Businesses along Court Street in Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens have taken legal action to stop the city’s ongoing redesign of the corridor between Schermerhorn Street and Hamilton Avenue, according to the Brooklyn Eagle.
The Court Street Merchants Association filed an order in court seeking to pause construction and remove the newly implemented street changes, citing traffic congestion, safety issues and a lack of community input, the Eagle reported.
The redesign introduces a curbside protected bike lane along the east side of Court Street, reducing southbound traffic to a single lane.
Merchants and residents argue that the project has led to gridlock, delivery complications and unsafe conditions for both pedestrians and cyclists, the paper said.
Emergency vehicles now struggle to pass through the narrowed street and that frequent double parking, delivery trucks and buses have intensified congestion, particularly during peak hours, merchants told the Eagle.
Local business owners report a decline in revenue since the changes began. Longstanding establishments such as D’Amico Coffee Roasters note fewer customers due to reduced parking and relocated bus stops that make short visits more difficult.
Restaurant owners on nearby blocks have raised similar concerns about limited parking and accessibility for patrons. Community members have documented blocked intersections and emergency vehicles forced to navigate through bike lanes or turn down side streets to avoid traffic jams.
Industrial operators in the area say the redesign has also made it harder for trucks and deliveries to reach businesses, especially near Ninth Street where congestion from Hamilton Avenue often spills over, the paper said.
The New York City Department of Transportation maintains that the redesign is still in progress and that traffic flow will improve once new signal timing, lane markings, and designated loading zones are completed.
Elected officials have urged the DOT to increase communication with merchants and residents to address concerns about accessibility, safety and business impacts as work continues. The project is expected to be completed in the coming weeks, the paper said.
