UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The new Third Avenue has arrived just in time for the holidays.
Officials announced Thursday that the work on the "Complete Street" redesign of Third Avenue in the Upper East Side has wrapped up, bringing new bikes lanes, bus lanes and upgrades to pedestrian safety to the neighborhood.
"This transformative redesign of Third Avenue will make the street safer for everyone—whether you are walking, biking, or driving—and helps prioritize the tens of thousands of bus riders who rely on this street every day for safe bus service,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez.
Some of the final elements, like hardened pedestrian islands at those wide, Third Avenue intersections, have only temporary plastic bollards in place, but the Department of Transportation says that the current design will be monitored and reviewed so that adjustments can be made in the future.
“Today marks a transformative milestone as we celebrate the completion of the Third Avenue street safety project. These necessary upgrades could improve pedestrian safety, deliver faster bus service and make cycling a more comfortable experience,” said City Council Member Julie Menin. “The New York City Department of Transportation is truly prioritizing a safer, more accessible New York City—where every commuter, cyclist, and pedestrian can navigate our bustling streets with confidence.”
Officials said the new offset bus lanes will help provide more reliable service for the 50,000 daily riders who catch trips on Third Avenue, and hopefully at faster speed than the current morning rush hour snail's pace of 5.4 miles per hour.
For the 1,700 people who currently ride a bike on Third Avenue, they will finally get a parking-protected bike lane to complement — and alleviate demand on — the also northbound First Avenue bike lane.
According to the DOT, an explosion in bike use means they installed wider, nine-foot-wide lanes on the avenue, plus 11-foot-wide lanes for two uphill sections where people can more comfortably ride at their own pace. Typical Manhattan bike lanes are six feet wide.
“You can practically hear the cheers of cyclists along Third Avenue – this is a major win for safety along one of Manhattan’s busiest boulevards,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “This innovative approach to accommodating a variety of modes of transportation sets a new precedent for keeping Manhattan moving safely.”
Pedestrians got big safety upgrades too, including what is known as "daylighting," where parking spots adjacent to intersections are removed to improve both driver and pedestrian visibility.
Some intersections also received "offset crossings," where turning vehicles will be forced to slow down.
The work, which broke ground this summer, is part of a larger project to reimagine the entire 10 mile stretch of Third Avenue, but city officials said that since the 1.9 mile Upper East Side portion had the highest number of traffic fatalities — with six pedestrians and one cyclist killed between 2016 and 2022, in addition to 37 severe injuries — the project would begin there before moving north to East 128th Street and south to Cooper Square.
Community Board 8 voted overwhelmingly in favor of the redesign in October, calling the avenue a "relic," with super-slow buses and a terrible safety record.
The board added to their resolution a request that "all traffic laws be prioritized on Third Avenue," reads the resolution, regardless of mode.
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December 08, 2023 at 04:13AM
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Work On 3rd Avenue UES Redesign Complete: Officials - Patch
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