nymtc regional freight plan - New York Metropolitan Transportation ...

A Freight Plan for the NYMTC Region
Other Impacts
Improved traffic flow and waterfront access to the Gowanus would have potential environmental
benefits and reduce the diversion of truck traffic from the Gowanus to local
roadways. There would be no significant physical barriers to implementation, as this
alternative primarily involves an operational change; however, some physical upgrades
would probably be required to accommodate or manage the access of commercial vehicles.
Opening up HOV lanes to other uses poses significant institutional challenges
involving local, state, and Federal interests. The project would improve regional connectivity
and yield economic benefits in the Eastern (I-278) corridor, with implications for the
Southern Crossing corridor as well.
Increased truck throughput on the Gowanus would likely cause the diversion of more
trucks off of the eastbound Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to local streets, with adverse
environmental impacts. Removal of the clearance restriction would reduce this diversion
and improve regional connectivity in the Southern and Eastern corridors with positive
environmental and economic impacts. This project presents major physical challenges
and is likely to be very expensive.
Responsible Organizations/Action Plans
1. NYMTC and NYSDOT – Conduct a feasibility study of the impact of truck use of the
Gowanus HOV lane on corridor-wide freight mobility.
2. NYSDOT – Assess the feasibility of incorporation of truck HOV-lane use into longterm
plans for Gowanus reconstruction.
3. NYSDOT – Conduct a feasibility study to develop and assess strategies for removing
the physical barriers to truck movement on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.
4. NYMTC and NYSDOT – Conduct a corridor study.
Action 4 – JFK Airport and Industrial Access Corridor – Conduct a Regional Study
Description
As shown in Figure 5.13, several industrial sites and JFK International Airport are located
in southeast Queens and several areas of Brooklyn, such as Flatlands. Currently, there is
one primary JFK Airport access route for commercial traffic, the Van Wyck Expressway.
This route does not permit 53-foot trucks and it is congested throughout much of the day.
Trucks share the road with buses and automobiles. It provides access from points to the
north and east only. Access from the south and west is via arterial roadways such as
Atlantic Avenue, crossing through residential and commercial areas of Brooklyn and
Queens. Airport access for trucks is a multi-corridor issue that should be examined carefully
to determine how the dynamic nature of improvements to one or more of the corridors
would affect each of the others as well as the system as a whole.
Cambridge Systematics, Inc. 5-49