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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Saskia Haegens, AAMUP steering committee member and resident of the project zone
2:13:26
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109 sec
Saskia Haegens, a resident of the Atlantic Avenue Mixed Use Plan (AAMUP) project zone and former steering committee member, urges the city to include commitments for substantial streetscape improvements in the points of agreement. They emphasize the need to make Atlantic Avenue and surrounding streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Requests specific improvements including a road diet on Atlantic Avenue, pedestrian safety measures, bike boulevards, and protected bike lanes
- Calls for clear commitments from DOT with a timeline and allocated funding for these improvements
- Emphasizes the need for ambitious capital infrastructure work and a timeline shorter than 7-10 years
Saskia Haegens
2:13:26
Thank you, chair.
2:13:27
My name is Saskia Higgins, and I was an AIM UP steering committee member.
2:13:31
I'm an organizer in the area and today speaking as a resident of the larger project zone.
2:13:37
I'm asking the city to include real commitments to substantial streetscape improvements in the points of agreement.
2:13:43
Atlantic Avenue is one of the most dangerous streets in the city.
2:13:46
It's scary to cross as a pedestrian or cyclist, and it's basically a highway that cuts through our neighborhoods.
2:13:52
Here, we have a unique opportunity to fix this historical wrong.
2:13:56
We need to make the streets in the project area safer to increase the amount of green and open public space and to prioritize walking, biking and public transit.
2:14:05
I urge the city to commit to the following alongside the rezoning: implement a road diet on Atlantic Avenue for the full stretch from Flatbush to Nonstrand implement pedestrian safety improvements throughout the project zone, including hardened daylighting of all intersections redesign Dean And Bergen Streets as bike boulevards and build out the Underhill Bike Boulevard.
2:14:27
Create protected bike lanes on the North South running avenues, including but not limited to Vanderbilt and Bedford and build out Underhill Plaza.
2:14:35
Importantly, I'm asking for a clear commitment from DOT for these streetscape improvements, including a time line and actual allocated funding.
2:14:43
This needs to go well beyond a few SIPs sprinkled in, it needs to go well beyond restating of already existing infrastructure projects preceded this rezoning, and it needs to go well beyond the traffic study and other such noncommittal promises.
2:14:57
I'm asking for the POAs to include a time line, one that is not seven to ten years long, and funding both for the necessary CPSD as well as committed funding for an ambitious capital infrastructure work to implement a road diet on Atlantic and the other street safety projects I listed.
2:15:15
Thank you.