Mayor Mamdani Completes Redesign of ‘Crashland’ in Downtown Brooklyn

NEW YORK - Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today announced the completion of a continuous protected bike lane on Ashland Place in Downtown Brooklyn, filling the final gap in a 5.5-mile protected bike corridor between Sunset Park and DUMBO.

NYC DOT first began the Ashland Place redesign in 2022, but after interference from the previous administration, work stopped before the final block of protected bike lane could be installed. For three years, the project sat unfinished, with bags covering new traffic signals intended to improve safety at the intersection.

Today, as the long-awaited redesign takes effect, the City removed those bags and completed the project.

"For years, 'Crashland' has been a symbol of broken promises and safety put on the back burner. Today, we finish the job," said Mayor Mamdani. "The Ashland Place redesign connects New Yorkers to a protected bike network, shortens crossing distances for pedestrians and calms traffic for everyone moving through the area. Our job as government first and foremost is to build a city that keeps New Yorkers safe and works for the people who live here. This is what that looks like."

"Completing the Ashland Place redesign is not just the completion of one city block, but a critical link that will safely connect cyclists from across Brooklyn to Manhattan, North Brooklyn and Western Queens," said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. "We're proud to unbag the traffic signals on Ashland Place and officially make 'Crashland' a distant memory as we work alongside community members across the five boroughs to advance the next generation of street safety redesigns."

"At long last, the day has finally come: Crashland is no more," said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. "So many neighbors and advocates worked for years to arrive at this moment. The completion of this project finally closes a critical gap in Brooklyn's bike network and makes the street safer and easier to navigate for everyone. This new design will help save lives, and it's proof that, with hard work, we can create streets that truly serve all New Yorkers. Thank you to Mayor Mamdani and NYC DOT for their work to finish this much-needed project."

"Crashland no more! Credit to Mayor Mamdani and the Department of Transportation for completing the long-awaited and much-needed Ashland Place protected bike lane. The new lane is a major safety improvement and helps connect riders to a network of protected lanes from Sunset Park to Greenpoint," said Council Member Lincoln Restler. "I look forward to DOT's planned bike lane redesign projects on blocks surrounding Ashland Place, including 4th Ave and Lafayette Ave, that are critical connectors to the network of protected lanes."

"Livable streets happen when we redesign them to prioritize people," said Jackson Chabot, Director of Advocacy and Organizing at Open Plans. "The area around Atlantic Terminal and Barclays Center is one of the best-connected places in New York, yet its streets have long devoted too much space to moving and storing cars. The Ashland Place redesign is an important step toward changing that, with safer crossings and protected bike lanes. We also need to bring that same mindset to the curb, rethinking how we use some of our most valuable public space so it serves pedestrians, transit riders, cyclists, deliveries and local businesses - not just private vehicles. We applaud Mayor Mamdani and Commissioner Flynn for completing this critical project and look forward to seeing more low-traffic, slow-speed design approaches brought to more neighborhoods across the city."

"We applaud the completion of the redesign of Ashland Place to implement the protected two-way bike lane that had been sidelined by the foregoing administration. This previously missing link completes a more than five-mile protected cycling route connecting Sunset Park to the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, making biking appreciably safer for thousands of people every day," said Eric McClure, Executive Director of StreetsPAC. "We're grateful to Mayor Mamdani and Commissioner Flynn for their continuing efforts to prioritize street safety."

"Today's completion of Ashland Place's redesign marks an important investment in the safety and accessibility of a key Downtown Brooklyn corridor used by thousands of New Yorkers every day," said Kate Slevin, Executive Vice President at Regional Plan Association. "By strengthening Brooklyn's protected bike network and reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists, this project demonstrates how thoughtful street redesign can create more intuitive transportation connections that better serve everyone who uses our streets. RPA applauds NYC DOT for delivering on improvements that will make this critical connection safer and easier to navigate."

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