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August 26, 2006
DEIS Bogus Points: The GAP Gap
GRAND ARMY PLAZA
Grand Army Plaza is just inside the 1/2-mi. radius of Bruce Ratner's proposed Atlantic Yards project. Currently six lanes of traffic keep the Plaza well defended from the public and make it one of the least accessible public spaces in Brooklyn. The recent renovation of the arch and fountain dressed up what is functionally a great big traffic circle.
OPEN SPACE, YES!
Grand Army Plaza is included in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) tally of Open Space Resources, though pedestrians are limited to two access points at which to safely cross six lanes of traffic: the crosswalk near Vanderbilt Ave. and another near Union St. Cyclists who do not use one of the two crosswalks access Grand Army Plaza at their own peril. [Click on images to enlarge.]
TRAFFIC, NO?
On the other hand, the DEIS did not dare to include Grand Army Plaza itself in the analysis of Atlantic Yards traffic impacts. The study considered two intersections near the circle, but neglected to study the possibility of gridlock within the circle.
Also, drivers traveling southeast on Union St. are familiar with the "queuing" of vehicles (quaint technical term for lots of traffic) throughout the day, seven days a week. Neither the Union St.-GAP intersection, nor the Union-8th Ave. intersection, where gridlock frequently occurs, were analyzed in the traffic study. Why bother studying these intersections when everyone knows they already suck.
For sheer audaciousness and defiance of reality, we award this paradox in the DEIS FOUR out of FIVE Bogus Points. |
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Posted by lumi at August 26, 2006 7:41 AM