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May 5, 2012
Parking Lot Scaled Back While Transit Booms at Atlantic Yards
Mobilizing the Region
By Sam Handler
The Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) has announced that the surface parking lot for the Atlantic Yards project has been scaled back. The lot for the northern Prospect Heights development—home of the Barclay’s Center—was initially going to accommodate 1,100 spaces, but it is now slated to have fewer than 550. The BrooklynSpeaks coalition has previously advocated for the reduction of parking by 50% and the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council called for the lot to adhere to New York City Department of City Planning regulations for surface parking lot design.
Critics have contended that ESDC and Atlantic Yards developer Forest City Ratner, instead of focusing on adding more parking to the area, should develop a more comprehensive transportation plan for the arena site and surrounding neighborhoods. This message was reiterated at the recent Brooklyn Gateway transportation workshop, which was sponsored by New York City Council Member Tish James, Tri-State, the Boerum Hill Association, the Park Slope Civic Council, and the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council. Workshop attendees expressed concerns about traffic congestion, parking, pedestrian safety, and cyclist safety in their neighborhoods, along with the need for better transit options in the Brooklyn Gateway area ...
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Despite the clear need for improvements, neither Forest City Ratner nor the MTA has identified how the Atlantic Yards’ transit network will maintain existing levels of service under increasing strain to the system. In fact, the developer has yet to release or finalize the long-delayed transportation demand management plan, which should outline how the area will handle increased traffic and other transportation challenges (the plan is due out on May 22). While an additional subway entrance is being built by the arena, more remains to be done.
Posted by steve at May 5, 2012 6:43 PM