Building Collapse at Columbia and Degraw

We are still waiting for more detail about the cause of the collapse although it seems likely due to the work on the Flushing Tunnel Project.  We've also inquired about steps that are being taken to ensure the safety of nearby buildings and how the schedule for the project will be affected.

A full demolition of the building was ordered by the NYC Department of Buildings and the work is in progress.

A statement released by the DEP is available here.

"Next Bus Please" - Brad Lander Releases Report on Study of B61 Bus

Council Member Brad Lander invites you to attend a press conference next Monday to present their recently completed report about the B61 bus.  The report, titled “Next Bus Please: Improving the B61 Bus” summarizes data collected by community volunteers and presents suggestions for improving service.  

Time: 9:00am

Date: 5 December, 2011

Location: 4th Avenue/9th Street Bus Stop, Brooklyn

DOT OK's Signal at Summit & Columbia

The Department of Transportation notified Community Board 6 of their determination that a signal is appropriate at the intersection of Columbia Street and Summit Street as a result of the change in traffic patterns due to the work on Van Brunt.

This letter is to inform you that we have determined that the intersection of Columbia Street and Summit Street has met our criteria for signalization under the existing traffic conditions created by the DDC Columbia Street Reconstruction Project's Maintenance and Protection of Traffic (MPT), which includes a reversal of Summit Street between Van Brunt Street and Columbia Street, resulting in additional traffic entering the intersection in question.  The signalization study was undertaken in response to community requests.


We have asked the DDC contractor to implement a temporary traffic signal according to our standards at this intersection and to maintain it for the duration of the project MPT.  Please note that we have also instructed them to remove the signal once the MPT is removed and Summit Street is restored to its original westbound direction.  We would appreciate your assistance in communicating to the community the temporary nature of the installation.

Hopefully, we'll see that signal installed soon.  It is important to note that the signal will be temporary. However, it is gratifying that DOT has finally acknowledged the importance of traffic control along this overloaded route through our community. Next we just have to get the police to enforce the truck route regulations.

Time to Clean Up Port Trucking Industry

As you may have heard, change is afoot on the port. Phoenix Beverages has replaced American Stevedoring as the operator of the Red Hook Container Terminal.

What haven't changed are CoWNA's concerns about the port: the salt pile, truck traffic and pollution. The Brooklyn Eagle recently published a letter from CoWNA about the pollution issue:

The port is an environmental asset for New York. On balance, it pollutes less than other ways of transporting goods to our region. But the port is a dirty business for the Columbia Waterfront and Red Hook.

One of our biggest problems is port truck pollution. Many port trucking companies misclassify their drivers as independent contractors and force them to buy their own vehicles. They pay the drivers so little that they can only afford the oldest and dirtiest trucks.

The Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association and our allies in the Coalition for Healthy Ports believe it is time to clean up the port trucking industry.

Phoenix Beverages, the new port operator, could be another important ally in this fight. Or it could be an obstacle. The good news is that the company has a record of negotiating with the community and is even committed to decreasing pollution from its private truck fleet. Here's hoping that Phoenix continues to be a good neighbor.

Reminder: Participatory Budget Neighborhood Assembly

There will be a public meeting to kick off the Participatory Budgeting process hosted by Brad Lander tomorrow evening 6:30pm at PS 58, 330 Smith Street in Carroll Gardens.

Councilmember Lander will present information on the budget funds and residents will brainstorm project ideas and select budget delegates.

More information here and we hope to see you at the meeting.

Update on Traffic Controls for Columbia Street

COWNA received a letter from DOT this month in response to our repeated request for a traffic signal on Columbia Street which was the site of a fatal traffic accident this year.  The letter states that "field evaluations and engineering reviews" for two intersections were completed in August 2010 and and January 2011 and that DOT concludes that signals are not warranted.  DOT will not initiate a new study for a minimum of 18 months.

Belinda Cape, of State Senator Dan Squadron's office, has been monitoring this for us.  She reports that signals and all-way stops were last denied at Columbia and Carroll on 8/25/2010 and at Columbia and President on 1/13/2011. 

New requests will be considered 18 months from the end of the studies: therefore the dates of eligibility for further study are: President and Columbia,7/13/2012 and Columbia and Carroll, 2/25/2012.

DOT has active study for Columbia and Summit for a temporary signal - we should be hearing the results of that shortly.

Columbia Street Reconstruction Update

Update received from Community Board 6:

The Department of Design and Construction (DDC) has advised of an upcoming Night Work Operation that will involve closure of Van Brunt Street from Union Street to President Street (Southbound traffic) during the night.

• Southbound trucks on Columbia Street will be detoured onto Congress Street, then southbound on Hicks Street.
• The street closure/detour will be in affect on or about Wednesday, October 19, 2011 through Wednesday, October 26, 2011, from 9:00pm to 5:00am.
• Van Brunt Street will be open to all traffic during the day and non-construction hours.

The DDC notice is available here.

CB6 further noted the following schedule for completion of  the remaining work (keeping in mind that, with respect to the Columbia Street Reconstruction, things don't usually go according to plan).

• Completion of the Sewer along Van Brunt Street (between Degraw Street and Hamilton Avenue): end of December 2011.
• Completion of the Water Main along Van Brunt Street (between Degraw Street and Hamilton Avenue): end of February 2012.
• Completion of Curb, Sidewalk, and Roadway surface of Van Brunt Street (between Degraw Street and Hamilton Avenue): end of April 2012.
• Re-opening of Van Brunt Street, removal of the detour at Van Brunt Street/Hamilton Avenue/Summit Street and the restoration of two-way traffic along Van Brunt Street: end of April 2012.
• Completion of work on Summit Street (between Columbia and Van Brunt Street): end of June 2012.