Traffic changes around AY site delayed from July 15 to July 24 so MPT (temporary change) can begin right after public meeting June 14

It has previously been reported that traffic changes around the Atlantic Yards site would begin July 15. Now, according to developer Forest City Ratner and the Empire State Development Corporation, there will be a slight delay:

On or around July 24, 2011 Pacific Street (between Fourth Avenue and Flatbush Avenue only) will be reversed, changing from one-way westbound to one-way eastbound, toward Flatbush Avenue. To accommodate this change, a new traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of Pacific Street and Flatbush Avenue, along with a new crosswalk across Flatbush Avenue. Vehicles will be able to make right or left turns onto Flatbush Avenue at this location. This block can be accessed from both northbound and southbound Fourth Avenue.

Approximately one week later, Fourth Avenue (between Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue) will be converted to one-way southbound to improve traffic flow at the Flatbush Avenue/Atlantic Avenue/Fourth Avenue intersection. Fourth Avenue northbound traffic, including all commercial vehicles, can access Flatbush Avenue by turning left onto Atlantic Avenue, right onto Third Avenue and left onto Flatbush Avenue. Pacific Street will offer secondary access to Flatbush Avenue. No through truck traffic will be permitted on Pacific Street.

Why the change? According to ESDC spokeswoman Elizabeth Mitchell:

We did not want any roadway changes occurring until after the public meeting on June 14, and there is a MPT (Maintenance Protection of Traffic) plan that must be implemented before construction can begin.

The old schedule had the MPT (this is a temporary traffic change to allow for the street direction to be changed permanently) being implemented on June 1st and the final roadway change to be implemented on July 15. The new schedule calls for the MPT to be put in place on June 15, the final implementation date has been pushed back to July 24.

Note that there are two other meetings next week.

Also note that the June 1 MPT was not in the original Community Notice.