WNYC/Gothamist reported last night that DOT will reconsider controversial plans to restore a third lane to the crumbling Cantilever with the headline, "City pumps brakes on plan to add third lane to BQE in Brooklyn Heights."

This development is a direct result of the collective work of the BHA & BQET, concerned individuals, and numerous elected officials to reject the restoration of a six-lane highway and to demand a future-looking, climate-friendly vision for the entire BQE Corridor. In our meetings with the city we have made it clear that they must not expand the highway or its footprint. 

On February 14th, 17 elected officials representing communities up and down the BQE corridor sent a powerful letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg urging, "A commitment to transformative change along the entirety of the BQE corridor" and support for, "Maintaining the highway at two lanes of car and truck vehicular traffic in each direction. Widening highways in public-transit rich New York City is in direct conflict with our shared public health, safety, and climate goals."

We have been working in close partnership with our elected officials to hold the city accountable, and to bring New York State to the table on the future of the BQE. We are very grateful for their coordinated leadership. 

Feb 28 and Mar 2 are the next opportunities for the public to weigh in on the future of the Atlantic to Sands section of the BQE. We strongly urge you to attend the in-person or virtual workshops and tell DOT that:

1. An expansion and/or widening of this antiquated and polluting highway is not an acceptable solution. 

2. The designs/renderings shown so far do not sufficiently address concerns about air and noise pollution. 

3. The entire BQE corridor must be re-imagined. 

Additional recent media coverage of the BQE issue:

"NYC Officials Call on DOT for BQE Overhaul" NJ News 12

"Mayor Adams Has Leverage to Force a Reluctant State DOT to Budge on the BQE" NYC Streets Blog

"It's Time to Take a Fresh Look at BQE Tunnel" Brooklyn Eagle

The BHA has re-opened its dedicated fund for our work on the BQE. We hope you will consider supporting this critical work. Please use this link to donate. Thank you!