City Should Repair BQE Without Costly Bypass, Advocates Say
A transit advocacy group argues that fears of traffic "Carmageddon" from removing the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway are unfounded, citing examples from other cities.
A transit advocacy group argues that fears of traffic "Carmageddon" from removing the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway are unfounded, citing examples from other cities.
· Updated
A transit advocacy group is urging Mayor Mamdani's administration to repair the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) without constructing a costly $4 billion bypass. The Joint Transit Association (JTA), composed of current and former New York City public school students, released a video arguing that the predicted traffic "Carmageddon" from a potential highway teardown is a myth.
The JTA video highlights numerous examples of cities that have successfully removed highways, including the Inner Loop in East Rochester, the Bonaventure Expressway in Montreal, and the Cheonggyecheon in Seoul. These projects, along with the West Side Highway removal in Manhattan, demonstrate that highway closures do not result in severe congestion. Instead, people adapt by finding alternative transportation or foregoing trips.
While Mamdani administration officials warn of traffic meltdowns if the BQE is removed, the JTA points to other major roadway shutdowns, such as the Interstate 405 closure in Los Angeles, where traffic continued to flow as people adapted.
The group acknowledges that federal approval for major expressway removal might be unlikely under the current administration. However, they contend that City Hall, with state assistance, should proceed with BQE repairs without the expensive bypass, which would save money and allow time to plan for a future without the highway.
FAQ
What is the main argument against building a BQE bypass?
The main argument is that fears of severe traffic congestion from removing the BQE are unfounded, based on successful highway removal projects in other cities.
What alternative is proposed for BQE repairs?
The proposed alternative is to repair the triple cantilever of the BQE without building a $4 billion bypass, which would be less expensive and allow for planning a BQE-less future.
