Marty Markowitz Still Has Big Plans For 4th Avenue

FiPS contributor J. Charles is on vacay this week, otherwise he'd be the one to bring you the latest news of Marty Markowitz and his grand plans for 4th Avenue (and by "bring you the news," I mean that he'd make fun of Marty before saying that there isn't actually any real hope for 4th avenue). JC, you are missed this week. OK, moving on:

Our borough prez's dreams of transforming 4th ave into something pretty and safe seem to be getting one step closer to a reality. Marty has formed an elite task force chaired by Chief of Staff Carlo Scissura, and has announced plans, some vague and some specific, for beautifying the strip. Here are the deets, via the Brooklyn Daily Eagle:

• Planting sidewalk trees along the entire length of 4th Avenue from Flatbush Avenue to Shore Road

• Design use of newly expanded Times Plaza at the intersection of 4th, Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues

• Ensuring safety for all users of Fourth Avenue

• Enhance subway median vents with artworks and/or plantings

• The co-naming of Fourth Avenue

$2 million in capital funding is also being put toward fixing up the 4th ave and 9th street subway station. 

“The station was designed as one of the grandest in the entire MTA subway system,” said Markowitz. “And now, with funding I have allocated along with Assemblywoman Joan Millman, the MTA can pull back the billboards, fix the crumbling bricks and restore this 1930s art deco beauty to its former glory.

I'm curious to know the details of the step that calls for "Ensuring safety for all users of Fourth Avenue." Based on our last post about this issue, most commenters were concerned with the speeding cars and the fact that one has to sprint across all six lanes before the orange hand stops flashing and tells us we're going to die now.