U.S. Coast Guard
Governor’s Island

An Historic Site

The U.S. Coast Guard upgraded traffic circulation as best it could over the years, but decided that an overall Master Plan was needed to identify and prioritize the capital projects needed to provide for more efficient and safer traffic circulation throughout Governor’s Island. EI Associates was given the assignment to analyze current conditions and create a Master Plan for the improvement of vehicular and pedestrian flow.

The initial phase of the project required a detailed analysis of access requirements, parking needs, pedestrian movement patterns, vehicular movement patterns, roadway classifications and safety concerns. The analysis determined which roadways were used as primary routes to and from the ferry terminal, to various critical buildings, and to residential and recreational areas. Consideration was also given to both the historic and aesthetic values found within the confines of the historic district, which added to the complexity of the study.

The study found current traffic and parking conditions in the historic district to be inconsistent, and in some cases, chaotic. Detailed maps were produced showing current traffic flows, pedestrian flows, access requirements and land and building use, as well as parking, trouble spots and accident locations.