The city is committed to conducting a comprehensive transportation analysis on Downtown Brooklyn, Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff told Brooklyn Community Board 2 in a recent letter about the Downtown Brooklyn Development Plan. The letter also addressed community concerns about affordable housing and displacement.

The letter said the details of the transportation study, which will be conducted by NYC Economic Development Corporation and NYC DOT, would be available in early February. (The study would not be finished until after the city review of the Downtown Brooklyn Plan is complete.) Doctoroff also said the Downtown Brooklyn Council and Congressman Towns’ office are also looking into creating a Transportation Management Association (TMA), which would work to "reduce congestion, improve mobility, and increase pedestrian and vehicular safety" in the area. He said they would look to the MTA to become part of this group.

Doctoroff also said the city will reduce the number of city agency curbside parking spaces by 30% (about 80 spaces), consider using parking garages for city vehicles, expand the zone where city vehicles are allowed to only park in certain spaces ("no-permit" zone). The letter went on to say that NYC DOT is also rethinking its stance on residential parking permits. Based on the findings of an investigation by the Downtown Brooklyn Council, DOT will "re-examine the feasibility" of a residential parking permit.

Doctoroff’s letter does not adequately explain how an increase in mass transit ridership will be accommodated. Two projects he mentions, the Atlantic Ave renovation and the connection of Jay Street/Borough Hall station to the Lawrence Street station, will help with crowding and circulation problems in the stations. However, the city has still not answered local community groups’ concerns about how already overcrowded Brooklyn subways will handle a massive increase in ridership if the rezoning is passed without a commitment from NYC Transit to increase service.

Community Consulting Services told the NY Post that the Downtown Brooklyn rezoning, along with a new Nets stadium plan and associated development will bring 174,000 new cars daily to congested Brooklyn streets. "The cumulative result of all these projects will be double- and triple-gridlock," said CCS’ Brian Ketcham.  

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