City aims for pedestrian-friendly streets
The Common Council is looking toward a future in which motor vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles all can move safely around the city.
The vision was discussed Monday during a joint caucus that included a presentation by the Complete Streets Advisory Council and discussion of three grant applications totaling $6.75 million.
“The idea that a complete street is a street that can be used by everyone ... is a relatively new concept within the last 10 to 20 years,” said Bob Dennison, chairman of the advisory council. “Prior to that ... cars ruled everything. Everything was built around cars.”
A “complete streets” plan is now in final design stage for Hurley Avenue, with implementation expected in 2019.
Advisory council members said public policies based on vehicular use of streets make it more difficult for people who don’t drive.
“Given that 37 percent of the city’s residents are under 18 or over 64, we need streets that are safe and accessible for the young and the old,” the council wrote. “Attractive, well-laid-out, versatile streets that are well-maintained complement community development and economic development. Besides fostering better mobility, a focus on non-motorized access and maintenance for Kingston’s streets with the interest of pedestrians in mind will aid air quality and bolster sense of place and the local economy.”
Among the advisory council’s goals is finding ways to have drivers reduce their speed.
“One of the things we expect to do this year is develop a set of standards for traffic calming to be used in this city so that we don’t end up in a situation where people are proposing traffic-calming measures that aren’t sound or are dangerous,” Dennison said.
“One of the projects is Schwenk Drive,” he said of the road that runs from Washington Avenue to Kingston Plaza. “That’s a perfect example of a street that really should be renovated . ... Those of you who have tried to cross that by foot will understand what I’m talking about.”
Grants being sought by the city would be used to design and construct facilities for pedestrian and bicyclists on Flatbush and Foxhall avenues.
The funding would include:
• $5 million from the state Department of Transportation, with the city required to contribute a $1.25 million match that can include in-kind services or money from other grants.
• A $1.25 million grant from the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Climate Smart Communities Protection Fund.
• $120,000 from the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Climate Smart Communities Grant Program to be used for developing a citywide pedestrian and bicycle master plan.