AIE  is providing civil engineering and utility design services for this safety improvements project. The Washington Avenue and Ocean Avenue Safety Improvements project builds out a range of pedestrian safety-related geometric improvements at four intersections in Prospect Heights, Crown Heights and Prospect Park. The Washington Avenue corridor is a High Crash Corridor, within the top third of corridors in Brooklyn, and the Ocean and Parkside Avenue intersection ranks in the top 1% of Brooklyn. The proposed improvements build-out existing temporary materials that will soon approach the end of their useful life, as well as additional new safety improvements. They include, but are not limited to, curb extensions, expanded sidewalks, accessible sidewalks and crossings, and road realignment at the following three intersections: Washington and Pacific Street at Lowry Triangle, Washington and Classon Avenue, and President Street, and Washington and Montgomery Streets.

Intersection of Washington & Pacific Streets at Lowry Triangle: This intersection build-out adds pedestrian space and greenery by expanding the Green streets islands on Washington at Atlantic Avenues, the corners of Lowry Triangle at Atlantic Avenue, and extending the pedestrian safety islands on Atlantic Avenue at Washington Avenue. As part of the build-out, two pedestrian paths will be created by replacing cobble stone with hexagonal pavers, ensuring ADA compliance. Trees will be planted in the existing empty tree pits.

Intersection of Washington & Classon Avenue, & President Street: This section of the project will close Classon Avenue between Washington Avenue and President Street, requiring all northbound vehicles to turn right on President Street and make the immediate left onto Classon Avenue. The current Greenstreet Island will need to be partially reconstructed at the northwest corner to accommodate required turning radii. This project will also relocate the currently signalized intersection from Washington Avenue and Classon Avenue slightly north to the intersections at President Street. These changes allow for the crossing locations across Washington Avenue to better align with pedestrian desire lines to access the various community assets located nearby and reduce conflicts by dramatically slowing turning movements.

Intersection of Washington and Montgomery Streets: The community has requested traffic calming along the stretch of Washington Avenue between Classon Avenue and Empire Boulevard, which has only one signalized intersection, resulting in speeding and few pedestrian crossings. Montgomery Street itself is a wide, one-way eastbound street. The intersection of Montgomery Street and Washington Avenue is slightly skewed resulting in soft-angle turns which can be taken at higher speeds and threaten pedestrian safety. At this intersection, the design is to construct a sidewalk extension on the northeast corner. The curb extension will narrow the entryway onto Montgomery Street and improve safety by creating a shorter crossing distance for pedestrians, improving visibility, and slowing turning movements.

As part of this assignment, AIE has been tasked with acquiring permits with NYC Parks, NYC DOT, NYS DEC among others.