Photo: Susan De Vries/Brownstoner
SURVEY RESULTS A huge thank you to the roughly 500 of you who took our Future of the BQE Survey! The results are in, and we’re excited to share them with you here. It’s worth noting that 61% of those who responded to the survey did NOT attend any of the previous DOT-led community workshops, so we’re especially glad to have your feedback. We’ve shared these results with NYC DOT and our local elected officials who continue to work doggedly behind and in front of the scenes on this critical issue Use this link to find a short deck summarizing the most important findings on our website.
Here are the most important things we heard:
1. You want a smaller roadway that maximizes capping and covering, and reduces pollution from greenhouse gas emissions, particulates, and noise.
2. A significant majority (67%) support making only the immediate repairs needed for safety reasons and taking the time necessary to plan and implement a holistic vision for the entire corridor.
3. Preserving the Historic Brooklyn Heights Promenade is a top 3 priority for 66% of respondents, and 67% support creating a new connection from the Promenade to the waterfront.
4. Over 70% believe the highway should not be widened to restore six lanes of traffic.
5. 60% support closing specific on and off ramps to the BQE at Atlantic Avenue and/or Vine Street, among others, so we can improve safety for both people and vehicles, and reduce traffic on the cantilever and local streets.
Upon being briefed on the survey, Congress Member Dan Goldman said, "I want to applaud the Brooklyn Heights Association for launching their BQE community survey gathering ideas, concerns and feedback on how we should imagine the future of the BQE. It is clear that we must have a plan in place that meets our climate goals, reduces traffic flow through neighboring streets, and takes the time to create a transformative plan. I hope the city will include BHA’s survey results in their research,” You can read the rest of the comments from our elected officials here. COMMUNITY VOICES DO MATTER
Fixing the BQE -- and doing it right -- is going to take time, perseverance, and vision, but it IS possible. The only way we can continue fighting for a better BQE is with community support and advocacy, so we thank everyone who has taken this survey, written or called us with thoughts and ideas, and/or participated in community engagement workshops.
In other BQE news, DOT is hosting an online public workshop specifically focused on the Atlantic Ave interchange this Thursday, June 15th at 6:30pm. REGISTER HERE. We hope to see a big turnout so the City can hear our concerns about street safety, traffic, park entry and other related issues.
On Thursday of last week, DOT announced that it was pushing back the timeline to start the NEPA (Federal Environmental Review) process from this fall to spring of 2024. This is ostensibly to allow further study of the impact of congestion pricing and the completion of the traffic modeling currently underway. You can read more in the NY Daily News.
In case you missed it, Mary Frost wrote a fine summary for the Brooklyn Eagle of the Institute for Public Architecture’s BQE 2053 Symposium on May 20th. Frost notes that the current DOT plans for BQE Central would include the demolition and rebuilding of the Harry Chapin playground in the north heights, essentially to accommodate larger trucks on the section of the BQE which passes under Columbia Heights near the playground. Along with many other aspects of the current plans, this outcome is unacceptable. We will have more to report shortly on this issue and other BQE matters, so stay tuned. |
