Safety Upgrades Welcome News For Dangerous Bed-Stuy Block: Neighbors

BED-STUY, BROOKLYN — A Bed-Stuy block neighbors say is rampant with speeding and reckless drivers will get some help from the city under a new street safety plan, according to Mayor Eric Adams.

The intersection of Malcolm X Boulevard and Chauncey Street is one of 10 streets near city schools the mayor revealed Thursday will be redesigned before the end of the year, part of a line-up of more than 100 street projects for 2022 in his $900 million street safety plan.

The redesigns are set up to focus on dangerous intersections in underserved neighborhoods, Adams said.

“We will never compromise the safety of our students and young people, and equity will always be at the core of our work to protect them,” the mayor said.

In Bed-Stuy, the safety upgrades came as welcome news to neighbors who say cars crashing into sidewalks, parked cars, trees or even buildings is a common sight in the area.

Just this week, a car severely damaged a tree near Malcolm X Boulevard and Decatur Street, according to photos shared with Patch.

"We have had a big issue with speeding in our area and frequent car and motorbike crashes along this stretch of Malcolm X Blvd and surrounding streets," one neighbor told Patch. "We’re lucky there have not been more pedestrian deaths."

There have been more than a dozen crashes with more than 20 injuries in a one-block radius of the intersection of Malcolm X Boulevard and Chauncey Street in the last five years, according to city data.

Neighbors pointed out that the crashes extended beyond the Chauncey Street intersection. It is unclear how much of the block will be upgraded under the city's safety project, which is focused on areas near schools.

The Malcolm X Boulevard and Chauncey Street intersection is found right next to Jackie Robinson Park Playground and within a few blocks of at least six schools and childcare centers.

The street upgrades also come as neighbors take on their own effort to improve Malcolm X Boulevard. A group of neighbors have been trying to raise $15,000 to beautify the corridor as part of an ongoing push to curb escalating gun violence in the area.

The city had not released details about what the Bed-Stuy redesign would include. It is one of two projects in Brooklyn unveiled Thursday.

Neighbors said they hope any design plans will take their ideas into consideration.

"Streetscape improvements and traffic calming are generally welcome though neighbors would like to have a voice in what happens to our streets," said the neighbor, who asked not to be named.

So far, a specific plan was only released for a project in Uptown Manhattan, which will include new bike lanes, pedestrian islands, speed cushions, and curb extensions to reduce speeding.

The school-focused projects are among more than 100 total street redesigns that will be completed before the end of the year, according to the city. Patch has asked for a list of locations for all 100-plus redesigns.

The mayor's $900-million street safety plan was first announced in April, just days after studies showed a spike in traffic fatalities at the start of 2022.

The 44-percent surge in the first few months of the year made it the deadliest start to any year since the city launched its Vision Zero safety effort in 2014, the data shows.

Overall, traffic fatalities this year are on pace to eclipse those in 2021 — the city's deadliest year since Vision Zero, data shows.

Read More:

• Safety Upgrades Coming To These Streets Near NYC Schools, Mayor Says