Weiner Fights Against DOT’s Detested C.I. Ave Proposal

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Coney Island Avenue and Guider Avenue

The plan is a slew of confusing, complicated changes (click to enlarge)

Congressman Anthony Weiner joined the fray in our latest David v. Goliath battle, criticizing the Department of Transportation for moving forward with a plan detested by the community.

The congressman fired off a letter to DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan asking the agency to reconsider implementing traffic changes at Coney Island Avenue near Guider Avenue and Neptune Avenue. The changes are part of the Coney Island/Gravesend Sustainable Development Transportation Study, a proposal seven years in the making that aims to clear up roadway confusion and improve safety at major intersections between Sheepshead Bay, Coney Island, and Bensonhurst.

“In my years representing southern Brooklyn first as a Councilman and now as a Congressman, I have come to know this highly trafficked area,” Weiner wrote. “While much can be done to improve the flow of traffic in our community, I share my constituents’ concerns that some of the study’s proposals may hurt rather than help the current situation.”

Weiner’s harshest criticism is reserved for a portion of the plan recommending an extension to the B74 bus line. The new leg of service would run down Neptune Avenue before turning to Manhattan Beach, connecting Kingsborough Community College with Coney Island.

“At a time when the MTA is making service cuts left and right, I do not understand why additional service will be provided to a community that has neither requested nor expressed a need for it,” Weiner wrote.

As we wrote in December, the Coney Island/Gravesend Sustainable Development Transportation Study recommends eliminating left turns onto Guider Avenue from the southbound stretch of Coney Island Avenue, which would reroute drivers looking to head east on the Belt Parkway down the heavily congested Neptune Avenue – where they’ll then have to compete with the new B74 service. It will also eliminate parking on the north-bound side of Coney Island Avenue so they can divide the strip into three lanes – a right-turn, left-turn and no-turn lane.

Community Board 15 and local civic groups blasted the plan as an overly-complicated solution that would cause more congestion on Coney Island Avenue and all the way down Neptune Avenue. They also said it would restrict access for a local firehouse, car wash and gas station as well as endanger students near Bay Academy. Lastly, the suggestion to eliminate parking would hurt businesses, opponents said.

Most in the area agree that simpler solution could be offered to reduce accidents at Coney Island Avenue and Guider Avenue: just install left-turn signals.

Here’s is Weiner’s full letter to the DOT:
Rep. Weiner letter to NYC DOT regarding traffic proposal in Sheepshead Bay

  • Gene2

    wow Weiner actually doing something useful. That intersection is a mess like many others.

  • Kiplingsburdens

    What a wonderful idea – Do away with all parking in NY. Der Mayor for Life will have billions more in parking ticket revenue to dole out to Russian Oligarchs who force peasants from their land.

    Visionary! More unused bicycle lanes and traffic chaos for garden planters and parking tickets.

  • MicoJones

    Mr Weiner’s harshest criticism was about a bus route that would connect Coney Island to Kingsborough College?
    Hmmmm. I think the Jewish community in Manhattan Beach isn’t to happy about the city making it easier for residents of Coney Island to hang out in Manhattan Beach. Let’s face it, Manhattan Beach used to be such a nice place to take your family…now it’s just like Coney Island’s Beach.

  • bigmike

    Weiner is trying to turn heads away from his stand on the Voorhies Mosque or lack of balls to make a firm stand. After all his wife is a Muslum “was such a nice Jewish boy”

    • Gene2

      Who the f voted for this guy?

  • BrooklynBus

    This City is run by a bunch of liars. A DOT spokesman stated at a CB 15 meeting in front of about 100 witnesses that the B74 proposed extension (which would never get implemented anyway since it is not within DOT’s jurisdiction to even make such a proposal) is off the table. Theresa Scavo promptly requested that they put it in writing.

    Now they are proposing it again? Give me a break!

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