Redesign of Park Slope’s Ninth Street, site of fatal crash, is nearly done

It’s been nearly six months since the fatal March 5 crash in Park Slope that killed two children and seriously injured others when 44-year-old driver Dorothy Bruns sped through a red light at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Ninth Street. Following the incident, community members and advocates called upon the city to make streets safer for pedestrians, which were answered when Mayor de Blasio announced the city’s plans to redesign Park Slope’s Ninth Street.

In the days since, construction on the redesigned area has been moving along and on Thursday, the city announced that the project is nearing completion.

The new design offers enhanced protected bike lanes on both sides of Ninth Street for six avenue blocks, shortened crossings and slow-turn treatments at intersections; modified loading regulations to reduce double parking, and narrowed traffic lanes to reduce speeding.

“To say the March crash in Park Slope hit close to home would be an understatement,” said Mayor de Blasio, who was joined by local elected officials for a tour of the redesigned area. “We cannot undo that terrible afternoon five months ago, but these safety improvements will help prevent future tragic crashes on this busy street. We will continue working diligently towards our Vision Zero goal, here and across the city.”

Unfortunately, tragic crashes similar to the one in Park Slope continue to happen around the city. Earlier this month, a cyclist visiting from Australia was killed when a black livery taxi struck her along Central Park West and 67th Street. So far, the city hasn’t announced any plans to redesign that area to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Cyclist visiting from Australia killed in Central Park West crash [New York Daily News]