Memorandum

To:

Arana Hankin, Rachel Shatz ESD; Philip Karmel Bryan Cave Brzac HDR
Project: Atlantic

From: Dan CC:

Yards

Dave Leibnitz, Jeff Martirano, Luigi Casinelli HDR 27, 2011

Job No: 147-164429

Date: September

RE: Atlantic Yards Environmental Monitoring Effective Sidewalk Widths at Arena Block At the current phase of construction, FCRC is petitioning the NYCDOT for a revocable consent to install security bollards within the city sidewalk that surrounds the Arena block. NYCDOT has received comments from the public and has forwarded the comments to ESD. These comments claim that the size and location of the proposed security bollards would result in diminished effective sidewalk widths in comparison to the effective sidewalk widths as stated in the FEIS. The purpose of this memorandum is to independently determine whether any sidewalk obstructions as shown on the revocable consent application drawings yield effective sidewalk widths that are reduced from the values put forth in the FEIS. This memorandum also documents and compares the current and proposed effective sidewalk widths and associated impacts to the calculated pedestrian Level of Service (LOS) as documented in the FEIS. It should be noted, however, that the conditions analyzed in this memorandum are an interim construction condition; sidewalk widths upon completion of the buildings on the Arena block are not expected to be narrower than those described in the FEIS and 2009 Technical Memorandum. A preliminary effective sidewalk width analysis was performed by HDR based on the plans (drawings RC-01 through RC-11) developed by Stantec that were included in the revocable consent submission to NYCDOT, and in consultation with the methods in pedestrian analysis of the 2000 Highway Capacity Manual. The sidewalks analyzed bound the Arena block on four sides): Atlantic Avenue between Flatbush Avenue and 6th Avenue; Flatbush Avenue between Atlantic Avenue and Dean Street; Dean Street between Flatbush Avenue and 6th Avenue; 6th Avenue between Atlantic Avenue and Dean Street. HDR determined the effective sidewalk width based upon the methods of the 2000 Highway Capacity Manual, analyzing sidewalk sections as follows: WE = WT - WO WE = Effective sidewalk width (ft) WT = Total walkway width (ft) WO = sum of widths and shy distances from obstructions on the walkway (ft) Shy distances utilized in the calculation are as follows: shy distance from object line (wall/fence) = 1.5 ft shy distance from building face with window display = 3.0 ft shy distance from curb line = 1.5 ft shy distance from bollard = 1.5 ft shy distance from tree pit = 1.5 ft shy distance from light pole = 1.5 ft Based on the above values, incorporating dimensions called out and scaled from the revocable consent
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711 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604-3504 Phone (914) 993-2000 Fax (914) 993-2022 www.hdrinc.com Page 1 of 5

drawings, the following are our findings: Table 1 HDR Effective Sidewalk Width Calculation

No. S5

Location

TotalWalkway Width(WT) 200 98 180 110 1311 2011 210

Obstruction+Shy Distance(WO)(ft) =3+1.5+1.5=6.0 =1.5+3=4.5 =3+1.5=4.5 =1.5+3=4.5 =3+1.5=4.5 =3+1.5=4.5 =3+1.5=4.5

EffectiveSidewalk Width(WE)(ft) =20.06.0=14.0 =9.74.5=5.2 =18.04.5=13.5 =11.04.5=6.5 =13.94.5=9.4 =20.94.5=16.4 =214.5=16.5

FlatbushAvbtwnAtlantic Av&PacificSt S6a AtlanticAvbtwnFt GreenePl&6thAv S6b AtlanticAvbtwnFt GreenePl&6thAv S7 6thAvbtwnAtlanticAv &PacificSt S18a DeanStbtwnFlatbushAv &6thAv S18b DeanStbtwnFlatbushAv &6thAv S19 6thAvbtwnPacificSt& DeanSt

Table 2 - Sidewalk Width Comparison

No.

