Atlantic Avenue To Become First City Road With 25 MPH Speed Limit
The stretch of Atlantic Avenue by the Barclays Center.
Nearly a month ago, we shared WNYC’s chart of this year’s traffic deaths. At the time, there had been 46 traffic-related deaths citywide and the majority of those accidents occurred in Brooklyn. Since then, the number has reached 58 with the most recent accident occurring yesterday when a bicyclist in Bushwick was struck and killed in a hit-and-run.
It’s worth stressing that the city is somewhat desperately trying to address this problem and today, according to the Post, the mayor’s office announced their major decision: In the coming weeks, Atlantic Avenue will become the first of 25 major roadways to have their speed limits reduced from 30 mph to 25 mph.
On top of that, the Department of Transportation will also re-time traffic lights “so law-abiding drivers will hit more green lights than speeders.”
The 7.6 mile-long avenue, which stretches from Brooklyn Heights to Richmond Hill, Queens was the site of 25 traffic deaths between 2008 and 2012, 50 percent of which were pedestrian deaths.
Over the next few weeks, the De Blasio administration will announce the names of the other 24 roadways targeted for speed reduction in the ongoing “Vision Zero” plan.
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