Regional Plan Calls For Drastic Changes To Brooklyn Highways

BROOKLYN, NY — A major proposal released by an influential urban planning group calls for drastic changes to several highways that run through south and central Brooklyn.

The Regional Plan Association, a research group "focused on improving the tri-state area’s prosperity, infrastructure, sustainability and quality of life" released its fourth "Regional Plan" last week, addressing the area's transportation, sustainability and affordability.

The plan grabbed headlines for its calls to temporarily consider shutting down some subway lines to make necessary repairs.

But it also had a lot to say about area highways, including ones that run through Brooklyn.

"There are, however, many segments of highways that can and should be removed because they are underused or there is an alternative nearby," the plan says.

"In other cases, highways can be replaced by a different type of road, such as a boulevard with trees, less traffic, and pedestrian and bicycle amenities. Depressed roadways can be decked over and rebuilt with new housing or open space that reconnect the community to the street grid."

Specifically, the RPA recommends building on top of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in Carroll Gardens to create more space for affordable housing. This "decking" could also provide new green space, as seen in the photo above.

"Decking over stretches of the BQE in Carroll Gardens would provide opportunities for new housing," the plan says.

The RPA also says that the Prospect Expressway should be turned into more of a boulevard, narrowed to one lane of car traffic and outfitted for a "bicycle highway" to shuttle riders through the borough.

They cite the success of the West Side Highway, taken to street level, "which has since helped nearby communities reconnect with the Hudson River waterfront and led to the building of the Hudson River park, one of the city’s most treasured parks."

On the Prospect Expressway, "From Third to Church avenues, a distance of almost two miles, it should be narrowed to one lane in each direction, opening up land for a new bicycle 'highway,' residential development, and public spaces," the plan says.

The RPA suggests similar action for highways across the tri-state area.

"These actions would stitch together neighborhoods, restore communities, and improve local mobility," the plan says. "They would create over 100 acres of reclaimed land for development of housing, mixed uses, or open spaces.

"Removing, burying, and decking over the region’s highways will improve the health of communities by mitigating some of the noxious air and noise impacts. It would also reconnect parks and other open spaces for recreational purposes such as walking and biking options."

You can read more about this part of the RPA here.

Lead image: DLANDstudio, courtesy the Regional Plan Association