Red Hook #2: Van Brunt Finally Gets a Traffic Light

So, now we know what it takes to get a traffic signal installed in Red Hook. The factors include a signficant increase in traffic, the death of pedestrian, community protests and a city traffic study. After all that, B61 Productions is reporting that a traffic light will be installed at Van Brunt and Sullivan Streets. B61 writes:

Other recommendations include "daylighting" the Van Brunt intersections at Wolcott and Coffey Streets to improve sight lines for motorists. "No Standing" signs have already been installed on Van Brunt between Wolcott and Dikeman Streets.

P.S. 15 Principal Kathleen Leonard welcomed the changes. "Our Safety Committee meets regularly with DOT to discuss traffic issues and this light has been on our wish list for some time. We're glad it's coming," she said.

As anyone who has crossed Van Brunt Street recently can confirm, the light is sorely needed. What boggles the mind is that the entire process took this long and that it will be another four months before a light is installed. Which would make it about a year between the time the Red Hook Fairway opened and the light was installed. One wonders if the entire process would have been this convoluted in, say, Park Slope. (Yes, we know, it would have been awful too, but we don't think it would have taken quite this long.)