After several years of enduring ever-increasing collisions at the intersection of W. 136th Street and Edgecombe Avenue, the Department of Transportation (DOT) installed a traffic turn signal on St. Nicholas Avenue. Following up with the DOT’s Comm. Margaret Forgione’s visit with the Dorrance Brooks Property Owners and Residents Association (DBPORA) in April, the turn signal aims to deter the inclination of drivers to ignore or miss the stop light when turning left onto eastbound W. 136th Street. A car coming north on Edgecombe Avenue on a green light is often struck by car drivers who do not see the red signal when they turn left onto W. 136th Street. Accidents have occurred at all hours from early mornings when nearby Percy Sutton Educational Complex is opening, all the way to late evening hours. Thus far no fatalities have been noted but block association members feared that was only a matter of time. At least one resident ‘s parked car was totaled in one of the accidents, and the construction overhang has been shored up at least twice since it was put up two years ago.
DBPORA is pleased that the DOT took their concerns seriously and has acted so quickly after the meeting. Thanks to the careful, persistent photo documentation from Dr. Keith Taylor, president of the DBPORA and the Hon. JoLinda Ruth Cogen, association secretary, the DOT has been updated on each incident. It is understood that traffic flow on St. Nicholas Avenue will be affected by this; however the alternative is to stand by while accidents happen frequently. The DOT’s timely response is an indicator that Mayor de Blasio’s ‘Vision Zero’ is receptive to community concerns without waiting for a fatality.
It is also an example of the community’s responsibility to advise their agencies of their concerns and keeping the pressure on when the need is clear.
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