Eyes on the Street: Safer Passage Between GAP and Eastern Parkway

Cyclists were already using the median on Eastern Parkway near Grand Army Plaza earlier this week. Photo: Ben Fried

The reconstruction of Eastern Parkway between Washington Avenue and Grand Army Plaza is wrapping up. A big benefit of the project is the completion of a widened median, including a path for bicyclists, between the main traffic lanes and the service road.

What used to be a bumpy median that wasn’t useful or walking or cycling is now a link from the Eastern Parkway greenway to Grand Army Plaza and all the bike routes that converge there. While this is the last piece of the GAP bike network puzzle to materialize, it’s a project that’s been in the pipeline for many years, so in a way it predates other recent improvements.

The final product. Image: ##http://66.39.72.204/system/files/EasternParkwayHWKC1019.pdf##Department of Design and Construction##

The project also includes curb extensions and curb ramps for pedestrians, connecting to the expanded bike lanes and pedestrian areas around Grand Army Plaza. The project is scheduled for completion this fall.

Families are using the median's large curb extension to more safely cross Eastern Parkway. Photo: Ben Fried

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Pedestrian and Bike Improvements Coming to Grand Army Plaza

By Sarah Goodyear |
Current configuration Proposed changes Here’s a look at the proposal the DOT gave to Brooklyn’s Community Board 6 on March 29th regarding safety improvements at Grand Army Plaza. The plan’s highlights include: Three new concrete islands (5,900 square feet) 2,300 square feet of new landscaping Removing a travel lane on Eastern Parkway Providing a Class […]

New Grand Army Plaza Concept is “Brilliantly Obvious”

By Aaron Naparstek |
In the most recent issue of the Architect’s Newspaper, Editor-in-Chief William Menking has some very enthusiastic things to say about the Grand Army Plaza Coalition’s project, Rethinking Grand Army Plaza (download the proposal here) which was recently awarded a 2007-2008 Design Trust fellowship. Menking writes: This past month I served as a juror on the […]

Grand Plans for Brooklyn’s Iconic Public Space

By Jason Varone |
In all of the uproar over DOT’s various transportation proposals for Park Slope last month (One Way? No Way! and 9th Street) this Grand Army Plaza project managed to slip beneath the radar. That’s too bad because it’s a really thoughtful and detailed piece of planning work that will help connect neighborhoods and improve the […]