Comments on: Streetfilms: The Transformation of Grand Army Plaza http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:43:57 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Angus Grieve-Smith http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/comment-page-1/#comment-51449 Angus Grieve-Smith Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:45:46 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/#comment-51449 I thought the zebra-striping was the first step. Didn't that replace something much worse? I thought the zebra-striping was the first step. Didn't that replace something much worse?

]]> By: GAPCo http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/comment-page-1/#comment-51447 GAPCo Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:43:13 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/#comment-51447 This is in fact the 'first step' in what GAPCo hopes will be a comprehensive overhaul of Grand Army Plaza. I think Clarence's film really demonstrates how much more efficiently this corner of GAP is being used by all modes. I find that many more pedestrians and cyclists are using this space now that it has these new islands and crosswalks and lanes. Car traffic is in no way impeded: they are merely given less roadway. And I will take greenery over zebra-striped asphalt any day!! Is this a final product? I hope not - the Flatbush crossing still takes two light phases at least. The connectivity with the Eastern Parkway median will come when that fully funded project is finally built. And other parts of the Plaza will be addressed in a similar manner. But more importantly than building more small-scale, short-term tweaks to the space, we are at the beginning of a process (see the 'reinvisioning' link in the original post) that may well result in a master plan that fully addresses all of GAP's usage and access issues. Stay tuned! This is in fact the 'first step' in what GAPCo hopes will be a comprehensive overhaul of Grand Army Plaza.

I think Clarence's film really demonstrates how much more efficiently this corner of GAP is being used by all modes. I find that many more pedestrians and cyclists are using this space now that it has these new islands and crosswalks and lanes. Car traffic is in no way impeded: they are merely given less roadway. And I will take greenery over zebra-striped asphalt any day!!

Is this a final product? I hope not - the Flatbush crossing still takes two light phases at least. The connectivity with the Eastern Parkway median will come when that fully funded project is finally built. And other parts of the Plaza will be addressed in a similar manner.

But more importantly than building more small-scale, short-term tweaks to the space, we are at the beginning of a process (see the 'reinvisioning' link in the original post) that may well result in a master plan that fully addresses all of GAP's usage and access issues. Stay tuned!

]]> By: Geck http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/comment-page-1/#comment-51427 Geck Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:12:23 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/#comment-51427 Plus a 2-way 9th Ave style bike lane on the Eastern side of PPW (traffic calming PPW), which will connect to the Plaza Street Lane and the Eastern Parkway Path (extended to GAP). Plus a 2-way 9th Ave style bike lane on the Eastern side of PPW (traffic calming PPW), which will connect to the Plaza Street Lane and the Eastern Parkway Path (extended to GAP).

]]> By: Geck http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/comment-page-1/#comment-51424 Geck Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:55:53 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/#comment-51424 I say close the entire West side of GAP to traffic and run Flatbush Avenue in both direction on the East side with left turn lanes at Vanderbilt and Eastern Parkway. Drivers from Union Street and Park Slope, etc. will have to go to Flatbush Avenue at 7th or 8th Ave or earlier to get around the Circle. Access to PPW will be by way of Union Street or Plaza Street (both Union and Plaza will loose the through traffic to GAP). That will really open up GAP for an expanded Green Market and connect it to Prospect Park. I say close the entire West side of GAP to traffic and run Flatbush Avenue in both direction on the East side with left turn lanes at Vanderbilt and Eastern Parkway. Drivers from Union Street and Park Slope, etc. will have to go to Flatbush Avenue at 7th or 8th Ave or earlier to get around the Circle. Access to PPW will be by way of Union Street or Plaza Street (both Union and Plaza will loose the through traffic to GAP). That will really open up GAP for an expanded Green Market and connect it to Prospect Park.

]]> By: Clarence http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/comment-page-1/#comment-51421 Clarence Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:41:53 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/#comment-51421 Maybe someone from GAPCO can post here with more updates but I know there are future plans in the works to improve access. I will be the first to admit it is not perfect and if we could make Prospect Park car-free that would greatly allow even more monumental improvements but regardless of any negativity what the improvements have at GAP is so beyond what I ever thought we would get back in the 90s and most of this decade that I have no problem celebrating. Maybe someone from GAPCO can post here with more updates but I know there are future plans in the works to improve access.

