Latest news with #MarieThereseDominguez
Time Out
6 days ago
- Time Out
The East River Tunnel shutdown is going to mess up your LIRR commute—here's what to know
Your LIRR commute just got a lot more complicated. As of Friday, May 23, Amtrak officially began a three-year, $1.6 billion rehabilitation of the East River Tunnel, a project that has already set the stage for delays, congestion and general commuter chaos. The work involves a full closure of two of the four century-old tubes beneath the East River, which serve as critical infrastructure for Amtrak, NJ Transit and the Long Island Rail Road. And while Amtrak insists the full gut renovation is necessary to fix lingering damage from Superstorm Sandy, LIRR officials and Governor Kathy Hochul argued for a less disruptive approach. For months, state leaders pushed for a 'repair-in-place' plan, similar to the L train fix, which would have kept daytime schedules intact. But Amtrak held firm, citing safety concerns and the need to fully replace power, signal, track and fire-safety systems to meet modern standards. They maintain that patchwork repairs aren't feasible in a high-speed, high-voltage environment like this. Line 2 was taken completely out of service Friday night and will remain offline for 13 months. After that, Line 1 will shut down for another extended stretch. During this time, Amtrak and NJ Transit will prioritize the two remaining tubes, forcing the LIRR to share limited tunnel space and warning of possible schedule disruptions for its 125,000 daily riders. LIRR leadership previously called a full shutdown 'catastrophic,' as reported by the New York Daily News. Amtrak has promised to minimize the pain with extra inspections, more crews and emergency locomotives on standby. Still, the fallout is already being felt. 'With the onset of the spring and summer travel seasons, it's imperative that New Yorkers have convenient and reliable passenger rail service to help them get where they want and need to go,' said New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez. 'We want to continue to work with Amtrak to find a way to do this work without inflicting unnecessary burdens on New Yorkers.' Despite the outcry, the project is underway—and your commute may never look the same until 2028. So if your train feels more packed or your schedule is off this week, now you know why. Brace for delays, grab a good book and maybe leave a few minutes earlier—just in case.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New York is cracking down on work zone violations. Here's what to know
Road work season is in full swing. Orange hard hats, traffic cones and detour signs will be seen throughout the area as repairs take place on major highways and local streets. State officials are urging motorists to exercise caution as they navigate work zones. In 2024, New York State reported 322 Department of Transportation work zone intrusions which resulted in two driver fatalities and 138 injuries. The NYSDOT has also reported about 86 incidents since 2022 with claims of assaults and harassment against highway workers. In Tioga County, Dennis "Matt" Howe was killed in 2019 when the DOT vehicle he was in was struck by a tractor-trailer in a work zone on state Route 17. Department of Transportation workers, New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said at an April 24 press conference in Endicott, 'are out doing a very dangerous job on our behalf, on the public's behalf to make sure our roads, our bridges, all of our infrastructure stay safe and in turn they deserve our respect. They deserve our gratitude and they deserve to be home every night with their loved ones.' In a news release, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called on drivers to reduce their speed in work zones, eliminate distractions and stay vigilant. Here are the steps the state has taken to increase work zone safety. More: Why are people protesting in Binghamton on Thursday? New York's Move Over law was expanded in 2024 to include all disabled and stopped vehicles along the highway. Previous versions of the legislation granted protections to law enforcement officers, emergency workers, tow and service vehicle operators and other maintenance workers stopped along roadways while performing their duties. All drivers are required to switch lanes when they encounter such vehicles or, if a lane change is not possible, to slow down to a reasonable speed. A 2023 Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program in New York used radar and photos to enforce reduced speed limits. Since its implementation, Dominguez said, there have been no work zone injuries in the areas where the program's cameras are in place. "The data is in and the program works," she said. "People slow down when there's camera enforcement in the work zone." Over 425,000 notices of liability have been issued throughout the state, indicating drivers who violated the reduced speed limit, with about 38,000 repeat offenders. All of the money collected from the fines goes back into the program. On April 21, a Traffic Incident Management Unit was in Kirkwood along Interstate 81 where bridge work was being conducted over Loughlin Road, to crack down on work zone violations as part of New York's Operation Hard Hat. In four hours, New York State Troopers issued 69 tickets. Despite caution signs for reduced speed and flagging the construction zone, 52 motorists were ticketed for speeding, 11 for using their cell phone and one for failing to move over. Fines are doubled for all speeding tickets issued in a work zone. If a motorist has two work zone speeding violations or more, it can result in a suspension of their driver's license. Kalyn Grant reports on public service issues for the Press & Sun-Bulletin, focusing on schools and community impact. Have a story to share? Follow her on Instagram @KalynCarmen and on Facebook under Kalyn Kearney. Get in touch at kcgrant@ This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: New York is cracking down on work zone violations. What to know
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'This is not a money grab, this is a safety grab,' NYS DOT Commissioner draws awareness to roadworker safety and enforcement
HORSEHEADS, N.Y. (WETM) — Roadwork season is ramping up across the Southern Tier, and New York State. With that comes the dangers to crews who work just feet from speeding vehicles on the highways. As part of National Workforce Awareness Week, motorists are advised to pay attention and slow down in work zones. During a news conference on Thursday, April 24, in Horseheads, New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez spoke on the importance of workforce safety for highway crews and what motorists need to do when entering a work zone. 'We need drivers, all drivers, to do their part and exercise caution, and exercise patience,' Therese Dominguez said. 'The last thing we want is another incident like the one that was captured on film over on (Interstate) 81 near Whitney Point last year when a driver who was driving a rented truck literally blew through the work zone and almost killed our highway maintenance worker,' she said. Therese Dominguez said transportation workers face a variety of threats every day when working on the highways. Speeders, people not paying attention or not moving over in a work zone, and even harassment and assault from frustrated motorists, Therese Dominguez said. These are only some of the challenges that DOT workers and other construction crews come across while working on the roads. Rear seats riskier than front seats for injury, research shows 'All across New York you're going to be seeing a lot more presence of DOT workers out on the roadways because this is the time for us to do our job, we're out there working,' said Therese Dominguez. 