Improving Access to Manhattan Bridge Plaza

Plaza Location 

Mantahhan BridgeBrooklyn Bridge

.25 mile walking radius

Jay Street

Sands St

Tillary St

Brooklyn Queen Expy

SURROUNDING PUBLIC TRANSIT STOPS

- Plaza is very accesible by bus and subway

Subway F

Subway A/C

Bus Stops

SURROUNDING INSTITUTIONS

Watchtower Society

NYC College of Technology

Freedom Academy High School

St James Church

George Westington High

US District Court

NYC College of Tech

US Post Office

SURROUNDING PUBLIC SPACES• Close proximity to Cadman Plaza, but works at a different

scale and use• More intimate because of its relation to Manhattan Bridge

Cadman Plaza

McLaughlin Park (Tillary St Courts)

SURROUNDING PUBLIC SPACES

• Pocket Parks such as Bridge Parks 1, 2, 3 are close but unconnected, left-over spaces in the shadow of the Manhattan Bridge/ BQE intersection

Celebrating its centennial anniversary in October 2009,

the Manhattan Bridge is a vital link between Brooklyn

and Manhattan.

• Since opening in 2004, the separated northbound bicycle path has helped reduced user conflict with the southbound pedestrian path, and provides an alternative to the tourist-clogged Brooklyn Bridge.

BACKGROUND

• 2001 South path opened as shared space for peds/bikes

• 2004 North path opened for bikes, reducing user conflict. Now 2nd most cycled bridge in city

IMPROVEMENTS FOR USERS

North Side - Sands Street Protected bike path - planned in 2005, averaged 800 cyclists/ 12 hours

- opened 2009, averaged over 2600 cyclists/ 12 hours- specialized bike traffic signals for dangerous

intersection crossing Sands Street

IMPROVEMENTS FOR USERS

North Side - New Planting-add beautification to city streets

- increase storm water run-off collection

IMPROVEMENTS FOR USERS

South Side - Pedestrian Plaza- 2007, Pedestrian Plaza was rehabbed at southern foot of bridge. Twenty trees, dozen benches, eight historic lamp-posts installed, and plaque marking the bridge as

civil engineering landmark. Designed as a more attractive places for pedestrians.

BUT the plaza is EMPTY

• Plaza entrances don’t need to be changed but access to them needs to be improved.• Sidewalk fences only accommodate entry at Sands Street, yet foot and bike traffic comes from the

south on Jay street• Park users must take indirect path for High Street staircase and Nassau Street ramp.

ENTRY POINTS ARE UNAPPROACHABLE

- Pedestrians pick the most obvious, direct path - the existing crosswalk on Nassau

ENTRY POINTS CREATE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS

- Then they cross exiting Manhattan Bridge traffic dangerously.

- Then Pedestrians must hop a fence, or walk beside traffic to enter Plaza

ENTRY POINTS CREATE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS

- Then Pedestrians must hop a fence, or walk beside traffic to enter Plaza

ENTRY POINTS CREATE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS

- Then Pedestrians must hop a fence, or walk beside traffic to enter Plaza

ENTRY POINTS CREATE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS

ENTRY POINTS CREATE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS

construction (2010 - mid 2013)NYC DOT said “The bikeway on the north side of the bridge will also be closed for as long as eight months during the project.” Just as during the previous phase of bridge repair (10/06 - 8/07) “cyclists will share the walkway on the south side of the bridge with pedestrians” which has a staircase only entry.

This will force nearly 3000 daily cyclists to Southern Entrance, adding even more users undesirable entries.

TIME TO ACT IS NOW

GOOD Ped/Bike Entry

BAD Ped/Bike Entry

Time to REVAMP

path & plaza entrances

SUGGESTIONS for

IMPROVEMENTS- removes gates at southern entrance, for bicycle access

to plaza

- bicycle route markings on Jay street North (bike lane or sharrows) and through plaza

- New Signage -A) yield to cyclists/ peds signage for vehicles exiting

ramp B) bikes yield to pedestrians in plaza

SUGGESTIONS for

IMPROVEMENTS

- Install Stop Light and Raised Crosswalk at High street, leading to

plaza steps

- Remove pedestrian fencing for DIRECT access to High street steps

SUGGESTIONS for

IMPROVEMENTS

- Remove portions of pedestrian fencing on concrete island separating Nassau and Bridge Exit, as well as portions of concrete

jersey barriers on sidewalk

- Install Crosswalk at Nassau street for continuous Northern flow of pedestrians

on Eastern Side of Jay Street

Remove

Remove

BENEFITS of ENTRY IMPROVEMENTS

• make pedestrians and cyclists feel safer accessing the Manhattan bridge

• bring more users to the under-utilized plaza

• slows traffic exiting the Manhattan Bridge

• gives Manhattan Bridge comparable entry treatment to recently revamped BK bridge

• Community Board 2• Friends Academy • CUNY Technology • FEGS • Concord Village Apartments• St James Church• Watchtower Society• George Westington High

WHERE DO WE GET SUPPORT?

• Assemblywoman Joan Millman• Councilman-elect Steve Levin • State Senator Dan Squadron

WHAT NEXT?

• Continue working with organizations in immediate vicinity to gain more support

• Work with Community Board 2 transportation Committee to review current Plaza conditions and explore other possibilities for improvement

THEN - - -

• Ask the NYC Department of Transportationo to study entry and approach

access to the Jay Street Plaza of the Manhattan Bridge

o to propose improvements to entry points with specific regard for pedestrians and cyclists

END