Creating a More Pedestrian-Friendly 7th Avenue South

On November 16, I joined Assembly Member Deborah Glick, Community Board 2 (CB2) Chair Tobi Bergman, NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) Manhattan Borough Commissioner Margaret Forgione, and 7th Avenue South Alliance President Brooke Schooley to hail DOT's announcement of pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection of 7th Avenue South and West 4th Street. The intersection, where Christopher and Grove Street also meet, is in the top 1% of Manhattan intersections for people killed or severely injured from 2009-2013 and is located in a Vision Zero Priority Area. DOT has implemented sidewalk extensions with flexible delineators, a left turn only lane and flashing amber arrow on 7th Avenue South approaching West 4th Street, a new crosswalk across the north side of 7th Avenue South and Christopher Street, and a new concrete expanded pedestrian island at Christopher Street subway station. I am grateful to DOT for matching their plans to CB2's resolution addressing the need for improvements, and I hope that DOT follows through with a "Complete Street" design study of 7th Avenue South to continue addressing its unique problems.