Description:
The Canarsie Area-wide Transportation Study is being conducted to identify and address a series of transportation issues including congestion, bike regional network connectivity, and insufficient transit access in the southeast portion of Brooklyn. The study focuses on a region that is bounded by Avenue D and Foster Avenue to the north, the Belt Parkway to the south, East 108th St to the east, and Ralph Avenue and Paerdegat Avenue N to the west, as shown in the Feedback Map.
The area is home to many commercial, manufacturing and industrial land uses such as ship centers and warehouses for logistics companies: UPS and FedEx, which generate significant trips. The Belt Parkway provides mobility and accessibility to residents of South Brooklyn and Queens to Staten Island, and other parts of Long Island as well as the John F. Kennedy International Airport. Rockaway Parkway and Flatlands Avenue, major commercial corridors in the center of the study area, processes traffic to and from the Belt Parkway, which is very congested during morning and evening peak periods. In addition to processing increased demand from the Belt Parkway, recent land use developments such as Canarsie Plaza and Gateway Center Phase 1 & Phase II have also increased traffic along the major corridors in the study area, prompting need for further investigation of traffic and transit operations and infrastructure deficiencies.
With the aforementioned transportation needs and recent land use developments, the study will employ a multimodal approach in integrating transportation and land use planning that support the Regional Transportation Program’s (RTP) goals of enhancing the regional environment (1-7) and regional quality of life (1-8). The study also aims to improve air quality with the alleviation of congestion. Additionally, in line with DOT’s Vision Zero initiative to combat traffic deaths and injuries, the RTP’s goal of enhancing safety (1-10) will be an integral component of the planning process and recommended projects.
Goals and Objectives:
The goal of the study is to evaluate travel needs for all modes and traffic congestion in the study area with an aim to develop recommendations that relieve traffic congestion, enhance mobility and safety for all road users.
The study’s main objectives are:
- To conduct an existing and future conditions traffic analysis.
- To facilitate extensive public participation through Technical Advisory Committees (TAC) and public meetings.
- Identify congested intersections and corridors for targeted treatment
- To generate recommendations and develop improvement measures to address community concerns and traffic related issues