BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING
MAY 20, 2010
ATTENDANCE:
D. ABRAHAM J.ARMER W.BLUM
S. BURZIO D.GIULIANO H. LINK
A.MCKNIGHT T. MISKEL G. REILLY
R. SLOANE M.VERRET
EXCUSED:
R. OBERLENDER
ABSENT:
J. IGNERI M. MURPHY M. RECA-HEYER
J. THOMPSON
GUESTS:
P.NELSON - REP. FOR HON. J. MILLMAN, STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER
T. WRIGHT – DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION
H. WOLF – DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION
L. MORIAH – DEPT. OF DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
P. PLUNKETT – RECONSTRUCTION OF COLUMBIA STREET
C. NURSE - RECONSTRUCTION OF COLUMBIA STREET
A. GAGLIANO R. REED J. YEATS
K. CARNEY B. KERR A. COLLINS
E. FELDER G. MCWILLIAMS A. PIZARRO
L. BRADLEY S. HALL D. CHERRY
D. LUTZ A. FLAMM V. MCKNIGHT
L. BUFFINGTON D. HUKL S. KORNGUT
L. SACHS
***MINUTES***
Grand Army Plaza
A motion was made in support of the planned traffic improvement at Grand Army Plaza, as presented at the April 29, 2010 Transportation meeting by DOT. This motion was supported as presented without any conditions. The motion was made by Jerry Armer and seconded by Bill Blum.
MOTION APPROVED: UNANIMOUSLY
Continued consideration of a request to co-name the intersection of Henry and Union Streets as “Antonino “Nino” Cataldo’s Corner.
The presentation was made by Ronnie Comisi who requested that the northeast corner of Union Street be co-named for Mr.Cataldo who died in January of 2008. Signatures of 1500 people were obtained to back the request.
A motion was made to approve the request by Bill Blum and seconded by Gary Reilly.
VOTE: 10…..YEAS 0…..NAYS 1…..ABSENTATION
MOTION: APPROVED
Presentation by representatives for the Department of Transportation on the
planned extension of the bicycle lanes on Columbia Street in Red Hook to tie-in to the Ikea waterfront greenway bicycle paths. Heidi Wolf of the Department of Transportation presented a planned extension of Columbia Street bike lane. North and South bound bike lanes on Columbia Street and Beard Streets (across from Ikea). Restore parking on North side of Beard Street. An objection was made by Jerry Armer to the curbside parking and Roy Sloane seconded the opposition and stressed bike safety.
A motion was made by Jerry Armer and seconded by Gary Reilly as follows:
The committee endorses the proposal to extend the bike lane and opposes the restoration of curbside parking on Beard Street. In addition, the committee requests that the Department of Transportation consider a striped or physical buffer to separate the bike lane from traffic, and report back to the committee if the proposed plans change.
MOTION PASSED: UNANIMOUSLY
Presentation and discussion with representatives for the Department of Design and Construction’s planned resumption of the remaining Capital project work to be done along Van Brunt Street between Degraw Street and Hamilton Avenue, as part of the Reconstruction of Columbia Street (HWK-700A).
Lambert Moylan from the Dept. of Design and Construction presented on planned resumption of construction on Van Brunt between Degraw and Hamilton.
To date the completed work includes: - Trunk water main from Atlantic to Degraw Street, etc. - Highway reconstruction from Atlantic Avenue to Hamilton Avenue
Why was construction suspended? Ans. -Lack of funding for three field changes.
1. 48 inch trunk main must go under 42 inch sewer at intersection of Van Brunt and Union Streets. Requires deeper excavation and more expensive building methods.
2. Discovered a sewer chamber in intersection of Van Brunt and President Streets. Must reconstruct sewer chamber and again due to site conditions more expensive methods used. - water-tight sheeting, soil stabilization and vibration monitoring.
3. Sewer surcharge in Sackett Street sewer at Van Brunt and Sackett Streets. Video inspection showed existing sewer is collapsed in multiple locations. Redesign of sewer on Sackett and Van Brunt Streets and re-route sanitary flow to sewer chamber in #2.
Delays of nearly two years - Contractor refused to continue work until money for these changes was allocated. Work began/resumed this past Monday, May 17. Completion expected in late November/early December. Paving may take until Spring depending on the weather.
Question from the audience about uniting the separated Greenway on Van Brunt Street.
Ted White, BGI co-ordinator from DOT pledged to work with the community to see what is possible on this stretch of Van Brunt. Presentation and discussion with representatives for New York City Transit on the various service cuts that were approved by the MTA board including the elimination of the reduced fare student Metrocards, and the elimination and/or reconfiguration of various surface transit bus lines throughout the district.
Andy Inglesby from NYCT gave a presentation on the various MTA service cuts, including the elimination and reconfiguration of various bus lines throughout the area to take effect 6/27/10. The present cuts represent a significant revision to the originally proposed cuts. - The B71 and B37 buses will be eliminated - Portions of the B75 bus line will be replaced by the B57 - Combine the B61 and B77 into one route from downtown Brooklyn to Windsor Terrace by way of Red Hook.
Many members of the community turned out to object and express outrage and concern about the proposed cuts. Paul Nelson from Assemblywoman Joan Millman’s office asked why the MTA does not support her bill to divert $30 million of capital funds to the operating budget.
NYCTA – stimulus funds are designated for capital spending not operating budgets.
Question about how longer routes on, e.g., the B61 line will affect lead times.
NYCTA – headways will be the same as current because there will be more buses on surviving routes
Concern about crowding levels on B61. Community members note service has greatly improved since B61 was cut in half last year – concern that the longer route will bring back the bad old days.
Brad Kerr of the Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Assn. – Thousands of people have signed COWNA’s petition to preserve service.
Hildegaard Link – concerns that MTA is undercounting children on buses who heavily populate bus routes at school rush hour. Wants to know how we can make sure that children are counted in ridership?
She made a motion to request the bus cuts be put back until after the school year ends on June 28.
MOTION PASSED: UNANIMOUSLY
Andrea McKnight made a motion to request the extension of B71 service until the end of 2010.
VOTE: 5…..YEA 3…..ABSTENTIONS
Jerry Armer made a motion for the Board to gon on record in opposition to the cuts to student passes and that we call on our elected officials in Albany to do everything in their power to restore funding for student passes.
MOTION PASSED: UNANIMOUSLY
In addition, Mr. Armer made a motion for the Board to go on record as opposing the service cuts in the district in their entirety, for the safety and welfare of the members of the community.
MOTION PASSED: UNANIMOUSLY
Bill Blum proposed out of system transfer from Jay Street to Borough Hall stations.
A correction to the minutes of the previous meeting held on April 29, 2010 was requested by Gary Reilly who was mistakenly marked absent for that meeting.
There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was
adjourned.
Minutes were submitted by Gary Reilly.