Photos Courtesy of DOT
By Michael V. Cusenza
The City Department of Transportation on Friday announced the completion of an intersection redesign to improve safety at Highland Park and Ridgewood Reservoir, helping underserved communities better connect with their local greenspaces along the Brooklyn and Queens border.
“In the heat of the summer, communities like Ocean Hill, East New York, Cypress Hills and Richmond Hill need and deserve safe access to high-quality parks as much as anyone else,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez.
At the request of local advocacy groups, DOT targeted upgrades at the intersection of Vermont Place and Highland Boulevard to transform a highway-like intersection into a pedestrian-friendly crossing that calmed traffic and added a new concrete sidewalk. The DOT also painted a curb extension to reduce pedestrian crossing time and slow vehicles turning off of Vermont Place.
The upgrade fills gaps in the DOT’s pedestrian network and offers safer pedestrian access to Highland Park, a heavily used park for walking and exercise. The park is situated on a high plateau, straddling the Brooklyn and Queens boarder, offering sweeping views of the Rockaways and Atlantic Ocean.
Under the Adams administration, DOT has pledged to improve 1,000 intersections a year to address pedestrian safety. Intersections pose a special safety challenge in New York City, where crashes at intersections typically comprise 50 percent of all fatalities and 70 percent of all injuries. For pedestrians, the dangers are more pronounced: 55 percent of pedestrian fatalities and 79 percent of pedestrian traffic injuries occur at intersections. DOT is well on its way to meet its 1,000-location target for 2022.
“These intersection upgrades go a long way toward improving safety and the overall quality-of-life for those living near the Queens-Brooklyn border,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “Those seeking to walk utilize the beautiful Highland Park and Ridgewood Reservoir for recreation and exercise, or who are just looking to walk in this wonderful neighborhood, can now do so more safely and with more peace of mind. I commend the New York City Department of Transportation, led by Commissioner Rodriguez, for its continued commitment to addressing pedestrian safety, especially at our City’s intersections.”
“Our parks and green spaces are the jewels of our city and it’s important that everyone has safe, convenient access to them,” said Council member Robert Holden (D-Maspeth). “That’s why I applaud the DOT for improving this intersection and allowing more families to safely enjoy Highland Park and the Ridgewood Reservoir.”
“I am proud to join the DOT and pedestrian safety advocates to do this critical intersection redesign in my district. I have long championed pedestrian safety in Ridgewood at dangerous intersections,” said Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven). “The intersection of Vermont Place and Highland Boulevard, where there have been at least 20 traffic injuries, will now have a pedestrian-friendly crossing for everyone visiting the beautiful Ridgewood Reservoir. Highland Park benefits the safety, health, mental wellness, climate, and air quality of my constituents in Ridgewood, and the redesign will provide an underserved community with green space. I commend Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez for spearheading this redesign.”
