Is this the study we have been waiting for? The one that we can use to talk to all those stakeholders who doubt the incredible value of calming and greening our streets? 1. 2. 3. Let’s read!

On August 6th, T.A. released a new report that compiles and analyzes the most recent data on the benefits of great streets. Called Streets to Live By: How livable street design can bring economic, health and quality-of-life benefits to New York City (PDF), this study details the outcomes of livable streets projects around the world. It finds that street designs that make people comfortable and draw them in are, in fact, the very groundwork for a healthy community and local economy. The study also details the benchmarks of livable streets, including physical activity, better air quality, more social cohesion and increased economic activity; benchmarks that City agencies can use to measure the livability of any given street or neighborhood. “Streets to Live By” draws on the plans of other major Cities, makes bold challenges for New York and convincingly argues that the quality of our streets reflects the true priorities of our City. Check out the full report here. (PDF)

I’ve changed our group name and logo to Inwood and Washington Heights Livable Streets to reflect our broadened concern for livable streets initiatives in both districts, since they are represented by the same community board. Hopefully, this name change will also encourage more people in Washington Heights to get involved!

On September 8, the Inwood Livable Streets group will present a set of bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly proposals to the Transportation Committee of Community Board 12. We would like your help in planning and developing these proposals. Our next meeting will be Wednesday, August 20 at 7:30 p.m. Please contact Maggie Clarke at mclarke [at] hunter [dot] cuny [dot] edu for the meeting location.

A group of us met Wednesday evening to discuss pedestrian- and bicycle-oriented improvements to present to CB12 in September.

To preserve member confidentiality, I’m presenting an edited version of the minutes below.

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Meeting, 2008-08-06, livable streets improvements for Inwood and Washington Heights

This, the first meeting of the above group, described the presentation of the Dyckman Greenway connector at the February, 2008 Community Board 12 Transportation meeting and at a spring East Coast Greenway meeting and at the 3rd Greenway summit at Hunter College, also held this spring. Since Mark Levine, chair of CB12’s Transportation committee has invited us to present at the September 8 meeting, and it could include other greenway recommendations, we set about to write them down and to prepare our strategy for the September meeting. 

Member ideas presented:

• Create cycle path from Broadway Bridge to St. Nicholas and 155th
• Create cycle path from Inwood Park east along 207th St across bridge to Fordham road (eventually to Pelham Park)
• Ramp the stairs at the north end of Henry Hudson bikepath
• Develop a “Lombard St.” style treatment of Staff Street that retains parking, adds green space, and creates a safer cycle path transition from the Greenway to Dyckman St
• Create Dyckman Greenway Connector – Henry Hudson bikepath terminus along Riverside, Dyckman to Harlem river path
• Connect Henry Hudson path directly to access to GW Bridge south pathway (perhaps via tunnel under Northbound HH parkway)
• Connect to Highbridge from Dyckman
• Vias Verdes–need to contact Jonathan on this
• Reduce tolls on Henry Hudson bridge to reduce traffic in Inwood streets (looking for a free alternative to the parkway)
  

Improvements on Parks’ and others’ drawing boards:

• East Coast Greenway/Parks – Ramp from Dyckman St to Henry Hudson path
• Parks: Pave track along Hudson river south from Dyckman near Marina
• Parks: Create ramp to bridge over Amtrak rails in Ft. Tryon/Inwood Hill parks
• East Coast Greenway:  Create cycle path on Broadway to 218th, to Seaman, to Dyckman, to Henry Hudson path.
• NYMTC: Create river path to Yonkers  

Small / maintenance issues:

• Ask for Green Streets triangle at Isham/Broadway/211th St
• Pave edges / flatten old parking lot in front of Grecian temple on HH path – safety hazard
• Widen Henry Hudson Bridge pathway where light pole is in the middle of the narrowest part (between Dyckman and George Washington Bridge
• Replace missing sign at northern terminus of Henry Hudson path to prevent accidents due to stairway
  
• Deal with weekend daytime parties that clog 155th St on Henry Hudson path (excessive noise, insufficient trash collection, impassible path)
• Repair crumbling steps at 215th St (not discussed at meeting but should be on our agenda)
  

Future agenda / steps:

• Prioritize greenway segments
• Create new Powerpoint presentation
• Create petition in favor of Dyckman Greenway Connector
• Scheduling a future meeting – Mondays good, Wed, Thurs maybe  - 2 weeks from now
• Perform Broadway cycle path segment measurements and presentation

A to-do list for members with specific action items for the next meeting was also created. Tasks included outreach to TA, Parks, CB12 and other organizations; developing a map and presentation for the meeting, and research on issues such as asthma and economic benefits to businesses of livable streets improvements.