Some Upper West Side Street Configurations to Change Following Community Board Vote

UPPER WEST SIDE, NYC — Community Board 7 voted to change the direction of traffic on three streets in the Lincoln Square area after receiving complaints from Upper West Side residents.

The board discussed the resolution Tuesday during its full board meeting and voted 34 in favor, zero against and zero abstaining.

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Residents complained that driving near Lincoln Square was unsafe and inconvenient due to odd street configurations, according to the meeting minutes. It was determined that there were an excess number of eastbound streets in the area. Residents complained that driving in the area was inconvenient due to having to circle the area which contributed to traffic congestion.

The Community Board listened to residents and asked the city Department of Transportation to look into improvements that would make the area safer and more convenient to drive in.

The board voted to approve the following configuration changes proposed by the DOT:

• West 62nd Street will become a two-way street between Columbus and Amsterdam avenues.
• West 64th Street will change from eastbound to westbound between Columbus and West End avenues.
• West 60th Street will change from eastbound to westbound between Columbus Circle and West End Avenue.

The board also approved the following provisions:

• "Watch for Children" signs and speed bumps will be installed at the Columbus Avenue end of West 64th Street.
• Speed bumps will be installed on West 60th Street on the downgrade to West End Avenue. If installing speed bumps is not possible, other measures to slow traffic will be researched.
• A split signal or audible signal will be installed at West 62nd Street and Broadway.
• The board will also recommend Department of Transportation look into further traffic improvements and safety measures.

Only one public speaker commented on the resolution during the Community Board's discussion. Ralph Memoli, vice president of the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District, said the district was supportive of the plan but was concerned about construction on West 60th street.

"We'd like to get proposed renderings and details of dimensions of the neck bounds they are proposing," Memoli said.

A neck bound is another term for a curb extension. Memoli said that the proposed extensions could interfere with an existing construction zone.

[Photo: New York City Department of Transportation Lincoln Square safety improvement study]