Downtown Brooklyn is the focus of a blueprint study that hopes to address transportation for the next 20 years, but many residents complained that the area already has many problems that need to be fixed.

The transit system, streets, highways, sidewalks, bike paths and more from the waterfront to Union Street and Washington Avenue will be scrutinized by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and other city and state agencies in the blueprint study.

"I think there is too much traffic in downtown Brooklyn," said Paul Steely White, Transportation Alternatives’ executive director. "I challenge you to do better than we are doing now, not just maintain the status quo."

He added, "We will soon find ourselves in a situation where we are simply struggling to stand still."

Brooklyn Heights resident Martha Rowen agreed and said to make walking, biking and public transportation top priorities and to find ways to encourage that.

"There are a number of issues that obviously face transportation in downtown Brooklyn," said Atma Sookram, consulting project manager at Urbitran Associates at a public session held at Borough Hall.

The growing business district, the many cultural institutions, new housing and the possibility of Atlantic Yards all call for a thorough, state-of-the-art transportation plan, Borough President Marty Markowitz said.

"When anything is proposed in this borough, anything, it is always about traffic and congestion," he said.

Markowitz added, "The good news is that downtown Brooklyn is growing. This is a most exciting time if we can make it work for all of us."

Atlantic Avenue Betterment Association’s Sandy Balboza said, "DOT policies favor car drivers — not pedestrians and bicyclists."

She warned she did not want to see "DOT being selective about what they want to do and not listening to their consultants" once the study is finished.

"We are not trying to say the system is balanced...We want to solve the problems. That is why we are doing this," said DOT’s Downtown Brooklyn Transportation Coordinator Ryan Russo, who said the study focuses on existing as well as future transportation woes.

"We figure out how to get people there with no bias as to how," Russo said. "We don't want to make it worse as we go forward."

Among the main challenges for the study are the fiscal and physical constraints, said Sookram.

"If nothing happens in the way of development...traffic would still be increasing by 4 to 5 percent," said Salvatore "Buddy" Scotto of Carroll Gardens.

Scotto said DOT had better not wait for the best prices they can find because residents "know what we are facing."

While the area lacks a lot of space for physical expansion and there are many demands on limited resources, Sookram said the study will identify the short-term issues and "set up a hierarchy" for the long-term issues will be addressed accordingly.
Most residents overwhelmingly said residential permit parking is good and various city permit parking is bad for the area and is something that can be dealt with quickly and easily.

"There are vehicles parked in no standing, no stopping, parking zones, and at fire hydrants," said Ursula Hunt of the city permitted parkers. "These need to be looked at."

Michael Weiss of the MetroTech and Fulton Mall Business Improvement Districts agreed and said, "We do not get enforcement of a nature that gets to the problems of downtown Brooklyn."

A member of the Transportation and Public Safety Committee of Community Board 2, Bill Harris, said enforcement and control over the routing of the dollar vans is necessary.

Balboza voiced her association’s desire for 24-hour parking by simply taking down the no parking signs.

Carolyn Konheim of Community Consulting Services said more subway cars as well as easier subway transfers between the Jay Street A, C, and F and the Willoughby Street N and R trains could make a great change.

Sookram also stated that the study would work to coordinate and streamline all concerned government agencies responsible for operation, planning, design, construction, enforcement, and funding, as well as have a communicated system to monitor the project.

Several residents pushed for a transportation management organization that would have clout with the agencies and the respect of the community, therefore making it easier to get transportation plans implemented. The study would address the higher volumes of commuters, automobile traffic, as well as pedestrians that will come to the area, while trying to avoid the exacerbation of the various parking issues.

Harris stated that alternate side of the street parking is just bothersome in downtown Brooklyn and creates "pollution and angry people."

However, Livingston Street resident William Boone said that the more commercial property coming to the area, like the Court Street cinema, brings more trash.

According to Russo, the study will address the peak and off-peak congestion growth as well as look at existing and potential spillover onto residential streets.

While 85 percent of people arriving to the area use high occupancy modes, such as public transit or carpooling, Russo said even those options are congested.

"Congestion will never be fully eliminated," said Ryan Russo, DOT’s downtown Brooklyn transportation coordinator. "Congestion is the hallmark of a successful city, but it needs to be managed."

Several residents asked for the study to look into East River tolls, as well as reconsider the Verrazano Bridge toll, as well.

The area already has the workforce of downtown Denver, said Russo, but in 15 years it may have the workforce of downtown Baltimore. The study would examine the travel trips going directly to the area, as well as those that just pass through.
The public was invited to make additional comments at DOT’s website, at www.nyc.gov/dot.