32 Lexington Ave.

Unity Preparatory Charter School with its representative EPDSCO, Inc., filed an application to the New York City Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) for the proposed construction of a new six-story school building featuring a double-height gymnasium and a cellar in the Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn, NY. The proposed facility is situated at 32 Lexington Avenue, between Classon Avenue and Grand Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238; Tax Block 1969, Lot 33. The building will house the Unity Preparatory Charter School’s 9th through 12th grade program. As part of the application, a City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) Environmental Assessment Statement (EAS) Short Form was prepared and submitted. A Transportation Analysis section was included in the revised EAS, which was attached to the letter dated September 11, 2017 from the applicant’s attorney to the BSA.

Under a contract with ATANE Consulting, SJH provided a review of the Transportation Analyses. Following the CEQR Technical Manual, SJH reviewed the travel demand forecast, mode of travel split between foot, subway, bus and car, Level 1 and Level 2 screening assessments, student arrival/departure time periods and numbers during typical weekdays. The review indicated several shortcomings in the transportation analysis which need clarification and revision, as well as missing assessments on the potential impacts to off-street parking and vehicular and pedestrian safety. It was found that the travel demand in PM peak hours exceeded the threshold identified in the CEQR Technical Manual, which triggered additional analysis.

In order to substantiate the modal split review, SJH performed an independent Personal Trip Survey at a nearby school of similar size and use. The Personal Trip Survey results provided useful comparative data but was not included in the CEQR Tec