The city’s Department of Transportation has not yet proposed any specific ideas to address traffic safety and traffic flow around the Grand Army Plaza. 

Our partner Gothamist reported the department is considering making the plaza car-free.

However, DOT officials said before they draft their vision to craft a capital project to improve the Brooklyn area, they are very interested in hearing what the public has to say. 

With so much foot traffic, car traffic and bicycle traffic all converging into Grand Army Plaza, it’s no surprise that pedestrian Molly Boast of Prospect Heights finds the area both tricky and potentially dangerous to navigate.

“The biggest problem is people don’t understand the traffic patterns,” Boast said. “And I honestly don’t know how well they can mark it without putting sentries on the road.”

Driver Ron D’ennis of Harlem was manning his food truck, Caribbean Fusion, by Grand Army Plaza Saturday, while DOT officials set up a nearby booth to seek comments and ideas from the public. 

While D’ennis doesn’t have any specific suggestions on how to improve traffic flow here, he knows just how tricky it can be for some to keep their eyes on the road when the traffic pattern by Grand Army Plaza can present so many challenges. 

“This area is kinda complex, if you look at it from that perspective. It’s very complex,” he said. “There’s pedestrians walking everywhere. It’s kinda like all over the place. I think there’s a need for a change.”

The advocacy group Transportation Alternatives said crash data shows more than 100 reported injuries in the Grand Army Plaza area since 2011.

Cyclist Kevin Dukes of Bay Ridge said due to safety concerns, he gets off his bike and walk once he approaches Grand Army Plaza.

“It’s too crowded to ride my bike on the sidewalk,” Dukes said. “And I don’t really feel comfortable on the street. These two-way streets, I don’t really feel it’s safe to have a bike lane.”

The DOT plans to host a virtual session Wednesday evening to seek more input from the public.