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November 2, 2011
Fearing Atlantic Yards arena traffic crunch, locals seek neighborhood parking permits
City Council hearing on parking permit bill set for Wednesday
NY Daily News
by Erin Durkin
Neighbors around the Atlantic Yards project are pushing for residential parking permits to deal with the thousands of cars set to flood the area when the new Barclays Center arena opens.
The permit system, which needs approval from city and state lawmakers, could start with pilot programs in the blocks around Atlantic Yards and Yankee Stadium, sources said.
Most of the spaces in the area would be set aside for motorists who live in the neighborhood and pay a modest annual fee.
Residents and advocates say parking has already gotten scarce and streets have become more congested around the construction site, and predict the situation will only get worse when the arena opens.
“If nothing changes, we know that there are going to be about 6,000 cars driving to the arena. If they’re human, they’re going to be looking for free on-street parking first before they go to a parking lot,” said Danae Oratowski, chair of the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council. “What we’re concerned about is the incredible amount of congestion.
“If you look at arenas in major cities all around the country - Chicago, Washington, D.C., Boston - they all have residential permit parking as a way to deter cars from driving into the neighborhood,” Oratowski said.
The City Council is set to hold a hearing Wednesday on a state bill that would allow the city to mandate parking permits.
Related coverage...
Carroll Gardens Patch, Atlantic Yards-Area Residents Get Hearing on Residential Parking Permits
The Barclays Center, which is scheduled to open in September 2012, will attract “as many as 5,600 cars” from visitors who drive to the arena, according to the Empire State Development Corporation.
"If nothing is done before to mitigate this volume of traffic, there will be an increased risk of vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle accidents that already make Atlantic Avenue Brooklyn's most dangerous road," said Councilwoman James in a news release.
Posted by eric at November 2, 2011 10:59 AM