Town Hall Meeting On BQE Reconstruction Plans This Week

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — Local organizers are hoping a large crowd at a town hall this week about the controversial Brooklyn Queens Expressway renovation will send a message to the city.

The Brooklyn Heights Association and A Better Way will host a BQE Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday at Plymouth Church as part of their latest effort to stop the city's Department of Transportation's proposals for fixing the highway.

Organizers said a large presence at the meeting will help send a "resounding no" to both proposals put forward by DOT, one of which would close down the Brooklyn Heights Promenade for at least six years to make way for a six-lane temporary highway.

"The BHA and ABW have been unrelenting in their efforts to demand that DOT develop a better, less destructive and more forward-thinking temporary solution that will give consideration to people and not just traffic," BHA said in a release. "DOT must anticipate the region’s future transportation needs rather than restoring a 1950s version of highway planning."

The organizations have spoken out against the plans since they were first announced last fall, including protests along the beloved promenade, which DOT's proposal to shut down has arguably caused the most uproar.

Organizers also say the temporary six-lane highway plan would create traffic congestion, air pollution, destabilization of nearby buildings and economic harm to neighborhood businesses. The second alternative proposed by DOT to fix the highway lane-by-lane over a longer period of time was also rejected by the groups due to the "flood" of traffic they say it would cause on local streets.

So far, both the BHA and city Comptroller Scott Stringer have offered alternatives to DOT's plans. Stringer, who suggested closing down the BQE section to cars and building a park instead, will be at the meeting Wednesday along with Councilman Stephen Levin, who has also spoken out against the plans.

Doors for the Town Hall will open at 6:30 p.m. and the organizations are encouraging guests to come early to grab a seat.

"Please tell your neighbors and friends about the Town Hall meeting and be there on April 3rd to send a resounding “No” to DOT’s current proposals and join us in helping to develop a more innovative solution," the release concluded.