Vanderbilt Avenue

Starting in 2020 as a response to COVID-19, Vanderbilt launched an Open streets initiative, closing down Vanderbilt from 4 PM- 11 PM on Fridays and 11AM to 11PM Saturday and Sunday. This is a total of 31 hours that a major Brooklyn traffic artery is shut down to vehicular traffic,including public buses, delivery drivers, taxis and private citizens. 

 

While Open streets has shown to have some benefits to some local businesses, 3.5 days a week for eight months is too large a burden on the community at large. 
The PHNDC and DOT need to listen to the concerns of the majority of the neighborhood.  During the shutdown days:

  • Seniors have difficulty accessing transportation
  • Differently abled community members have difficulty accessing transportation
  • Businesses along Vanderbilt whose customers need vehicular or bus transportation access are losing business
  • Emergency workers' responses are hampered.
  • The excess traffic being pushed into side streets is creating excess harmful noise and smog pollution for residents and
  • The excessive Vanderbilt Open Streets is hurting our community.


Revisit the 31 hours/week, 8 months a year Vanderbilt Open Streets now.

Hear from your neighbors

 

UNPCH sent out a  survey to local residents to gather feedback on how these changes have been impacting them. Here is what they have to say:

Noise Levels During Open Streets
Hello,   Just writing on behalf of myself and a few hospital employed co-workers living along vanderbilt avenue, prospect heights, regarding the insane noise levels during Vanderbilt open streets.    The live bands on the weekends should be stopped or atleast be limited to only one weekend day (saturday) . Several of us work night shifts and sleep during the day and the music is so loud in add...
“OPEN STREETS PROS & CONS”
Four years ago at the beginning of the pandemic, we found that Vanderbilt Ave was closed to traffic.  As I approached the barricade, I had my first meeting with --. I explained that I had heavy bags of groceries and I needed to go to the entrance of my building to unload the groceries.  He asked two young ladies to help my wife to the building with our groceries. I remained with the car while they...

"As a senior citizen, I cannot gain close access to the supermarket, nor can l park near to stores anymore because of the block being shut down from Atlantic Ave to Park Pl. This is unconscionable inconvenience to the community. City government is supposed to protect the community, not inconvenience it."

"No bus and my elderly mother has to walk many avenues over to catch the bus, can’t grocery shop. And most importantly, our emergency vehicles can’t get through. God forbid it’s a fire or some other emergency. I don’t understand why you need dining in the street when the boroughs biggest park is right there."