The Downtown Brooklyn Waterfront Local Development Corporation has completed a Transportation and Access Study for Brooklyn Bridge Park. The study reviewed potential short- and long-term measures to improve access to the park without the use of private automobiles. The findings offer some measures to expand public access to the park without a significant infusion of capital funds.

Download the Final Transportation and Access Study here.

The study was conducted by Sam Schwartz PLLC (SSC) and HDR-Daniel Frankfurt with funds provided by Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez. Through feedback obtained during public meetings and the results of technical analysis, the report reached the following conclusions, ranked in order of feasibility and potential effectiveness:

• Bus Routes - Possibilities exist to extend current bus routes to serve the Park.  Bus routes currently terminating near the Park could be extended to provide significant transit opportunities linking riders and transit hubs to the Park. The potential bus turnaround within the Park at the MTA vent building (at Furman Street, below the Promenade near Montague Street) could provide convenient transit access midway between Old Fulton Street and Atlantic Avenue.
  
• Pedestrian Access - There is great potential to improve the pedestrian corridors at Old Fulton Street and Atlantic Avenue.  Through creative design solutions which would reduce wide pedestrian crossing distances and reduce pedestrian/vehicular conflicts, tremendous opportunities exist to enhance the pedestrian experience and to create more open space at these major gateways to the Park.
  
• Bicycle Routes - More bicycle routes can be created to connect upland communities to the Park. New bicycle routes can link neighborhoods and major bicycling corridors to the east and south of the Park by utilizing appropriate local streets that are safe and convenient for bicyclists.
  
• Shuttle Bus Service - Shuttle buses could enhance transit service by connecting Park users to transit hubs.  By taking advantage of the future two-way conversion of Furman Street, a shuttle service could provide convenient access to a large number of Park users by creating stops at major transit hubs.  The shuttle service could also use the potential transit turnaround at the MTA vent building in the Park. During the summer of 2007, an important pilot project providing shuttle service from Downtown Brooklyn transit hubs to the Floating Pool at Brooklyn Bridge Park Beach demonstrated the value of such services.
  
• Waterborne Transport - Waterborne transport opportunities exist for new and expanded commuter service and recreational and tourist-based routes.  Based on future Park visitor projections, as well as potential residential growth in the area, new and expanded commuter service and recreational waterborne transport service could be provided.
  
• Vertical Pedestrian Connection - A structure can be designed and built to connect the Promenade with the Park.  By designing a series of ramps and stairs that connect the Promenade at Remsen Street (or Montague Street) to a 35-foot berm in the Park, it may be possible to create a mid-Park connection from Brooklyn Heights that does not affect the scenic view plane and is Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant. However, based upon the imminent plan of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYS DOT) to study the potential reconstruction of the BQE triple cantilever, no such proposal could be seriously entertained at this time.
  
• Clark Street Subway Station - A new station entrance for the Clark Street station at Furman Street would face significant engineering hurdles.  The proposal to dig a tunnel that would run parallel to the existing 2/3 train tunnels and open onto Furman Street would face extraordinary engineering challenges and enormous capital costs.