Councilman Nelson To Drivers: Don’t Block The Box


by on Nov 30th, 2010
MN

Source: council.nyc.gov

We just received this press release from Councilman Nelson’s office. Read it, and see if you have the same concern I do.

(City Hall) – Council Member Michael C. Nelson proudly announces the installation of “Keep Intersection Clear” signs at Voorhies Avenue and East 18th Street. Councilman Nelson requested the installation of the signs on behalf of his constituents who had expressed the burden that many drivers endure when attempting to make a left or right turn from East 18th Street onto Voorhies Avenue. Having also personally been stuck in traffic in this area, Councilman Nelson immediately contacted the Department of Transportation to investigate this location.

Due to the busy Voorhies Avenue and Sheepshead Bay Road intersection, a constant backup of traffic forms heading westbound on Voorhies Avenue towards Sheepshead Bay Road. Due to the backup, vehicles regularly block the intersection of Voorhies Avenue and East 18th Street thereby creating a traffic situation in which vehicles attempting to make a left or right turn onto Voorhies Avenue from East 18th Street are unable to do so. Furthermore, this creates a significant problem for pedestrians, many of whom are seniors and children from nearby schools and senior centers, attempting to cross the street in this area.

“I believe the placement of ‘Keep Intersection Clear’ signs at this intersection will be an effective way to deter drivers from ‘blocking the box’ as well as enable pedestrians to safely and easily cross the street,” said Councilman Nelson. “Furthermore, I would like to thank the Department of Transportation for their diligent study of this matter and quickly approving the request. It is well known that the Sheepshead Bay Road area is a tough one for drivers to navigate through but little improvements such as this sign can greatly improve driving conditions.”

Now, I don’t mean to knock the Councilman and all the hard work he does, but I’m extremely perturbed by this line, “Having also personally been stuck in traffic in this area, Councilman Nelson immediately contacted the Department of Transportation to investigate this location.”

I hear complaints every day from residents about signs, lights, lines, holes, poles, cracks and curbs that people want added, removed, enlarged, shrunk down, relocated or otherwise altered. Many of the complaints are legitimate, and despite calls to the city and local leaders it goes un-addressed for years. But on this one, “having also personally been stuck in traffic in this area,” with his office just two blocks away, Nelson got right on it.

Again, I’m not trying to knock the councilman. But one can marvel at the privileges of power, no?

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  • Andy

    that’s great! I am sure that traffic will magically disappear purely due to those long overdue signs. thank you, councilman, for my tax money well spent!

    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisanne001 Lisanne!

      This is Nelson’s idea of community beautification. Don’t dem signs look real pretty?

  • Anonymous

    Sounds like someone in DOT wanted to shut Nelson up. It’s funny how his office is right there. Voorhies has been subject to intense congestion for years, but now that it interferes with the Councilman’s driving, he’s “right on it.”

    Putting up a “Keep Intersection Clear” sign is about as useless as putting up a “Don’t Honk” sign. Drivers know it’s illegal, but they’ll do it anyway.

    The problem with that intersection is that drivers don’t stop on 18th Street. They pull right into Voorhies Ave regardless of the congestion. It would make more sense to put up a light or a right turn only sign, rather than this useless reminder.

    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisanne001 Lisanne!

      Maybe the councilman can arrange to have a police car permanently parked on the corner to catch offenders.

      Or perhaps he could get a police escort so his traffic problems will be minimalized.

      • BrooklynBus

        Don’t give him ideas.

        • http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisanne001 Lisanne!

          He probably thinks he deserves a police escort.

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisanne001 Lisanne!

    And he issues a press release to pat himself on the back for taking care of his own needs. What arrogance!

    • BrooklynBus

      Have you tried getting in his new office to see someone? It’s not very user friendly. The intercom to open the front door is set up like the phone system. You have to give the name of the person you want to see, as if you know anyone’s name. If the person is not there, a recording comes on asking you to leave a message. Of course, you can try again, but you have to figure out that to do that you have to first press #. This must be very pleasant trying to figure out standing out there in the cold, rain and heat without your glasses handy to read the poorly lit LCD instructions. I’m sure he must have had complaints about this. If he cared, they would be fixed by now. He certainly has had enough time to get acclamated. Then once you get past the first door, you have to deal with the second one which is a little easier.

      I’m also still waiting for a reply to my letter of a month ago. Guess it was an issue that doesn’t personally affect him.

      • http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisanne001 Lisanne!

        I passed by and surmised it was something like that.

