Earlier this month, Governor Pataki signed into law a Bronx land swap between the State DOT and MTA that will allow the DOT to build a pedestrian and bicycle path from Devoe and E. 177th Street to Starlight Park. The exchange is just one hurdle to opening up the southern portion of the Bronx River Greenway.

The State DOT will build the path along the east side of the river, two pedestrian bridges over the Bronx River and will help the NYC Parks Department reconstruct Starlight Park. The new bridges and paths will connect on the street to the northern portion of the Bronx River Greenway which now extends from Westchester to E. 180th Street. Unfortunately, a State DOT proposal to build a new truck route nearby would place a highway link through a vacant lot that community groups are eyeing as an extension of the greenway from Westchester Avenue to Bruckner Boulevard.

At a meeting this week, officials from Cooper Union characterized the street system near the East Village university as overbuilt for cars and a nightmare for pedestrians. They unveiled a plan for the campus and surrounding streets that would narrow 4th Avenue, straighten 8th Street and eliminate Astor Place between Lafayette St. and 4th Avenue.

The plan requires a change to the city's map - a city planning commission action. Since the City DOT secured money for improvements through a 1993 federal enhancements grant, that agency will need to apply to the commission. However, no City DOT representatives attended the meeting and no one could predict when they would begin the process that has now been stalled for seven years.

Some people at the meeting asked if 4th Ave. could be closed entirely. The study's traffic engineer said trucks servicing 4th Ave. buildings and M101 and M102 buses need access to the block - therefore the northbound lane would remain. However, other pedestrian-priority areas - like Brooklyn's Fulton Mall - prevent access to all vehicles except buses and certain trucks. Doing the same on 4th Avenue is certainly worth a look.

Little-used subway entrance  blocks bridge promenade Transportation Alternatives

The reconstruction of the Manhattan-side approach to the Brooklyn Bridge promenade may yet bring important improvements for cyclists and pedestrians. After much wrangling with Transportation Alternatives and Community Consulting Services, the NYC DOT recently agreed to close and cover the Brooklyn Bridge-Chambers St. subway entrance that blocks the center of the approach. As well as removing an obstacle for cyclists at the bottom of a steep incline, the change will add needed width to the cyclist and pedestrian pathways.  However, the city continues to resist adding a pedestrian crosswalk from the promenade to City Hall Park north of the existing crossing often used by cyclists, a simple improvement that would reduce the likelihood of conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians.