According to DOT, it will convert three blocks — East 7th to 10th Streets — of the two-way road into a one-way only for vehicles heading northbound, diverting southbound traffic from Avenue B onto East 10th Street.
The change is designed to lessen traffic volumes, while still allowing access for emergency and sanitation vehicles.
The three-block stretch, abutting Tompkins Square Park, already functions as a daily open street between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
“The Avenue B Open Street has been a central meeting place for neighbors, families, and friends for years, serving as a connecting point to nearby schools, Tompkins Square Park, and other points through the East Village,” DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn said in a statement.
“By moving forward with this permanent redesign, we are showing that streets are public spaces that can be transformed into something that benefits everyone,” he added.
The broader redesign will encompass safety improvements between East 4th and 12th Streets, the agency said. It is intended to calm traffic, make the road more comfortable for cycling in both directions, and enable safer pedestrian crossings — particularly at schools along the stretch.
The plan includes reshaping every intersection along the eight-block corridor with painted curb extensions protected by planters, bike corrals, and pieces of granite. The extensions are designed to both shorten crossing distances and make pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists all more visible to one another.
Furthermore, DOT plans to add neighborhood loading zones at both ends of every block covered by the redesign. Vans will be able to make deliveries, load, and unload cargo in those areas.
The agency expects to complete the project over the coming weeks.