I will be the first to admit it is not perfect and if we could make Prospect Park car-free that would greatly allow even more monumental improvements but regardless of any negativity what the improvements have at GAP is so beyond what I ever thought we would get back in the 90s and most of this decade that I have no problem celebrating.

]]> By: shishi http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/comment-page-1/#comment-51419 shishi Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:31:24 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/#comment-51419 While it is a step in the right direction it still lack connectivity in many ways. Getting to Eastern Parkway and Prospect Park West is not easy. Also, if you are riding South up Vanderbilt/Flatbush/Union there is still no lane to get you into the park. I would have liked to see a design that addressed all the issues around the entrance to the park, just not this one side. I am glad that they did this and it has made it easier to bike and walk in the area. While it is a step in the right direction it still lack connectivity in many ways. Getting to Eastern Parkway and Prospect Park West is not easy. Also, if you are riding South up Vanderbilt/Flatbush/Union there is still no lane to get you into the park. I would have liked to see a design that addressed all the issues around the entrance to the park, just not this one side. I am glad that they did this and it has made it easier to bike and walk in the area.

]]> By: Max Rockatansky http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/comment-page-1/#comment-51418 Max Rockatansky Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:23:03 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/#comment-51418 This has been an amazing transformation. It's not Portland but it's a huge huge huge step in the right direction. As you can see from the film it was basically a auto free-for-all with people crossing that intersection at their own peril. The craziest part is the crosswalk between Prospect Park and the Library. The lights are timed oddly so that you can't always make it all the way across the intersection but peds don't realize that and commonly walk into traffic rushing across the plaza down Flatbush. Has that been corrected? This has been an amazing transformation. It's not Portland but it's a huge huge huge step in the right direction. As you can see from the film it was basically a auto free-for-all with people crossing that intersection at their own peril. The craziest part is the crosswalk between Prospect Park and the Library. The lights are timed oddly so that you can't always make it all the way across the intersection but peds don't realize that and commonly walk into traffic rushing across the plaza down Flatbush. Has that been corrected?

]]> By: ddartley http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/comment-page-1/#comment-51408 ddartley Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:51:28 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/#comment-51408 Thanks, Angus, I had a feeling it might be you who came my aid. I quite appreciate it. Thanks, Angus, I had a feeling it might be you who came my aid. I quite appreciate it.

]]> By: Angus Grieve-Smith http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/comment-page-1/#comment-51407 Angus Grieve-Smith Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:44:47 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/#comment-51407 Nope. How about if I put a backslash in front of the '@'? Nope. How about if I put a backslash in front of the '@'?

]]> By: Angus Grieve-Smith http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/comment-page-1/#comment-51406 Angus Grieve-Smith Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:43:49 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/#comment-51406 Let's see if it works when you put quotes around the address. Let's see if it works when you put quotes around the address.

]]> By: Angus Grieve-Smith http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/comment-page-1/#comment-51405 Angus Grieve-Smith Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:42:57 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/#comment-51405 Dave, the problem with the "Website" field seems to be a bug in the WordPress software that Streetsblog uses. It apparently assumes that the '@' symbol doesn't belong in a "website," and removes it. Meanwhile, it's used in these Flickr URLs for whatever reason. Dave, the problem with the "Website" field seems to be a bug in the WordPress software that Streetsblog uses. It apparently assumes that the '@' symbol doesn't belong in a "website," and removes it. Meanwhile, it's used in these Flickr URLs for whatever reason.

]]> By: ddartley http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/comment-page-1/#comment-51404 ddartley Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:32:59 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/#comment-51404 Welcome improvements. In defense of the project, Blair, before these changes, that area was uniquely, thoroughly covered with a bizarre web of car lanes. It was an especially difficult area to improve without removing cars' through-routes entirely. Okay, now what's wrong with me that I can't get the "website" field in the comment signature here to work? I finally have something to put there, but if you click on my name as a link, it says the link is bad. Now, it's not an actual website of mine I'm trying to link to, but rather a photo set on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10798592@N08/sets/72157605375298457/ I'm sure it wouldn't take that much work for me to figure out what's wrong, but what the heck, web functionality is not my "area of excellence," as some guy I recently heard on the radio would term it. Welcome improvements. In defense of the project, Blair, before these changes, that area was uniquely, thoroughly covered with a bizarre web of car lanes. It was an especially difficult area to improve without removing cars' through-routes entirely.