'Pay attention to what you're doing, put your phones down, recognize there are people out on the roadway doing a job, and you need to make sure you keep them safe,' she said. In 2024, 322 intrusions were reported in NYS DOT work zones, resulting in two driver deaths and 138 injuries, unacceptable numbers, according to Therese Dominguez. There have been 58 DOT worker deaths while on the job throughout the history of NYS DOT, Therese Dominguez said. 'These deaths are preventable, all of us, each and every New Yorker has a role to play in keeping our workers safe,' said Therese Dominguez. As more construction projects begin in the area, the state has devised several plans to help catch violators and prevent incidents in work zones. One of the measures the state is taking is continuing to utilize Operation Hard Hat, a joint initiative launched with New York State Troopers and other law enforcement to crack down and stop speeders in work zones and raise awareness. 'Operation Hard Hat' sees police cracking down on traffic violators in work zones Another tactic is the continued use of the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement Program, a pilot program passed by the state legislature and signed by Governor Kathy Hochul several years ago that puts vehicles with speed cameras in work zones. 'The data is in…People slow down when there is camera enforcement in the work zone, we know this, the program works,' Therese Dominguez said. Therese Dominguez adds to the data by saying there have been no injuries or deaths in areas with speed cameras in work zones. Since this program has been enacted, more than 425,000 notices of liability have been issued across the state, and more than 38,000 repeat offenders have been issued tickets. 'This is not a money grab, this is a safety grab,' Therese Dominguez said. 'This is all about making sure every penny that's collected as a notice of violation goes back into worker safety and worker protection,' she said. At the end of the day, safety is everyone's responsibility, and Therese Dominguez urges everyone to drive safely in work zones and show the workers the respect they deserve. National Workplace Awareness Week isn't just about bringing awareness to drive and act safely in work zones but to honor those who died while working on busy roadways across the state. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NYSDOT encourages drivers to stay aware of road workers this summer
ENDICOTT, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – The state's commissioner of transportation was in Endicott today to remind drivers that construction season is ramping up, and they need to slow down in work zones. It's National Work Zone Awareness Week, and New York State's Commissioner of DOT, Marie Therese Dominguez, held a news conference this afternoon alongside highway workers. Dominguez says you'll be seeing a lot more road crews working now that the weather is warmer. She says last year alone, there were 322 work zone intrusions throughout the state, leading to two fatalities and 138 injuries. Dominguez says the bottom line, is slow down when you're in a work zone, and get over if you can. 'They should be able to do their jobs without fear of being harmed. You go to an office, you get to sit down in the comfort of a desk, know that its a safe environment. Their work environment is the roadway, it's a high speed area. Imagine a car going by at more than 65, 75, 85 miles per hour. Imagine the force of the winds,' Dominguez said. Operation Hard Hat, a partnership between DOT and generally unmarked police cars, is continuing this construction season to catch destructive drivers in work zones. The commissioner also reminds drivers that even if you don't see a cop, there are unmanned cameras recording violations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Exit signs along I-81 to be updated to mile-based system beginning this week
BROOME COUNTY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – Exit signs along Interstate 81 in Broome County are being updated to a milage-based number system. New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez announced on Tuesday that work on the project will begin on March 12. During the project, existing, sequentially numbered exit signs will be updated with new panels that represent the exit by its mileage location along the highway. This will give motorists a better indication of how many miles they need to travel to reach their destinations. The first exit signs switched will be on the southern end in Kirkwood, with crews gradually working their way north through Broome County. Eventually all exit signs along Interstate 81 in New York will be switched. 'The New York State Department of Transportation continually strives to enhance the safety and convenience of the traveling public and these new exit numbers will allow drivers and emergency responders to make better-informed decisions as they travel along the southern tier's busiest highway,' said Dominguez. 'Mile-based exit signs give drivers a better sense of where they are located on a highway and makes it easier for them to determine how far they need to go to reach their destinations, enabling more efficient travel planning and enhanced safety for all who use our highways.' The new exit numbers along I-81 are based on the distance in miles moving from south to north from the Pennsylvania border to the Canadian border. The new mile-based exit numbers will be added to the upper panel on the existing signs. To reduce driver confusion, panel signs with the old sequential exit number (OLD EXIT 7) will be added to the bottom of the first approaching existing exit sign. According to Dominguez, the system is not practicable for all highways however, mileage-based systems are in use in nearly all 50 states and are widely viewed as more efficient than sequential numbering schemes. In addition to assisting motorists in determining their location and the distance to their preferred exit, mile-based systems also aid emergency responders in reaching drivers who are experiencing an emergency. The new system will ensure Interstate 81 conforms to current national standards. The upgrade to mile-based exit numbers on I-81 is a strong improvement, making travel easier to navigate for drivers and ensuring faster emergency response when seconds matter. Thank you to NYSDOT for its efforts in making travel safer and more efficient for everyone in Broome County,' said Broome County Executive Jason Garnar. Multiple short-term lane closures will be needed to complete the sign work. Motorists should anticipate travel delays and build extra travel time into their schedules. In addition, ramp closures may be necessary to replace overhead signs in the Binghamton area. Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Exit signs along I-81 to be updated to mile-based system beginning this week Billy Joel postpones upcoming concerts, Syracuse date pushed to 2026 Will you be able to see the total lunar eclipse in New York? Clarks Summit State Hospital patient reported missing Government shutdown deadline is approaching Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
