Announcing the improvements, from left, Tobi Bergman, D.O.T.’s Margaret Forgione, Brad Hoylman, Deborah Glick and Brooke Schooley.
BY VILLAGER STAFF | On Nov. 16, Margaret Forgione, commissioner of the city’s Department of Transportation, and local officials announced welcome pedestrian-safety improvements at the intersection of Seventh Ave. South and W. Fourth St. at Sheridan Square.
The intersection, where Christopher and Grove St. also meet, is in the top 1 percent of Manhattan intersections for people killed or severely injured from 2009 to 2013, and is located in a Vision Zero Priority Area, according to D.O.T.
Joining Forgione at the announcement were state Senator Brad Hoylman, Assemblymember Deborah Glick, Community Board 2 Chairperson Tobi Bergman and Brooke Schooley, president of the 7th Ave. South Alliance.
The safety improvements include sidewalk extensions with flexible delineators, a left-turn-only lane and flashing amber arrow on Seventh Ave. South, approaching W. Fourth St.; a new crosswalk across the north side of Seventh Ave. South and Christopher St.; a new concrete expanded pedestrian island at the Christopher St. subway station; and a new leading pedestrian interval signal at the eastern W. Fourth St. crosswalk.
The improvements clarify vehicular movements, calm traffic and slow turning vehicles. Additionally, pedestrians have more space and safer and shorter routes as they go to and from the subway entrance.
“Navigating the intersection at Seventh Ave. South and W. Fourth St., between the crush of commuters from the Christopher St. subway station, unclear street signs, and the constant flow of vehicles, has long been a dangerous proposition for pedestrians,” Hoylman said. “With the Department of Transportation’s newly implemented safety improvements, however, what was formerly one of the most dangerous intersections in all of Manhattan has been transformed into a safe haven for pedestrians, bikers, commuters and drivers alike.”
A new concrete expanded pedestrian island at the Christopher St. subway station is among the intersection’s improvements.
“These streets are truly the crossroads of the West Village,” Glick said. “The endless flow of neighbors and visitors surrounded by increased vehicular traffic cried out for safety improvements.”
Added C.B. 2 Chairperson Bergman, “Places like this, where major avenues intersect the small, crooked streets of Greenwich Village, present difficult safety challenges. These crosswalks are often swarming with people, especially at night when vision is limited and people in an entertainment district may be less attentive. Turning vehicles are especially problematic… . We expect this particular location to soon become an important focus of a national monument for the L.G.B.T. movement. We hope D.O.T. will soon consider permanent changes to curbs and crosswalks that will go even farther toward protecting the thousands of pedestrians who cross these busy streets every day.”
Schooley said the 7th Ave. South Alliance is glad for the improvements.
“We are delighted that D.O.T. is taking action to help ameliorate the inherently dangerous pedestrian crossings on this wide, heavily trafficked avenue with its nonperpendicular intersections,” she said, “and we are thrilled to be able to partner with them to maintain these newly installed pedestrian areas.”
C.B. 2 voted to support the project, and implementation began in June and was completed this fall. The 7th Ave. South Alliance will be the maintenance partner for the project to keep up the planters and do litter removal.
