Transportation
April 28, 2008
DOT Plans Brooklyn Bridge Overhaul
Downtown Express reports that the Department of Transportation will spearhead a $300 million renovation of the Brooklyn Bridge. The work, which is scheduled to occur mostly on nights and weekends between 2009 and 2014, will involve widening ramps on both the Manhattan and Brooklyn sides of the landmark; restoring its arches, which have been badly weathered; and adding steel safety barriers to the bridge's roadways. The DOT also plans to paint the structure beige, its original color.
Brooklyn Bridge to Get a Little Coffee Color [Downtown Express]
Brooklyn Bridge to Get Structural, Cosmetic Makeover [Gothamist]
Photo by FocusBrooklyn.
April 22, 2008
Closing Bell: Forget the A-Team
Spotted at the Bedford Station: An invitation for "meet & greet" events with the "L line team." We might pay money to attend a meet and greet with the "G line team," if such an entity exists.
April 17, 2008
Closing Bell: The Brooklyn Bridge on Two Wheels
This video nicely captures a ride on the Brooklyn Bridge, though it doesn't really document the tension that often exists between cyclists and pedestrians.
Could Red Hook Become a Biker Haven?
The Post reports that the Manhattan-based Forum for Urban Design is sponsoring a competition for architects and developers to turn Red Hook into a bicyclist's paradise. The competition seeks to connect all of Red Hook to the Smith-9th train station via dedicated bike lanes. The DOT says it supports the idea, which is going to be discussed at a Community Board 6 meeting tonight. "The lanes will be more than painted street lines. We envision bike stations where you would lock up your bike, get a flat fixed, fill up your water bottle and even buy a Power Bar," says Lisa Chamberlain, executive director of the Forum for Urban Design.
Bicycle Built for Red Hook [NY Post]
Photo by kmhinkle.
April 11, 2008
CB1 OKs Brooklyn Greenway Bike Path
Streetsblog reports that Community Board 1 voted on Tuesday night overwhelmingly in favor of adding a separate bike path to Kent Avenue as part of the Brooklyn Greenway initiative. The new bike path will result in the loss of 500 parking spaces on the thoroughfare; the Greenway Initiative worked to defuse controversy about those lost spots by ID'ing side streets where on-site parking could be created. CB1 was the last community board that needed to vote on the Greenway, which is supposed to eventually run along the waterfront from Greenpoint to Red Hook. The Department of Transportation has secured $9 million in funding for the project and started working on some sections of it already, such as a stretch near the Navy Yard. Ride on!
Brooklyn CB1 Approves Bike Path in Place of Parking [Streetsblog]
Brooklyn Greenway Initiative [Official Site]
Image from Streetsblog.
April 8, 2008
Congestion Pricing Defeat a Win for the Boroughs?
The Times is describing the death of congestion pricing behind closed doors in Albany yesterday as something of a victory for Brooklyn and Queens, since the plan "was strongly opposed by a broad array of politicians from Queens, Brooklyn and New York’s suburbs, who viewed the proposed congestion fee as a regressive measure that overwhelmingly benefited affluent Manhattanites." Brooklyn City Councilmembers were clearly divided on the issue: Last week nine voted against the measure and seven voted for it. It remains to be seen now whether the residential parking permits initiative, which was contingent upon congestion pricing legislation passing, is also dead for the foreseeable future. Whether or not the defeat was a win for Brooklyn and the other boroughs, it was obviously a bruising loss for Mayor Mike. The mayor issued a statement that says, in part: "Today is a sad day for New Yorkers and a sad day for New York City. Not only won't we see the realization of a plan that would have cut traffic, spurred our economy, reduced pollution and improved public health, we will also lose out on nearly $500 million annually for mass transit improvements and $354 million in immediate federal funds...It takes true leadership and courage to embrace new concepts and ideas and to be willing to try something. Unfortunately, both are lacking in the Assembly today. If that wasn't shameful enough, it takes a special type of cowardice for elected officials to refuse to stand up and vote their conscience– on an issue that has been debated, and amended significantly to resolve many outstanding issues, for more than a year." Most of the dailies have stories about how Bloomberg played a hand in the bill's defeat by using hardball tactics with legislators. The Times notes that "many opponents said they resented the pressure and threats that they said emanated from Mr. Bloomberg’s side, including hints that the mayor would back primary candidates to run against politicians who opposed congestion pricing."
