Grand Army Plaza

New stats show an immediate need for bike infrastructure on the crucial north-south connector.

The city is considering expanding the plaza on the north tip of Prospect Park to connect to Grand Army Plaza.

Brooklynites want a bold plan for Grand Army Plaza so that the massive traffic circle, tribute to Union soldiers and desolate gateway to Prospect Park can once again work as a public space.

It was an exceptionally cold, and busy, day. Let's get right to it.

The journey of a thousand meetings begins with a single tabling. But the DOT is definitely talking about serious changes.

The reconstruction of Eastern Parkway between Washington Avenue and Grand Army Plaza is wrapping up. A big benefit of the project is the completion of a widened median, including a path for bicyclists, between the main traffic lanes and the service road.

Well, the paint and striping aren't all the way there yet, but there's now room to bike in both directions on Plaza Street in Brooklyn. Doug Gordon posted a few pictures on BrooklynSpoke this morning, and reader Steve O'Neill sent in a few more. This DOT project will make it much more convenient to bike between the neighborhoods surrounding Grand Army Plaza while following the letter of the law, but lacks the physical protection of an earlier plan. Word is the implementation will wrap up pretty quickly.

NYC DOT presented plans last night for an un-protected two-way bike lane on Plaza Street, which would enhance a critical hub in the Brooklyn bike network by defining space for contraflow riding, but fall short of providing safe cycling infrastructure for all ages. The transportation committee of Community Board 6 voted in favor of the project as a first step toward implementing a fully protected bikeway, along the lines of what DOT first presented for Plaza Street in 2010. Update: The Community Board 8 transportation committee endorsed the plan unanimously, "requesting that DOT continue to look into further pedestrian safety and traffic calming measures," said vice-chair Rob Witherwax.

A quick reminder: Tonight's meeting of the Brooklyn Community Board 6 transportation committee is an important one, with DOT presenting its proposal for a two-way bike lane on Plaza Street. The public is invited to participate in the meeting, so if you want to weigh in on this upgrade to the Brooklyn bike network and whether it should be protected from traffic with a row of parked cars, tonight's your chance.