BQE Update, by Brian Abate

A Zoom meeting was held with members of the Department of Transportation (DOT) updating the public on the possibility of changes to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE.) More than 120 people attended the meeting on Nov. 8, and the meeting materials will be posted at BQEvision.com.

“We’re sharing a toolbox of ideas but this isn’t a place for making final decisions,” said Gretha Suarez of the DOT.

Goals include making the areas around the BQE greener, connecting neighborhoods, improving traffic and safety, and capping (or tunneling) the BQE, which would mean all of those who live and work next to the BQE would not have to deal with the fumes or noise pollution it causes. While attendees called for leaders from the project to cap the entire BQE, Suarez and David Vega-Barachowitz, who also helped lead the meeting were unsure if they would have the funding to do so. A similar proposal from a Nydia Velazquez funded study back in 2010 made a similar unfunded proposal.

Funding might come from the Connected Communities initiative according to Vega-Barachowitz, as one of the goals of the project is connecting communities that are separated by the BQE.

According to the presentation, “In Fall 2023, NYC DOT and NYS DOT submitted a joint application for a federal Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods planning grant to advance ambitious, community-driven proposals along BQE North and South.

“Working together, the agencies will review projects identified through the current BQE North and South Corridor Vision process for feasibility and alignment with Reconnecting Communities objectives. Then, the agencies will prioritize a minimum of two projects to advance to conceptual design.

“Projects studied via this grant will be those that require City-State partnership. NYC DOT will be able to pursue other projects on local streets on its own. NYC DOT expects to hear about grant awards in Spring 2024.”

After reaching out to the DOT’s press email, Scott Gastel said that “shorter-term maintenance would be addressed by current NYC DOT resources.”

In the meantime, they wanted to focus on some short-term goals and some areas that are receiving consideration for capping. They include the entrance by Hamilton Ave., some of the areas on Hicks St. (many attendees called for capping between Sackett St. and Kane St.), and there were also calls to make the area by West 9th St. which connects Red Hook and Carroll Gardens safer, and to potentially add in artwork or plants. There is also a possibility of adding markets or green spaces in some of the areas.

While these plans sound great, it is still unclear if and when they will actually take place. Many of the attendees at the meeting called for the entire BQE to be capped. John Leyva, a local leader said that those who are interested can reach out to [email protected] for more information.