$8 Traffic Fee for Manhattan Gets Nowhere [NY Times]
It’s (Apparently) Official: Congestion Pricing Is Dead [Streetsblog]
Bloomberg Unleashes Fury as Silver Halts Congestion Pricing [NY Daily News]
Mayor's Duck Is Looking A Bit Lame [NY Sun]
Nine Bklyn Councilmembers Vote Against Congest Fee [Brownstoner]
Mayor Rolls Out Resident Parking Permit Proposal [Brownstoner]
Photo by neysapranger.
April 7, 2008
Boerum Place Getting Spruced Up
Downtown Brooklyn's gritty gateway doesn't exactly scream million-dollar condos and boutique hotels...yet. While those things are being built, the city is busying itself with streetscape improvements like the one above, at right, a stretch of Boerum Place between Livingston and Joralemon Streets, which will also include new sidewalks and curb extensions. According to a Downtown Brooklyn Partnership spokesman, by the end of the summer it should look something like the existing Boerum Place streetscape, above left, creating a continuous planted median from the Brooklyn Bridge to Atlantic Avenue. Next, the city plans to begin its Fulton Street Mall, Flatbush and Myrtle Avenue streetscape improvements. "These projects are creating grand entrances, whether it be coming from the bridge down Flatbush or coming down Flatbush from the other direction," said the spokesman, adding that the improvements includes traffic calming measures and safer pedestrian crossings.
April 2, 2008
Council to Grill MTA About G Train Service
-"This would connect the G-train with the rest of civilization. It is a great idea. Would stop me from moving from the area."
-"It's no secret that the G train is one of the least convenient lines in the MTA. Please consider expanding this often forgotten line."
-"This would improve the economic vitality of all communities along the G line and contribute to a better Brooklyn and NYC."
These are a few of the comments from the 1,000+ people who've signed the online petition lobbying the MTA to connect G service to the Atlantic-Pacific station. The much-maligned line will be the subject a City Council oversight hearing on Tuesday, April 8 at 1:00pm where MTA officials will be asked to speak about ridership data, plans for the future like the extension, and existing service conditions. The meeting will occur in the Council Chambers at City Hall, and it's a can't-miss for folks who are lobbying for change on the line.
Connect The G Train To Atlantic Terminal! [Petition]
Photo by orangesocks.
April 1, 2008
Nine Bklyn Councilmembers Vote Against Congest Fee
Yesterday the City Council voted in favor of congestion pricing "by an unusually slim margin," according to the Times. Nay votes from many Brooklyn and Queens Councilmembers contributed to that 30-20 outcome, per a pdf sent out by the Queens Civic Congress (reprinted on the jump). Seven Brooklyn councilmembers—Simcha Felder, Sara M. Gonzalez, Letitia James, Domenic M. Recchia, Kendall Stewart, Albert Vann, and David Yassky—voted for the plan. On the other hand nine Brooklyn councilmembers voted against congestion pricing: Diana Reyna, Charles Barron, Bill de Blasio, Erik Martin Dilan, Mathieu Eugene, Lewis A. Fidler, Vincent J. Gentile, Darlene Mealy, and Michael C. Nelson. The Brooklyn no-ways were second only to the number from Queens; our Long Island neighbor had 10 councilmembers voting against the proposal, which now heads to Albany for approval.
City Council Approves Fee to Drive Below 60th [NY Times]
Congestion Pricing Passes Council, Brooklyn Vote 9-7 Against [Gowanus Lounge]
Photo by wka.
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