Avenue B Open Street gets permanent redesign: one-way blocks by Tompkins Square, new curb extensions

The Avenue B Open Street in the East Village now has a permanent new layout. The city Department of Transportation on Tuesday marked the completion of a redesign that began in late June, aimed at pushing through traffic off the narrow avenue that runs along the east side of Tompkins Square Park.

"We want Avenue B to be a place residents come to enjoy, not just a shortcut for drivers looking to get elsewhere," DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn said at a ribbon cutting, amNewYork reported.

What changed

• One lane, northbound only: between East 7th and East 10th streets, Avenue B went from two traffic lanes to one, and only northbound vehicles are allowed. Southbound drivers are diverted onto East 10th Street. That three-block stretch already runs as an open street every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., amNewYork reported.
• Two-way bikes: cyclists can ride in both directions on that stretch, according to amNewYork and 6sqft.
• Curb extensions: every intersection from East 4th to East 14th Street got painted curb extensions that shorten pedestrian crossings, reinforced with planters, bike corrals and granite blocks. The extra space also holds the folding tables and chairs common on open streets.
• Loading zones: DOT added loading zones at the start and end of side streets to cut truck traffic and double parking on the avenue, 6sqft reported.

Emergency vehicles, sanitation trucks and deliveries still have access, and residents can still reach their blocks by car, DOT said.

From pandemic pilot to permanent design

The Avenue B Open Street started in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Loisaida Open Streets Community Coalition is one of the groups behind it. Cecil Scheib, a volunteer with the coalition, told amNewYork that before the open street, drivers outnumbered cyclists and other users on the stretch about two to one, and that the ratio has since flipped, with more than 100 bike riders in a given hour.

"Our streets are more than just for the movement and storage of cars; our streets are public spaces for everyone to share," Flynn said. Asked whether DOT had considered closing the street to cars entirely, he said the current plan prioritizes pedestrians but did not rule out going further in the future, amNewYork reported.

DOT also said applications for the 2027 Open Streets season are now open, with a simpler partner payment process, new concession options and more support for open streets next to schools, according to 6sqft.