Pedestrian Plaza Under Construction at Deadly Myrtle-Wyckoff Intersection

BUSHWICK, BROOKLYN — In an effort to improve pedestrian safety, the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) began construction on the redesigned intersection of Myrtle and Wyckoff Avenues in Bushwick near the Ridgewood, Queens border.

A pedestrian-only plaza is scheduled to open Saturday, Oct. 1, on Wyckoff Avenue where it intersects with Myrtle and Gates Avenues. Council Member Antonio Reynoso, who represents parts of Bushwick, Williamsburg and Ridgewood supports the plan (PDF).

The five lane intersection is highly trafficked by vehicles and pedestrians alike and is "ranked in the top five intersections for pedestrian fatalities in the city," according to the DOT, with 25 injuries recorded from 2010 to 2014.

The Myrtle/Wyckoff/Palmetto intersection has had two times as many injuries as other intersections on Wyckoff Ave. during 2010 - 2014, according to the DOT.

The L and M trains connect at Myrtle and Wyckoff Avenues along with the B13, B26, B52, B54, Q55, and Q58 busses that connect at Ridgewood Terminal, resulting in a high amount of pedestrian traffic.

Removing vehicles from Wyckoff Avenue between Myrtle and Gates Avenues has the added benefit of connecting pedestrians transferring between the L/M subways and Ridgewood Terminal buses, the DOT said.

"In 2013, a turning MTA bus driver killed Ella Bandes in a crosswalk. DOT’s subsequent adjustments to reduce conflicts did not prevent another turning MTA bus driver from killing Edgar Torres the following year," Streetsblog reports.

Action was taken in Sept. 2014, when pedestrian crossings were shortened and five vehicle turns banned, reducing the number legal vehicular movements to 20 down from 25.

New crosswalks across Wyckoff Avenue at Madison Street are planned to be installed by the DOT, along with corner extensions to the surrounding sidewalks in order to reduce street crossing time and slow vehicles as they turn.

Lead image and body images courtesy of DOT