars barelling through Congress Street between Columbia and Hicks streets will soon have to apply the breaks -- the Department of Transportation is installing a speed bump.

At last night's General Meeting, District Manager Craig Hammerman announced the DOT had studied if the street was a good candidate for a speed bump and decided it was.

"As soon as the season permits, they will install it," he said.

The Van Voorhees Playground is right across the street.

Needless to say, Norman Cox, President of the Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association, was happy.

"We're pleased DOT has responded on that," he said, adding that the neighborhood organization had recommended many specific sites for traffic and safety studies.

"We're very interested in a traffic signal at Columbia and President streets," he added. "It's the site of repeated accidents."

In early March, DOT workers toured Columbia Street with neighborhood representatives, Cox said. A number of suggestions were given to the DOT.

One asked for further signage by the B.Q.E. entrance near Atlantic Avenue, which was recently installed.

But according to a letter from DOT Brooklyn Commissioner Joseph Palmieri, the need for a traffic light on Columbia and President streets had been evaluated and denied on August 26, 2009. Per DOT policy, a study cannot be re-opened for 18 months, which means the location can be studied again in February.