        I have had the “pleasure” of meeting him a few times. He is a very interesting character. And he is definitely a character.

        I have never gotten the impression that he cares about individual constituents. Unless they have clout or can do him some sort of favor in return.

  • Jamesforsyth

    Bad drivers will be bad drivers, without regard to signs, double yellow lane marking, etc. Good drivers never block the box, if they can avoid it. Signs are just a waste of money.

  • Anonymous

    Is that pic really what he looks like? I wouldn’t know.

    • BrooklynBus

      Yes, except that I think he lost the moustache. (He finally updated it after using an old one for 20 years.)

      • http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisanne001 Lisanne!

        It only feels like its been 20 years,

  • http://www.njluxurymotors.com Arthur Borko

    Why didn’t anyone consult me about this? I could have told them how to fix this area.

    Ok, First things first, there are TWO primary reasons that this stretch of street becomes uber congested. They are as follows

    Reason 1: The Voorhies Ave Traffic Light at Sheepshead Bay Road (East/West) is way too short. During rush hours there is way to much traffic going through the area to get to the Belt Parkway. The lights at Sheepshead Bay Road and East 16th Street are both too short and not properly synchronized to allow for good traffic flow. The light at East 14 is not as bad because even with the bus stop you can typically fit 3 cars abreast so they gather up allowing other cars to enter the area, but the East 16th and Sheepshead Bay Road light need to have their timers studied, lengthened and synchronized.

    Reason 2: East 18 Right Turns. A LOT of traffic attempting to bypass the traffic lights between East 18th and East 14th (or East 12th) along Ave Z with their ultimate destination being the Belt or Ocean Parkway typically shoot up East 18th to make the right turn. One major reasons drivers on Voorhies “block the box” is because vehicles on East 18 don’t often obey the rules of a stop sign. If the traffic is backed up to East 18 then they’ll often ignore the stop sign when the light turns green and cut in ahead of drivers who patiently wait while leaving the box open.
    The only solution to this problem is to install a “NO RIGHT TURN” sign at East 18th and Voorhies. Perhaps it can be limited to rush hours like the no Left Turn sign at U and East 34th (7am-10am & 4pm-7pm). The No Right Turn can be limited to rush hour discouraging drivers from using it and they’ll either have to enter Voorhies from Ocean Ave, or East 19, but once they are on Shore Parkway they can simply continue to Sheepshead Bay Road or East 16 past the parking lot.

    Let me tell you, as a professional driver I abhor any regulation that limits my choices or freedom of movement. However, after years of observing this intersection I can say that my solution would most likely be the best one.

    Without having to worry of right turn drivers cutting them off nobody will need to block the box enabling left turns without incident. With better timing and extended length on the traffic lights it would also prevent congestion in the first place.

    • Al Knowles

      Banning right turns on East 18th won’t fix a thing. The real problem is the drivers making a left onto Sheepshead Bay Road from Voorhies Ave(and also one banning right turns from Voorhies if you are heading in the oppoite direction). If more than one car attempts to make that left, then it causes traffic(and may also cause cars to block E. 18th rather easily) . Rather have the “No Left Turn” sign up on Voorhies onto Sheepshead Bay Road than a no right turn from E. 18th St . Hell, banning all turns onto Sheepshead Bay Road might really be the best answer. It’s too narrow a street, especially when you have people parking in the “No Standing” zone on the south-bound (towards the bay) side of the street. Anyone double parking their cars on Sheepshead Bay Road will also have a hand at causing Voorhies Ave to back up. Just make it a pedestrian mall, which I am partially joking about, but I can see this as an option.

      Like you said, traffic going onto the Belt Parkway and the lack of synchronization of the lights between Ocean Ave. and East 14th St adds to the fun. It’s really a series of bad drivers and even worse logistics that make the entire stretch from Ocean Ave. to E. 14th St. a terrible place to drive.

      • http://www.njluxurymotors.com Arthur Borko

        In the past I’ve suggested turning Sheepshead Bay Road into a Pedestrian
        Only street between East 14 and Shore Parkway. It would require some, rather
        creative bus reroutes.

        • BrooklynBus

          Actually the only bus that would really require a creative reroute would be the B49. The B36 would just travel along Avenue Z, but that would inconvenience a great number of people. A more realistic solution would be to create a mall only between Jerome Avenue and Shore Parkway. But the merchants would oppose it and it wouldn’t solve any traffic problems. Perhaps when East 16th Street is cut through to Voorhies when the shopping center is built, traffic on SBR will ease by itself or a mall could be considered at that time.

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