Transportation – Brooklyn Bugle

‘Concerned Resident’ Proposes Speed Decrease Along Brooklyn Heights Portion Of BQE

June 7, 2012

An anonymous “Concerned Resident Of Brooklyn Heights” is circulating a proposal to lower the speed limit for large vehicles on the BQE under the Promenade “in order to significantly decrease traffic‐induced vibrations in buildings, a major complaint of local residents.” The author asks that neighborhood citizens and their representatives petition the Department of Transportation.

Specifically, he or she proposes that the clip of I-278 between exit 27 and 29B be reduced to 30 mph for Class 3 vehicles and above (buses, tractor trailers, pickups, vans, campers, motor homes, etc.), noting that “poor road conditions and the speed of large vehicles on Interstate 278 through Brooklyn Heights has a significant impact on the quality of life, specifically when it comes to vibrations in buildings. Resident complaints are rampant as described in The New York Times and Brooklyn Heights Blog.

“Logically speaking, vibrations make it more difficult to live in the neighborhood, rent properties for higher rents and sell properties at higher prices. It also increases maintenance on historical buildings,” the letter states. “Maintenance on the road is carried out occasionally but the fair conditions only last a short period of time before large vehicles pound the roads back into disrepair. Insignificant budgets and an increase in the weight of vehicles over time are compounding the problem. Residents and even those very motorists are affected emotionally and monetarily.”

The “Concerned Resident” suggests that the “easiest, lowest-cost solution” is to lower the speed limit for vehicles FHWA class 3 and higher to a reasonable 30 mph from exit 27 to exit 29B, “resulting in an estimated 2.4 minutes of extra travel time for those vehicles and a significant decrease in building vibration.”

An Institute for Research in Construction study by the National Research Council of Canada is June 2000, is cited, which notes differences in speed reduced vibrations as much as 300%.

References to the author’s claims and statistics are included in the original letter, which you can view as a PDF here: Brooklyn Heights

Thoughts, comments?

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/41803

From the Web

Subway Service Alerts: Weekend and the Following Week

May 31, 2012

At last, it will be clear tracks in all directions this weekend on lines serving local subway stations. Those using the A/C line for travel to and from Manhattan should know that on Saturday and Sunday Brooklyn bound C trains will not be making their usual local stops between 145th Street and Canal Street. If you’re coming back from the Upper West Side, Midtown West, or Chelsea, you can catch a southbound D train, which will be making the usual C train stops, and take it to 125th, 59th, 42nd, 14th, or West 4th, where you can change to a Brooklyn bound A or C. From Soho, catch the E train at Spring Street and go one stop to Canal, where you can change to the A or C.

The following week, from 12:01 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Tuesday through Friday, there will again be no service on the 4/5 line to or from Brooklyn. As before, the 3 train, which will be running normally during these hours, will have its route extended to New Lots Avenue for the convenience of those traveling into Brooklyn. Also, at the same times, Brooklyn bound A trains will be re-routed to the F line between West 4th and Jay Street-Metro Tech. Consequently, there will be no Brooklyn bound service at High Street (the C doesn’t run during these hours). North Heights residents returning late at night can take and A or F to Jay and change there for a Manhattan bound A to High Street or, more likely, use the 2 or 3 tho Clark Street or N (which replaces the R late at night) to Court Street.

Photo: Storify.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/41475

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights

A View To Remember

May 28, 2012

Photo by M. Hermann/BHB

It’s one flight that even the anti-helicopter caucus could support. A handful of servicemen from Charlie Company, 1st Bn.-9th Marines got this look at Brooklyn Heights today as their MV-22 Osprey, piloted by VMM-264 (“The Black Knights”), set off for a demonstration at Clove Lakes Park on Staten Island. The unit has returned from a recent deployment overseas, and is participating in Fleet Week events. (Click through to view the full-size image.)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/41391

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights

East River Ferry Service Increases Capacity; Opens New Brooklyn Bridge Park Slip

May 28, 2012

To meet demand for the East River Ferry’s pilot service, the city is adding a new fleet with more than twice the capacity on weekends. The new boats will hold 399 passengers, instead of the current 149.

In addition, The New York Times reported Friday that the city opened a new ferry slip at Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park last week designed to speed loading and unloading of passengers and reduce delays. The new floating dock is 100 yards south of the old slip at the Fulton Ferry pier, which, according to Paul Goodman, chief executive of BillyBey Ferry Co., was too small to accommodate the bigger boats and too narrow for the herds of passengers boarding and disembarking there.

The East River service, which connects ferries at East 34th Street, Long Island City, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Brooklyn Bridge Park and Wall Street (as well as Governor’s Island on weekends), is nearly a year into a three-year subsidized $9 million pilot program.

As well, the schedule is being accelerated throughout summer weekends, beginning Memorial Day. Ferries will run 6:45 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. on weekdays, every 20 minutes during rush hour and every 30 minutes off-peak. On Saturdays and Sundays, the larger boats will run every 45 minutes from 9:35 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The ferry costs $4 for a one-way ticket, $12 for an all-day pass and $140 for an unlimited monthly pass.

In its first 10 months, the East Ferry service had 714,000 paying passengers. Last fall, Goodman proposed adding boats, but that would have required more money from the city.

Meanwhile, boats sell coffee from Brooklyn Roasters, and recently added other drinks and snacks with a local flavor, including egg creams made with U-bet chocolate syrup.

See the full New York Times story here.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/41225

From the Web

Watch Your Pedal! Cops Keeping Watch For Hicks Street Speeding

May 28, 2012

Police have amped up speed enforcement on Hicks Street in Cobble Hill following complaints from residents about chronic speeding and too many accidents. As of May 16, officers put a new radar gun in service, handing out eight tickets in one day, according to DNAinfo.com.

A police source comments that many folks use Hicks Street “as a service road when the BQE gets backed up.” The Department of Transportation also installed a “Speed Limit: 30 mph” sign, with accompanying radar to deter speeders. Police officers will sporadically visit the area to enforce speeding on that street, DNA says.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7234

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