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City will act to reduce injuries and fatalities on what some call the Boulevard of Death
Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard, also known as Seventh Avenue, is a six lane street that cuts through Harlem. Named after the long-term congressman, the street is sometimes called the pride of Harlem. However, it is also the site of many, many accidents and injuries. Mile for mile, it is one of the most dangerous roads in the city of New York, according to the Transportation Department. Some call uit the Boulevard of Death.
In 2012 alone, the boulevard has seen three fatal accidents and from 2006 to 2010 there were 626 serious injuries and fatalities. Some neighborhood residents point to the width of the traffic lanes – they are two feet wider than normal – as encouragement to speed. Whatever the cause, injuries and fatalities mostly affect the immediate neighborhood – 11 of the 12 people killed since 2006 were residents of Harlem.
Fixing the problem will not be easy, in part because community residents and transportation officials cannot agree on what should be done. On June 13, transportation officials presented their latest proposal to the community board. This most recent plan would create left turn lanes, left turn signals, bigger medians and wider parking lanes.
Wider parking lanes are intended to address the issue of double-parking, especially on Sunday mornings, and reduce the width of the traffic lanes to calm traffic. However, the proposed parking lanes are not wide enough to fully accommodate two cars, and community residents have pointed out that vehicles will still need to change lanes to get around double-parked cars.
Some residents believe that the city is creating complexity where none is needed. One asked why the problem could not be solved with a much lower speed limit, left turn lanes, pedestrian signals and additional stop lights.
Whatever the final plan, the Transportation Department has announced that it will start the project in August. Work should take about a month.
New York Times, “Changes Planned to Calm Flow of Traffic on Harlem’s ‘Boulevard of Death’,” July 1, 2012.
In 2012 alone, the boulevard has seen three fatal accidents and from 2006 to 2010 there were 626 serious injuries and fatalities. Some neighborhood residents point to the width of the traffic lanes – they are two feet wider than normal – as encouragement to speed. Whatever the cause, injuries and fatalities mostly affect the immediate neighborhood – 11 of the 12 people killed since 2006 were residents of Harlem.
Fixing the problem will not be easy, in part because community residents and transportation officials cannot agree on what should be done. On June 13, transportation officials presented their latest proposal to the community board. This most recent plan would create left turn lanes, left turn signals, bigger medians and wider parking lanes.
Wider parking lanes are intended to address the issue of double-parking, especially on Sunday mornings, and reduce the width of the traffic lanes to calm traffic. However, the proposed parking lanes are not wide enough to fully accommodate two cars, and community residents have pointed out that vehicles will still need to change lanes to get around double-parked cars.
Some residents believe that the city is creating complexity where none is needed. One asked why the problem could not be solved with a much lower speed limit, left turn lanes, pedestrian signals and additional stop lights.
Whatever the final plan, the Transportation Department has announced that it will start the project in August. Work should take about a month.
New York Times, “Changes Planned to Calm Flow of Traffic on Harlem’s ‘Boulevard of Death’,” July 1, 2012.