Mayor Eric Adams and the DOT have outlined the community engagement process that will inform the administration’s effort to tackle long-standing issues with the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) with an expedited, long-term fix for the city-owned section from Atlantic Avenue to Sands Street and a concrete plan for improving the BQE corridors in Brooklyn to the north and south, reconnecting communities divided by the creation of the highway. The plan divides the corridor into two distinct sections – the Atlantic Ave. to Sands St. “BQE Central” and “BQE North & South.” Brooklyn Heights and the Triple Cantilever falls squarely in the BQE Central geography. DOT has created an updated website with details on the project.
There will be corridor-wide kickoff events on September 28 and October 6, and workshops specific to Downtown Brooklyn and Brooklyn Heights on Tuesday, October 11 (in person) and Thursday, October 14 (virtual).
Corridor-wide Kickoff (virtual)
Wednesday, September 28, 2022, RSPV here.
Corridor-wide Kickoff (virtual)
Thursday, October 6, 2022, RSVP here.
BQE Central Workshop (in person)
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
BQE Central Workshop (virtual)
Thursday, October 13, 2022
From our council member Lincoln Restler:
1) DOT cannot have a predetermined vision for the future of the BQE and force a solution down our throats. The process must be truly participatory and the eventual path forward must be responsive to our community’s priorities.
2) DOT must ensure the planning timeline for this project builds in realistic timeframes for soliciting and incorporating community feedback. DOT has set forth an ambitious timeline that may need to be revisited.
3) While this project may ultimately address the BQE across all of Brooklyn, the triple cantilever portion poses an imminent health and safety risk and requires immediate intervention.
