NEW SITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Future Streets
New York City introduced the Open Streets program in the summer of 2020 as an emergency response to create more space for social distancing and to help restaurants survive through the pandemic. This created a unique opportunity to reclaim public space from traffic and reimagine our streets. The reaction and the success grew in participants’ imaginations to offer an idea of what city streets could be: a place to enjoy an evening stroll or a fun day out with family; a shared “living room” for neighbors to meet up or just run into each other; and a way to build community in and across neighborhoods. Owing to its success and popularity, in 2021, the City Council voted to make the Open Streets program permanent.
In addition to providing new space for people to enjoy, the Open Streets program also makes our streets safer. A truly permanent reimagining of our public space could be transformative for Prospect Heights. That’s why the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council has been working with the New York City Department of Transportation to engage the Prospect Heights community, and together develop a vision for the future of our streets. On this page you will find a recap of what we have done thus far, and updates on next steps in this process.
DOT announces lower speed limit on Underhill Bike Boulevard
Today DOT informed us that the speed limit on the Underhill Bike Boulevard will be reduced to 10 mph, following enactment of Sammy’s law. Underhill has seen >80% reduction in crashes thanks to the bike boulevard treatment. Now the new speed limit will also lower the risk of serious injury from a crash to below 10%.
DOT workshops on GAP, Vanderbilt and Underhill improvements
The NYC Department of Transportation will begin public outreach for the Grand Army Plaza and Prospect Heights Public Realm Capital Visioning this month with an on-street workshop on Vanderbilt Avenue Saturday, June 15 from 1-4PM between St. Mark’s Avenue and Prospect Place.
[Press Release] Underhill Bike Boulevard to move forward after nearly six month delay
The Department of Transportation announced earlier today that the Underhill Avenue Bike Boulevard will move forward as originally planned. This follows a nearly six month delay at the order of Mayor Adams who paused the project in September claiming more community outreach was needed before moving forward, despite two prior years of outreach conducted by DOT.
[Press Release] Following Underhill Avenue crash, street safety advocates highlight efficacy of ‘bike boulevard’ treatment
Early yesterday morning, the FDNY responded to a motor vehicle crash on Underhill Avenue in Prospect Heights following reports that a sedan had collided with a dumpster on the street, according to FDNY incident filings. The collision, which involved a vehicle with a history of speeding, marks the first motor vehicle crash on Underhill Avenue in 2024, a street where Mayor Adams halted construction on a bike boulevard and corresponding safety improvements in September.
[Press Release] Adams names vague influence of “those outside the community” as reason why street safety projects are being halted
Yesterday afternoon, Mayor Adams addressed a question regarding the status of the stalled Underhill Avenue Bike Boulevard at his in-person media availability. His response, which negated rumors that he secretly met with opponents of the project, had extremely misleading implications tied to it, including that “those outside the community” might be “dictating what is going to happen on a local level.”
Events
DOT announces lower speed limit on Underhill Bike Boulevard
Today DOT informed us that the speed limit on the Underhill Bike Boulevard will be reduced to 10 mph, following enactment of Sammy’s law. Underhill has seen >80% reduction in crashes thanks to the bike boulevard treatment. Now the new speed limit will also lower the risk of serious injury from a crash to below 10%.
DOT workshops on GAP, Vanderbilt and Underhill improvements
The NYC Department of Transportation will begin public outreach for the Grand Army Plaza and Prospect Heights Public Realm Capital Visioning this month with an on-street workshop on Vanderbilt Avenue Saturday, June 15 from 1-4PM between St. Mark’s Avenue and Prospect Place.
[Press Release] Underhill Bike Boulevard to move forward after nearly six month delay
The Department of Transportation announced earlier today that the Underhill Avenue Bike Boulevard will move forward as originally planned. This follows a nearly six month delay at the order of Mayor Adams who paused the project in September claiming more community outreach was needed before moving forward, despite two prior years of outreach conducted by DOT.
[Press Release] Following Underhill Avenue crash, street safety advocates highlight efficacy of ‘bike boulevard’ treatment
Early yesterday morning, the FDNY responded to a motor vehicle crash on Underhill Avenue in Prospect Heights following reports that a sedan had collided with a dumpster on the street, according to FDNY incident filings. The collision, which involved a vehicle with a history of speeding, marks the first motor vehicle crash on Underhill Avenue in 2024, a street where Mayor Adams halted construction on a bike boulevard and corresponding safety improvements in September.
[Press Release] Adams names vague influence of “those outside the community” as reason why street safety projects are being halted
Yesterday afternoon, Mayor Adams addressed a question regarding the status of the stalled Underhill Avenue Bike Boulevard at his in-person media availability. His response, which negated rumors that he secretly met with opponents of the project, had extremely misleading implications tied to it, including that “those outside the community” might be “dictating what is going to happen on a local level.”