Surprise: Traffic, Parking Less Than Expected at Barclays Center

Barclays Center is quiet this week. The next event will be the first Barbra Streisand concert Thursday night. It will be another test of the arena in anticipation of the Nets pre-season opener Monday and regular season opener in three weeks.

So far, so good on getting there. The anticipated traffic and parking nightmares have not materialized, at least on the scale anticipated (and feared) by some. And on Monday, the LIRR announced that it will be adding special trains for Nets fans between 10:15 and 11:35 p.m. on weekdays and between 10:24 and 11:42 on weekends. The trains depart from Atlantic Terminal for Jamaica and points east.

For the most part, fans (along with people like Mikhail Prokhorov and Jay-Z) have arrived at the arena by subway, Jay-Z's arrival causing a bit of a stir. The arena's 531-spot parking lot has been anywhere from a fifth to half full. Sam Schwartz, the arena's traffic guru, reported that more than half of early concert-goers have arrived and departed by subway.

Transportation Nation, a transit blog, reports that besides surges in turnstile use at the Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center station, riders have also been using subway stops a short walk from arena: the Fulton Street stop of the G, the Lafayette Avenue stop of the C, and the Bergen Street stop of the 2 and 3. Others have walked, and about 1,200 people have taken the LIRR.

• 19,000 Seats + Almost No Parking = More Foot Than Car Traffic at Barclays Arena - Transportation Nation
• Barclays Center Traffic: So Far So Good? - Amy Sue Clark - Patch.com
• MTA Unveils Nets Game Day Train Schedule - Paul Leonard - Patch.com