Call For Prospect Heights Slow Zone Gains Strength

An initiative to , which would reduce the speed limit from 30 mph to 20 mph on residential streets, now has the support of Community Board 8, Councilmember Letitia James, Assembly Members Hakeem Jeffries and Joan Millman, and state Senators Velmanette Montgomery and Eric Adams.

Slowing down drivers in the neighborhood has been a goal of the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council, who already have more than 1,200 signatures on their petition. The group says that they also have letters of support from 13 neighborhood groups including the Carlton Avenue Association and the St. Marks Avenue Association.

Seven neighborhood school organizations are also on board, as well as three pre-K and daycare centers. The movement has even found support with Boys Town New York, the Brooklyn AIDS Task Force and the Temple of Restoration.

The full list of supporters can be found here.

“The Neighborhood Slow Zone program is a promising new tool to reduce accidents and improve quality of life in residential districts,” Councilmember Letitia James said in a written statement. “I look forward to working with NYC DOT to create a slow zone in Prospect Heights that will make local streets safer for its residents, visitors and schoolchildren.”

Citing the increased traffic that will come with the Barclays Center opening, Assemblyman Jeffries said in a written statement: “Given the already dangerous conditions on Prospect Heights residential streets, it is imperative that all reasonable steps be taken to protect pedestrians and bicyclists from the increased impact of traffic from the arena.” 

In an (admittedly small) Patch online poll last month,  said they would support a “slow zone” in Prospect Heights. 

According to the Department of Transportation’s web site, areas that are selected to become “slow zones” will be notified in March, with implementation beginning as early as July.