Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Hank Gutman today announced both immediate and long-term safety improvements to McGuinness Boulevard in Brooklyn, where teacher Matthew Jensen was recently killed in another instance of traffic violence. The City will fully redesign the corridor, including immediate safety enhancements and a full corridor redesign in 2022, with a commitment of $39 million in capital funding.
“Vision Zero has made New York City safer and more livable – but its work isn’t finished until corridors like McGuinness Boulevard are improved for everyone who uses them,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We can change this city’s streets for the better and forge a better Greenpoint for generations of Brooklynites to come.”
“These improvements to McGuinness Boulevard will make Brooklyn safer for all New Yorkers – and send a powerful message that New York City will stand against traffic violence,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Laura Anglin. “I look forward to working with the community to develop a bold, inclusive, and effective plan.”
“After the tragic loss of Matthew Jensen, we look forward to working with the people of Greenpoint to redouble our efforts to make McGuinness Boulevard safer for everyone who uses this critical corridor,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman. “Saving lives and preventing injuries on our streets remains DOT’s top goal under Vision Zero, and fixing McGuinness will be among our very highest priorities this year. We thank the Mayor for his leadership, as well as Assembly Member Gallagher, Council Member Levin, and all the advocates – especially Families for Safe Streets – for all their organizing and hard work to expedite a comprehensive safety redesign.”
The City will assess and implement immediate upgrades in 2021, such as adding missing crosswalks, turn calming, and other safety treatments. These changes are expected to be complete by this fall.
Additionally, the City will engage the community on a full corridor redesign, supported with $39 million in capital funding. The redesign will offer changes such as protected bike lanes, shortened pedestrian crossings, and other proven safety enhancements. Community engagement and design coordination work will begin this summer, and the redesign will be implemented in 2022.
“The epidemic of traffic violence continues to take the lives of New Yorkers like Matthew Jensen,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. “Fortunately we have a cure in the form of traffic-calming infrastructure such as protected bike lanes, shorter crossing distances, and measures to reclaim street space for pedestrians. I thank Mayor de Blasio and DOT Commissioner Gutman for responding to this crisis along McGuinness Boulevard, and I urge them to continue the effort on other dangerous corridors throughout Brooklyn, and beyond.”
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