Okay, now what's wrong with me that I can't get the "website" field in the comment signature here to work? I finally have something to put there, but if you click on my name as a link, it says the link is bad. Now, it's not an actual website of mine I'm trying to link to, but rather a photo set on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10798592@N08/sets/72157605375298457/

I'm sure it wouldn't take that much work for me to figure out what's wrong, but what the heck, web functionality is not my "area of excellence," as some guy I recently heard on the radio would term it.

]]> By: william http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/comment-page-1/#comment-51403 william Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:58:06 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/#comment-51403 NYC DOT Commish Jeanette Sadik-Khan also bikes to work. She deserves enormous credit for a broad array of improvements around the city--some experimental and some simple. When Albany killed congestion pricing, she just pushed ahead with other projects designed to reduce the impact of auto traffic. NYC DOT Commish Jeanette Sadik-Khan also bikes to work. She deserves enormous credit for a broad array of improvements around the city--some experimental and some simple. When Albany killed congestion pricing, she just pushed ahead with other projects designed to reduce the impact of auto traffic.

]]> By: Blair http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/comment-page-1/#comment-51402 Blair Thu, 05 Jun 2008 02:05:28 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/#comment-51402 Hate to be negative, but if that was the "after" out here in Portland, we'd all be complaining to our transportation Commissioner, Sam Adams, who happens to be our next mayor, and also happens to ride his commuter bike to work every day. I know NYC is trying, but the DOT there is still slave to the auto. Good work on the first baby step of transforming Grand Army Plaza, though. Hate to be negative, but if that was the "after" out here in Portland, we'd all be complaining to our transportation Commissioner, Sam Adams, who happens to be our next mayor, and also happens to ride his commuter bike to work every day.

I know NYC is trying, but the DOT there is still slave to the auto. Good work on the first baby step of transforming Grand Army Plaza, though.

]]> By: Michael http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/comment-page-1/#comment-51400 Michael Thu, 05 Jun 2008 01:43:33 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/#comment-51400 I live a block from Grand Army Plaza (down Union St, towards 8th) and have young children. I must say that this change has made the Library and Museum truly accessible, where in the past it was a scary trip. Sometimes I have to drive (sorry) and since the change it is easier as well! I live a block from Grand Army Plaza (down Union St, towards 8th) and have young children. I must say that this change has made the Library and Museum truly accessible, where in the past it was a scary trip. Sometimes I have to drive (sorry) and since the change it is easier as well!

]]> By: mfs http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/comment-page-1/#comment-51398 mfs Thu, 05 Jun 2008 01:07:52 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/#comment-51398 So I biked through this on Sunday and it was great- normally I would bike on the right-hand lane of Flatbush Ave through the plaza, but the bike lane out of Prospect Park guided me onto the side street into a bike lane. One problem though, is that connectivity to Eastern Parkway for bikes is still difficult. Any ideas on how to fix that? So I biked through this on Sunday and it was great- normally I would bike on the right-hand lane of Flatbush Ave through the plaza, but the bike lane out of Prospect Park guided me onto the side street into a bike lane.

One problem though, is that connectivity to Eastern Parkway for bikes is still difficult. Any ideas on how to fix that?

]]> By: JK http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/comment-page-1/#comment-51383 JK Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:49:34 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/04/streetfilms-the-transformation-of-grand-army-plaza/#comment-51383 Thanks Clarence. This is terrific documentation. The changes are a vast improvement, and show you how relatively inexpensive improvements in the streetscape can significantly change the feel of everyday life. Congrats to GAPCO, but of course, it shouldn't have taken the work of a highly motivated and effective community groups to get these things done. There are a hundred GAPs, maybe a thousand in NYC, and only a handful have citizens dedicated to remaking them. Thanks Clarence. This is terrific documentation. The changes are a vast improvement, and show you how relatively inexpensive improvements in the streetscape can significantly change the feel of everyday life. Congrats to GAPCO, but of course, it shouldn't have taken the work of a highly motivated and effective community groups to get these things done. There are a hundred GAPs, maybe a thousand in NYC, and only a handful have citizens dedicated to remaking them.

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