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Residents press DOT for crosswalks, curb cuts or a pedestrianized Jersey Street at Lafayette near the library and retail
Summary
Committee members and residents urged DOT to study pedestrian safety at Jersey Street and Lafayette after a near‑miss and because the local library and shops attract weekend crowds; DOT said it would study intersection warrants including stop signs, curb ramps and crosswalk options.
Residents and board members asked the Community Board 2 Traffic & Transportation Committee on July 29 to ask DOT to study pedestrian protection at the Lafayette Street–Jersey Street intersection near the public library and retail, where narrow geometry and weekend foot traffic have led to near‑misses between pedestrians and cyclists.
Janine Kylie, committee chair, introduced the topic and said a local resident had reported a collision involving a cyclist and pedestrians. Committee members described heavy pedestrian use when the library and neighborhood shops are busy and suggested several interventions including painted crosswalks, flex posts, curb cuts, bump‑outs or even partial pedestrianization of the short Jersey Street block.
DOT response and typical practice
Kate Sher, DOT staff, said DOT generally studies traffic and pedestrian volumes and sight lines before installing signs, crosswalks or stop signs. She noted DOT typically installs marked crosswalks where there is a regulatory stop control (stop sign or signal) but that there are exceptions where marked crossings are useful without a traffic control device.
"We would likely conduct a traffic study for this location — a stop sign warrant study and an assessment of traffic and pedestrian volumes — before making a determination," Sher said. "If the pedestrians would benefit from a dedicated crossing, that would be analyzed; we can also explore signage and pedestrian safety posts."
Neighborhood priorities and accessibility
Board members and residents emphasized accessibility needs including curb cuts for people using strollers or wheelchairs; members requested DOT consider curb ramps and alignment of ramps to crosswalks. Several participants suggested the narrow two‑block Jersey Street could support a single continuous crosswalk or even a pedestrianized plaza, especially given low vehicle volumes.
Next steps
DOT said it will add the location to its study queue and examine whether a painted crosswalk, stop sign, curb ramp or other measure is warranted. The committee asked DOT to consider the planned two‑way bike lane work on nearby blocks when studying the location.