Location

HDRCalculation (ft) 14.0 5.2 13.5 6.5 9.4 16.4 16.5

PHNDC* Calculation(ft) 5.5 7.0 9.0 17.0

BuildinFEISupon CompletionofPhase 1Buildings(ft) 13.5 13.5 13.5 8.5 11.5 11.5 8.5

FlatbushAvbtwnAtlantic Av&PacificSt S6a AtlanticAvbtwnFt GreenePl&6thAv S6b AtlanticAvbtwnFt GreenePl&6thAv th S7 6 AvbtwnAtlanticAv& PacificSt S18a DeanStbtwnFlatbushAv &6thAv S18b DeanStbtwnFlatbushAv &6thAv S19 6thAvbtwnPacificSt& DeanSt

S5

*Note: Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council

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Table 3 FEIS Sidewalk Phase 1 Build Condition LOS

Facility No.

S5 S6

S7 S18 S19

Location FlatbushAvbtwn AtlanticAv& PacificSt AtlanticAvbtwnFt GreenePl&6thAv 6thAvbtwn AtlanticAv& PacificSt DeanStbtwn Flatbush&6thAv 6thAvbtwnPacific St&DeanSt

AverageConditions Effective Peak15MinVolumes AM PM EVE SAT Width AM PM EVE SAT (feet) PFM LOS PFM LOS PFM LOS PFM LOS

13.5 13.5

609 449 158 228

900 1,049 3.01 170 150 0.78

A A

2.22 1.13

A A

4.44 0.84

A A

5.18 0.80

B A

8.5 11.5 8.5

192 267 167 249 202 327

171 153 332

172 104 352

1.51 0.97 1.58

A A A

2.09 1.44 2.56

A A A

1.34 0.89 2.60

A A A

1.35 0.60 2.76

A A A

PFM=personsperfootofeffectivewidthperminute

Table 4 HDR-calculated Sidewalk Build Condition LOS Using FEIS Phase 1 Pedestrian Volumes

Facility No.

S5 S6a S6b

S7 S18a S18b S19

Location FlatbushAvbtwn AtlanticAv&Pacific St AtlanticAvbtwnFt GreenePl&6thAv AtlanticAvbtwnFt GreenePl&6thAv 6thAvbtwn AtlanticAv&Pacific St DeanStbtwn Flatbush&6thAv DeanStbtwn Flatbush&6thAv 6thAvbtwnPacific St&DeanStwest

AverageConditions Effective Peak15MinVolumes AM PM EVE SAT Width AM PM EVE SAT (feet) PFM LOS PFM LOS PFM LOS PFM LOS

14.0 5.2 13.5

609 449 158 228 158 228

900 1,049 2.90 170 170 150 150 2.03 0.78

A A A

2.14 2.92 1.13

A A A

4.29 2.18 0.84

A A A

5.00 1.92 0.74

A A A

6.5 9.4 16.4 16.5

192 267 167 249 167 249 202 327

171 153 153 332

172 104 104 352

1.97 1.18 0.68 0.82

A A A A

2.74 1.77 1.01 1.32

A A A A

1.75 1.09 0.62 1.34

A A A A

1.76 0.74 0.42 1.42

A A A A

PFM=personsperfootofeffectivewidthperminute

For the sidewalk segments S6 and S18, two primary sidewalk widths can be calculated, and in an effort to be more detailed, HDR computed separate effective sidewalk widths at each of these sections (depicted as S6a S6b, S18a and S18b). As is seen in Tables 1 and 2, the calculation of the effective sidewalk width performed by HDR is generally similar to the values obtained by the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council (PHNDC). A more detailed analysis of each sidewalk segment is provided below:
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S5 east side of Flatbush Av. between Atlantic Av. & Pacific St. the effective sidewalk width determined by HDR is very similar (difference of 0.5 ft.) to that provided in the FEIS. As well, this sidewalk segment is adjacent to the plaza, and the plaza can be assumed to function as an adjacent pedestrian space. PHNDC did not analyze this sidewalk segment. Based up the results in Tables 3 and 4, the effective sidewalk width and associated Level of Service at this location illustrates no change from the FEIS. S6 south side of Atlantic Av. between Fort Greene Pl. & 6th Av. the proposed sidewalk directly in front of the Arena is noticeably wider than the sidewalk closer to 6th Avenue by the future Building 4 development. The calculation provided by PHNDC focused on the narrower sidewalk segment (S6a), which was significantly less (8.0 ft less) than the value provided by the FEIS. HDRs calculation for this segment was similar to that determined by PHNDC (difference of 0.3 ft., or 8.3 ft. less than the value provided in the FEIS). However, for the segment in front of the Arena (S6b), HDRs calculation matches that of the FEIS. The effective sidewalk width as stated in the FEIS is accurate for the segment of sidewalk directly in front of the Arena; however for the sidewalk segment adjacent to the future Building 4 development, the actual effective sidewalk width per the revocable consent submission drawings is less that what was stated in the FEIS. For the segment of sidewalk S6 near 6th Avenue, the drawings that were submitted for the revocable consent application depict an interim condition prior to the construction of Building 4 where the sidewalk is not as wide as it would otherwise be if Building 4 was in place. According to the FEIS, with Building 4 in place the south sidewalk of Atlantic Avenue would be 20 ft. wide.

