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The Department of Transportation promises that implementation of the long-promised two-way bike lane on Chrystie Street will begin by the end of the month. That much is made crystal clear with the batch of flyers recently littered around the affected area.

This is news, as the latest estimate was pegged to a fall rollout. You’ll recall that the two-way bike lane was tied to the fate of roadwork related to the East Houston Reconstruction Project a few blocks north. It seems that the intersection is now clear and capped (at least for the time being).

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Photo: DOT

The plan to reconfigure the Chrystie Street bike lane is nearly two years in the making. Community Board 3 first backed the project in February 2015. DOT didn’t officially green light until this spring, though, after several months of research. Here is a quick summation of what’s happening…

The two-way bike lane on the east side of Chrystie Street will be protected by some variation of jersey barriers, flexible delineators, and parked cars. It eliminates the need for southbound cyclists to cross the street to link up with the path (current situation).

Pedestrians benefit from the plan with the addition of four medians at Rivington, Stanton, and East Second Streets. This will increase safety for those crossing Chrystie to access/exit Sara D. Roosevelt Park.

The two-way bike lane allows for a seamless transition from Second Avenue to Chrystie Street. As it stands, southbound cyclists must cross over at Houston Street while heading southbound, only to cross back for Manhattan Bridge access. The DOT plan consolidates the lane on the east side of the street. Moreover, there will be two dedicated thru lanes and two for left turns (protected signal).

At Delancey Street, the addition of a second southbound left turn lane, but at the expense of ten parking spots on the west side. The plan also includes the elimination of left-turn traffic from northbound motorists onto Delancey from Chrystie.

At Canal Street, relocating the pedestrian island ten feet to the west to accommodate the new bike lane. Also, extending the skater-friendly concrete island on Canal.

DOT previously confirmed that there will be traffic signals for bikers at each intersection on Chrystie, and that the potential exists for extending the two-way bike lane to East Second Street (to allow 1st Avenue access).

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