Community-Powered Advocacy Makes Delancey Street Safer For Everyone

Today, the New York City Department of Transportation began implementing a series of safety improvements along Delancey Street. Between 2008 and 2010, 134 pedestrians and bicyclists were injured by drivers at this location.

"These safety improvements are a long time coming," said Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. "Calming traffic, increasing public space and improving Delancey Street for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers are critical first steps in making this street safer. The DOT's improvements will help protect New Yorkers from the threat of injury or death on Delancey Street. These changes are a victory for the community-driven efforts of the Delancey Street Working Group."

The DOT's Delancey Street improvements include:

- Improving safety and calming traffic by shortening 14 of 19 pedestrian crossings
- Creating a painted pedestrian plaza with street furniture at the base of the Williamsburg Bridge
- Upgraded street markings to better organize traffic and improve safety
- Converting Clinton Street to a one-way northbound road between Grand and Delancey Street, providing more direct access to the Williamsburg Bridge

After a series of crashes resulting in serious injury or death to pedestrians and bicyclists along the corridor, State Senator Daniel Squadron formed The Delancey Street Working Group. This community-powered coalition has been pushing for redesigns that will protect all street users.

The Working Group consists of Representative Nydia Velazquez (D-New York), Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-New York), State Senator Daniel Squadron (D-Brooklyn/Manhattan), Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer (D), Council Member Margaret Chin (D-Manhattan), Community Board 3, the Lower East Side Improvement District, the NYPD, the NYC DOT and Transportation Alternatives.

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