(Oh, yes, about those stacked containers – see below)
This month, the Economic Development Corporation scheduled two BMT Advisory Task Force (ATF) “Office Hours” sessions. Per EDC, “These meetings are an opportunity for ATF members to ask any questions they may have. The meetings will take place virtually and are open to the public for observation.” Note that the public can ONLY observe; as CSWA members found out at the first session, on Tuesday, August 11, members of the public cannot ask questions live or via chat.
ATF members who joined the first Office Hours continued to question the EDC’s Transit Priority Proposal (slides 22-32) which EDC first unveiled at the July 31 ATF meeting #5. One ATF member asked, “Given the concerns and pushback expressed in ATF Meeting 5 around the proposed traffic plan, will a significantly new concept be proposed, or do you plan to incorporate and provide robust data around the current concept?”
The consultant responding said that the project team, planning team, and the EIS team (yes, three teams!) are “continuing to work through the transportation plan, its impacts, which will be reported fully in the EIS [Environmental Impact Assessment].” A response like the footnote to the startling numbers on slide 30 of the deck (60% of traffic diverted from Van Brunt Street! 90% of traffic diverted from Columbia Street!). Here’s the footnote: “All transportation data and projections shown are for planning purposes only. When released, the EIS will include transportation data and projections of future conditions for purposes of environmental review based on the CEQR Technical Manual.” Apparently, even the Transit Priority Proposal is for planning purposes only. Whatever that means.
The 2nd Office Hours was held on Thursday, August 20, 12-2 PM.
And now, about those stacked containers overlooking (overshadowing?) Columbia Street: PortSide NewYork emailed Mike Stamatis, President and CEO of Red Hook Terminals. MIke’s response, which PortSide shared with permission on Columbia Waterfront District’s Instagram page: “The new STS crane arrived today and we needed to make room on pier 10 for the crane assembly work area. We are super busy and needed to utilize the space in the upland of Piers 9A/B for container storage. We will be unloading the crane vessel over the next 4 days and then the assembly of the crane will commence and continue over the next few months.”
CSWA is aware of residents’ concerns about the high stacks and is following up to get more information on how long these will remain in place.