Looking West from the Northeast corner of 97th street and West End Avenue. Photo by Robert Josman.
The Department of Transportation has painted new yellow lines around pedestrian walkways on 97th street and West End Avenue that at least two drivers have slammed into in the past month. The collision indicates that drivers have not yet adapted to the new islands.
There are two likely explanations for this, both of which may be true.
1. The new islands are too low and not well-marked so they’re hard to see, particularly at night or in the rain. (Some people have suggested adding a large potted plant at the median, which does make some sense.
2. Drivers have been making very sharp turns onto West End for years, putting pedestrians at risk. Now they’re hitting an object instead of a person (which is a good thing, of course).
Robert Josman, who sent in the photo above last week, is not a fan of the redesign:
“As you know the WEA redesign is a bit of a mess. Because the islands blend with the pavement they are hard to see and your headlight don’t pick them up due to the grade falling off.
Because of the two accidents at this location DOT rushed back out today with yellow paint and signage in the hope more people will see the islands. But in DOT’s infinite wisdom they placed the sign in the picture on the northern island facing east. This is confusing drivers going across 97th street to Riverside Drive, as it looks like they are being warned about a traffic island that is on 97th street between WEA & RSD.
There were several near misses with traffic traveling on 97th crossing WEA, as drivers got caught in the intersection while they were looking for a traffic island further down 97th street.”
The Department of Transportation says they’ll keep monitoring the West End redesign.
“Markings around the concrete pedestrian islands, which were just completed, were installed this week. We are aware of the two collisions at this intersection and urge motorists to exercise caution when on the road. We will continue to monitor the area and consider additional safety enhancements.”
Thanks for putting up the picture I just wish it could have been “cheated” a bit more to the left. The picture when seen in all its glory clearly shows the sign facing due east on 97th street as though there was an island between WEA and RSD on 97th street
The whole avenue is very dark at night. As you indicate, very hard to see when driving, particularly when raining. Always am concerned I won’t see bicycle riders and pedestrians. More and/or stronger street lights needed.
As a taxi driver asked me on a rainy evening week while he was negotiating the new left turn lanes and trembling as he had to go into oncoming traffic to pass double-parked trucks: “Lane markings like this are usually used on wider highways.” Then he recalled how deep snow and plowed slush cover WEA in winter. “How will people see these lines when it snows?” he asked.
I’d like to see a picture on here of what West End Ave looks now like each weekday morning between say 96th street and 102nd street. Because of the new single lane format and the poor light sequencing (particularly at 97th street), cars traveling south on West End routinely get stuck in the intersections when the lights turn red, thereby (1) backing up traffic on the side streets trying to either turn onto or proceed through West End, (2) preventing cars traveling north on West End from making left turns, (3) creating a cacophony of horns throughout the neighborhood, and (4) creating new dangerous conditions for pedestrians that have to navigate around cars blocking intersections when crossing West End with the walk light.
Certainly, improvements needed to be made to West End, particularly for pedestrian safety, but this plan was hasty and ill-conceived.