June 11, 2021

NEW YORK–– Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Hank Gutman today announced immediate and long-term safety improvements on McGuinness Boulevard in Brooklyn, where teacher Matthew Jensen was recently killed in another case of road violence. The City will completely redesign the corridor, including immediate safety improvements and a complete redesign of the corridor in 2022, with a commitment of $ 39 million in capital funding.

“Vision Zero has made New York City safer and more liveable – but its job isn’t done until hallways like McGuinness Boulevard are improved for everyone who uses them,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We can change the streets of this city for the better and forge a better Greenpoint for generations of Brooklynites to come.”

“These improvements to McGuinness Boulevard will make Brooklyn safer for all New Yorkers – and send a powerful message that New York City will stand up to traffic violence,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Laura Anglin. “I look forward to working with the community to develop a bold, inclusive and effective plan. “

“Following the tragic loss of Matthew Jensen, we look forward to working with the people of Greenpoint to redouble our efforts to make McGuinness Boulevard safer for all who use this critical corridor,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman. “Saving lives and preventing injuries on our streets remains DOT’s main focus as part of Vision Zero, and fixing McGuinness will be one of our highest priorities this year. We thank the Mayor for his leadership, as well as Assembly Member Gallagher, Council Member Levin and all the advocates – especially Families for Safe Streets – for all of their organization and hard work to accelerate a complete overhaul of the security.

The City will assess and implement immediate improvements in 2021, such as adding missing crosswalks, calming turns and other safety treatments. These changes are expected to be completed by the fall.

In addition, the City will engage the community in a complete overhaul of the corridor, supported by capital funding of $ 39 million. The redesign will offer changes such as protected bike lanes, shortened crosswalks and other proven safety improvements. Community engagement and design coordination work will begin this summer, and the redesign will be implemented in 2022.

“The road violence epidemic continues to kill New Yorkers like Matthew Jensen,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. “Fortunately, we have a remedy in the form of traffic calming infrastructure such as protected cycle lanes, shorter junction distances and measures to reclaim street space for pedestrians. I thank Mayor de Blasio and DOT Commissioner Gutman for responding to this crisis along McGuinness Boulevard, and urge them to continue their efforts on other dangerous corridors in Brooklyn and beyond. “

“The mayor’s historic investment will restore a fundamental right to our community: the freedom to cross the street without fear of death or injury. McGuinness Boulevard has long symbolized the deadly consequences of infrastructure that prioritizes the speed of cars and trucks over human life. This is changing now. . I am so proud of this community for coming together in the aftermath of tragedy after tragedy to demand change. And I’m grateful to our mayor for really listening. Let’s get to work, ”said Assembly Member Emily Gallagher.

“This $ 39 million commitment to redesign McGuinness Boulevard along with the immediate improvements and a timeline for work to be done is good news and exactly what the community has asked for. We thank Mayor de Blasio for this commitment and thank Assembly member Gallagher for his years of advocacy. The community has been asking for it for years and looks forward to being fully engaged as the process progresses. Although we remember the tragic loss of Matt Jensen, go from the front with the redesign of the pavement is a fitting tribute ”, said Board Member Stephen Levin.

“While we were very saddened by the tragic loss of our esteemed educator, Matthew Jensen. We are inspired by our mayor’s swift hand in resolving this issue and ensuring that action is taken to ensure that residents and visitors alike of Community Board # 1, Brooklyn remains safe in their travels, ”said Dealice Fuller, Chair, Brooklyn Community Board 1.

“New York City has made a lot of progress in implementing Vision Zero in recent years, but we can’t slow down until every street is safe for cyclists and pedestrians,” said Liam Blank, spokesperson for Tri-State Transportation Campaign. “The pandemic has made micro-mobility incredibly popular, and now the city’s reopening is bringing a lot of vehicles into the mix, creating a really dangerous situation. We applaud the NYC DOT for restoring balance to the grid. completely preventable deaths.

“TA activists have been sounding the alarm bells about the unsafe conditions on McGuinness Boulevard for a decade. A $ 39 million plan to immediately start improving safety will go a long way in preventing accidents like the hit and run that killed Matthew Jensen. At a minimum, this plan should include a road regime, protected cycle lanes and improved pedestrian crossings.We thank the Mayor of Blasio for his early commitment to safety and we will work with him and the next administration to ensure that the boulevard McGuinness gets the physical investment it needs and is no longer a death trap, “said Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives.

###