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Big Traffic Changes in the Works for Atlantic Yards Area

A mitigation plan proposed by the ESDC will take effect on or around July 15.

 

Motorists just getting used to navigating the maze of construction vehicles, barriers and crossing guards around Atlantic Yards will have to contend with another round of major changes intended to relieve traffic jams through the area. 

The Empire State Development Corporation released a Traffic Mitigation Plan on Monday that will alter the flow of traffic through key intersections as Barclays Center construction continues. 

The changes, which will take effect on or around July 15, include:

  • Conversion of Fourth Avenue into a one-way street going southbound between Atlantic and Flatbush avenues only.
  • Reversing Pacific Street from one-way westbound to one-way eastbound between Fourth and Flatbush avenues. 
  • Installation of a traffic signal at Pacific Street and Flatbush Avenue, as well as a crosswalk.
  • The ability for motorists to make a right or left turn from Pacific Street to Flatbush Avenue. 
  • Truck traffic will be barred from Pacific Street. Northbound Fourth Avenue truck traffic will be diverted to Third Avenue via Atlantic to get onto Flatbush.

A source at the 88th Precinct, which covers the neighborhoods north of the Atlantic Yards site, said that the most troublesome area in terms of traffic incidents was the crossing between Atlantic and Flatbush avenues.

However, it was unclear whether the new traffic plan would improve the situation at the notoriously tricky intersection.

According to downstate ESDC public affairs director Elizabeth Mitchell, the changes were the result of extensive study during the Environmental Impact Statement process at the Atlantic Yards site.

Implemented primarily to improve traffic flow between the Flatbush Avenue/Fourth Avenue intersection, the traffic mitigation plan was approved by the city Department of Transportation, Mitchell said.

Related Topics: Atlantic Yards, Barclays Center, ESDC, Traffic, and Traffic Mitigation Plan

Janice

6:34 am on Wednesday, May 25, 2011

What a nightmare this will be. The whole thing, including the stadium, just makes me shake my head and wonder at the stupidity of the whole project... and makes me angry that once again, enough money will move you beyond what's right for the community, vs the profits of one man.

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Gersh Kuntzman

8:48 am on Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Here's how they spun it in 2006 (I know, ancient history for bloggers):

http://mobile.brooklynpaper.com/stories/29/32/29_32nets4.html

GERSH KUNTZMAN
Editor
The Brooklyn Paper

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Penny

2:19 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011

This change will make it impossible to cross at Atlantc and Flatbush near 5th avenue. (In front of Modells & the garden) that is already the most dangerous place to cross, currently Atlantic and 4th and Flatbush is the safest of the choices we have due to the fact that the cars in traffic can see people walking , except when the traffic agents ignore the people and waive the cars on irregardless.

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billyj

10:52 am on Wednesday, July 6, 2011

@Gersh, thanks for the reminder... How incredibly naieve it all seems in retrospect.

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