Iona students propose Smart Park app, speed cushions and raised crosswalks for Mamaroneck Avenue

Iona University’s City Labs team presented recommendations May 27 to the Village of Wernick trustees to reduce congestion and improve parking on Mamaroneck Avenue.

Kristoff Winklin, director of the Heinz Institute at Iona, introduced student presenter Lisa, who said the team used design-thinking methods and gathered 45 surveys and 38 interviews to inform their proposals (Kristoff Winklin, speaker 6; Lisa, speaker 7).

The students’ headline proposal is a Smart Park app that would show drivers how many spaces are available in underused off-street lots via entrance/exit sensors, paired with a micro-shuttle to ferry users between lots and downtown destinations. Lisa also proposed low-cost, quick-build street treatments including rubber speed cushions, paint-and-post curb extensions to shorten crossings, raised speed-table crosswalks to increase pedestrian visibility, and a limited 60-day enforcement and education campaign to reinforce new regulations.

"There are parking lots that are underutilized," Lisa said, describing the app concept and the shuttle."The app also includes a congestion-relief social score to encourage use." (Lisa, speaker 7). The team said the prototype includes a SketchUp visual model and that they created a website to enable two-way communication between residents and village staff; they offered to transfer site ownership to the village when public access is desired.

Trustees and residents asked about the meters and how interview participants were found; Lisa said students canvassed Merrick Avenue on foot and that several people reported confusion about quarters-based meters versus pay stations.

Next steps: Trustee (speaker 4) said the board will evaluate the recommendations, work with the Traffic Commission and prepare proposals. Several trustees noted many of the student suggestions are inexpensive and could be piloted quickly.