S7 west side of 6th Av. between Atlantic Av. & Pacific St. both calculations of the effective sidewalk width by HDR and PHNDC are less than that from the FEIS (HDRs calculation is 2.0 ft. less, and PHNDCs calculation is 1.5 ft. less). It should be noted that the FEIS assumed that the 6th Avenue Bridge over the LIRR yard between Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Street would be reconstructed, resulting in the west sidewalk being widened by an additional 5 feet; however, the bridge reconstruction was subsequently determined not to be necessary; thus the existing sidewalk widths will be maintained for the Arena opening, but the sidewalk width upon completion of Building 4 is not expected to be narrower than the width presented in the FEIS and 2009 Technical Memorandum. S18 north side of Dean St. between Flatbush Av. & 6th Av. the proposed sidewalk away from the lay-by lane is noticeably wider than the proposed sidewalk directly in front of the lay-by lane. Both the calculation provided by PHNDC and the FEIS appear to focus on the segment adjacent to the lay-by lane (S18a), where PHNDC calculated an effective sidewalk width of 9.0 ft. which is 2.5 ft. less than the effective sidewalk width per the FEIS (11.5 ft.). At this location HDRs determination of effective sidewalk width yielded 9.4 ft., which is 2.1 ft. less than that stated in the FEIS. Adjacent to this sidewalk segment is the setback to the Arena, which can be assumed to function as an adjacent pedestrian space, helping to mitigate the decrease in effective sidewalk width. Away from the lay-by lane (S18b), HDR calculated an effective sidewalk width of 16.4 ft., which is 4.9 ft. greater than what was stated in the FEIS. There has been no change in the location of the north curb of Dean Street along this block since the issuance of the FEIS. S19 west side of 6th Av. between Pacific St. & Dean St. both calculations of the effective sidewalk width by HDR and PHNDC are greater than that from the FEIS (HDRs calculation is 8.0 ft. greater, and PHNDCs calculation is 8.5 ft. greater). The actual effective sidewalk width for S19 (west side of 6th Av. between Pacific St. & Dean St.) is also greater than what was stated in the FEIS, although this reflects the removal of the lay-by lane along this segment of 6th Avenue, which occurred after the finalization of the FEIS.

In summary the effective sidewalk width as put forth in the FEIS is not met nor mitigated for the eastern segment of S6 (south side of Atlantic Av. between Ft. Greene Pl. & 6th Av.), and is not met for S7 (west side of 6th Av. between Atlantic Av. & Pacific St.) in the Arena opening condition. The primary reason for this is a change to the project implementation since the FEIS was finalized, specifically the delay in construction of Building 4. HDR took the results of the pedestrian sidewalk analysis from the FEIS and adjusted the calculations by utilizing the effective pedestrian widths that were calculated based on the Stantec construction documents. The tables on the preceding pages summarize the results of sidewalk LOS based on the FEIS and based on the effective
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sidewalk widths computed by HDR using the FEIS Phase 1 pedestrian volumes. In summary, although the narrowing of sidewalks at S6 and S7 does cause an increase in pedestrian density within the sidewalk, the original calculated values of LOS for these sidewalks were A, and even with a decrease in effective sidewalk width, LOS A still results for all peak hours.

Henningson, Durham & Richardson Architecture and Engineering, P.C. In association with HDR Engineering, Inc.

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Phone (914) 993-2000 Fax (914) 993-2022 www.hdrinc.com

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