Albemarle Road Getting Safety Upgrade

Councilman Brad Lander

The stretch of Albermarle Road in the heart of Kensington is notoriously hazardous for drivers and pedestrians alike. That fact is about to change as the Department of Transportation responds to pressure from community leaders and Councilman Brad Lander to install safety measures to the stretch of road between Ocean Parkway and McDonald Avenue.

Over the coming months the DOT will be making driving lanes narrower to slow down drivers; “No Standing” signs will be put up to improve visibility; and two speed bumps will also be installed to slow down cars.

Lander says that it is commonplace for cars to drive too fast, making the area dangerous for pedestrians, cyclists as well as drivers. In just one year, 2013, there were 10 car crashes in that corridor. Earlier this month two cars collided at East 2nd Street.

“The community spoke out and Department of Transportation listened,” Lander said. “I am looking forward to walking the safer Albemarle Road next year,” he added.

The problem has been going on for so long and is so serious that residents voted to budget part of their tax money to fix the problem as part of Landers’ experimental Participatory Budgeting program.

“This has been a decade long fight. We look forward to the implementation of these devices in the springtime,” said Larry Jayson, president of the Albemarle Neighborhood Association.

“This is an important victory for residents in Kensington, who have come to Participatory Budgeting neighborhood assemblies for the last several years and noted Albemarle Road as an area that needs traffic calming measures,” said Rachael Fauss, Kensington resident and member of the Participatory Budgeting District Committee for District 39.

“With these new improvements, the community will be safer and know that its voice has been heard,” Fauss said.

Councilman Lander said that the “No Standing” signs are already in place. Residents will be able to hear more about the safety improvement plan from the DOT at a Community Board 12 meeting this month.

ANA Meeting on Thursday (Tonight)

Brad Lander, New York City Councilmember, will speak at the Albemarle Neighborhood Association meeting scheduled to be held from 7 to 8pm. Mr. Lander will be speaking about the final discussions for the New York City budget for the upcoming fiscal year; lawmaking goals; recent activities which Lander has taken to benefit the citizens of Kensington and other issues of interest to the participants. This meeting is your chance to get the information you need from the person who knows, your representative to the NYC council.

The meeting is being planned to be held outdoors, weather permitting. Come tonight to 414-415 Albermarle Road, and please bring a chair.

If there is a question of rain, please call 718-TENANTS to confirm the location. If there is rain, the meeting will be held at the Flatbush and Shaare Torah Jewish Center, 327 E. 5th Street, corner of Church Avenue. Please remember to use the groundfloor, wheelchair accessible, entrance.

The meeting is entirely free and open to everyone regardless of whether they are a member of the ANA or not. Refreshments will be served and provided by Foodtown and the ANA.