Latest news with #NYCDOT
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
More bus lanes proposed for busy Flatbush Avenue corridor in Brooklyn
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) — New York City transportation experts are proposing major changes for what they've dubbed one of 'Brooklyn's most dangerous corridors.' The Department of Transportation announced proposals for new bus lanes along Brooklyn's Flatbush Avenue stretching from Livingston Street to Grand Army Plaza on Friday. More Transit News 'Almost 70,000 daily bus riders are stuck waiting too long for slow buses, drivers are caught in a mess of traffic, and pedestrians are left crossing intersections clogged with vehicles,' said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. The proposal seeks to create center-running bus lanes along Flatbush Avenue with new pedestrian spaces with the intention of improving traffic safety and reducing pedestrian crossing times. Center-running lanes would also help dramatically increase bus speeds by creating physically separated spaces for buses and reducing conflicts with personal vehicles, officials say. More Local News 'This plan will drastically improve the commute times for the tens of thousands of daily riders who live on Flatbush Avenue – many of whom rely on public transportation to get to work,' MTA President Demetrius Crichlow. Currently, Flatbush Avenue is a Vision Zero Priority Corridor, meaning it's one of the most dangerous streets in Brooklyn, with 55 people killed or severely injured since 2019. Bus speeds have also been recorded to be slower than four miles per hour during rush hours which is about the same speed as a person walking, according to the DOT. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Buses along Flatbush Avenue primarily serve Black, female, and low-income riders, a majority of who have household incomes of less than $80,000 a year, researchers from a Pratt Center study found. Many riders in the area have complained of long wait times in extreme weather, transportation experts say. With center-running lanes, NYC DOT would install concrete bus boarding islands in the street for pedestrians. The agency plans to continue community engagement throughout the spring to get feedback from residents, businesses and commuters. Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
NYC DOT under fire after bike lane revisions cause gridlock for drivers trying to avoid congestion tolls
The NYC Department of Transportation has put the screws to drivers who are trying to avoid congestion pricing tolls by entering Manhattan via the Queensborough Bridge, critics told The Post. The agency helped spur relentless massive gridlock last month by removing a key left-turn lane along East 62nd Street heading northbound on First Avenue — to create a seven-foot-wide safety buffer area abutting the 62nd Street bike lane. 'It makes me feel like the New York City Department of Transportation is deliberately trying to ruin the only toll-free route into Manhattan from Queens,' said Dylan Yen, 24, an Upper East Side tech consultant and U.S. Coast Guard member who regularly commutes between boroughs by taking the bridge. 'They're deliberately trying to make it as difficult as possible so that people will either pay the congestion toll or, more cynically, they make it so bad that we as a neighborhood decide that we need congestion pricing.' Northbound travelers such as Yen avoid the controversial $9 toll for Manhattan drivers below East 60th Street by using the bridge's upper level exit, leading to East 61st Street. Exiting the lower level leaves drivers off at East 59th Street where they have to pay the piper. Yen continued: 'This is manufactured congestion to cater to the whims of Transportation Alternatives,' referring to the powerful anti-car group that critics say has incestuous relationship with DOT, indirectly lobbies for Uber and Lyft and wields a lot of power with lefty officials. The revisions leave only one lane operating during certain hours for both drivers needing to turn left to onto First Avenue or continue east onto the FDR Drive. The road's right lane is supposed to be open to traffic except Sundays and overnights the rest of the week, midnight to 7 a.m. when parking is allowed. However, it's routinely blocked during business hours by trucks making deliveries, residents said. Previously, the strip had a lane dedicated for left turns, a center lane for thru-traffic to the FDR Drive and a right lane with 'No Standing' zones regulations in affect most hours beyond Sunday. The DOT insists its plan was always to eliminate the left lane and create a safety buffer for bikers since the 62nd Street bike lane was installed in 2021 under then-Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration. That part of the project was put on hold for years because outdoor dining sheds were blocking the right lane until Mayor Eric Adams instituted new rules phasing out many of the blighted structures, officials claimed. Bridge users aren't buying the excuse. Michael, a 34-year-old Upper East Side resident who works at a Queens tech company, said his average commute time is now 75 minutes, compared to 25 minutes before the traffic patterns changed. He said the traffic now routinely backs up onto bridge's upper level and is especially bad on Sundays when the right lane on East 62nd Street allows parking — adding it's deplorable that drivers are being charged the congestion toll for 'creeping 300 feet into the zone' to exit and enter on the lower-level. 'On Sundays, it's backed up to the middle of the bridge,' he said. 'They don't give a s—t! The DOT does not give a s—t! It's an open targeting of drivers.' Traffic congestion near the Manhattan side of the bridge has historically been a problem, but it's now nonstop, said Sebastian, who lives on East 62nd Street near First Avenue. 'The traffic is 24 hours [a day], he said. 'It's a safety concern for pedestrians.' Linda Santangelo, 61, of the Upper East Side, said she doesn't drive but is now forced dealing with the honking horns and car fumes the extra traffic congestion has brought to the neighborhood. 'I was surprised by the gridlock going on [because of the traffic changes], ' Santangelo said. 'And I do a see a lot of extra traffic on the Upper East Side because of this. It's gridlock everywhere!' Councilwoman Julie Menin, a Manhattan Democrat who represents the Upper East Side-Lenox Hill areas near the bridge, told The Post her office has fielded plenty of complaints from local residents about the changes causing 'added congestion.' 'DOT should review this location to determine whether this intersection should be reverted to a configuration that better supports traffic flow and continues to make our streets safer for pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists,' said Menin. DOT spokesman Vincent Barone said the bike lane project was put in place by the de Blasio administration 'to create safer crosstown connections for cyclists and pedestrians while also preserving the same number of vehicular travel lanes during rush hours in a historically congested area near the bridge.' 'These corridors were chosen for safety upgrades in part because they were the locations of hundreds of injuries and multiple pedestrian fatalities — and if there are any delays due to drivers dangerously and illegally parking in travel lanes, we will work with our sister agencies on enforcement,' he said.
Fox News
19-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
Brooklyn Bridge sustains no structural damage after fatal Mexican navy ship crash
Officials said Monday that an inspection of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City determined the load-bearing elements of the structure did not sustain any significant damage when a Mexican navy sailing ship crashed into the landmark on Saturday night, killing two people on board. The New York City Department of Transportation announced the discovery in a post on X just before the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) held a press conference regarding its investigation into the tragic incident. "This morning, Commissioner Rodriguez surveyed the Brooklyn Bridge following the weekend bridge strike," the city agency said. "While inspections are ongoing, there are no signs of structural damage to the bridge." NTSB officials told reporters that its bridge team from the Office of Highway Safety is working with NYC DOT and confirmed the lack of structural damage to the bridge. "They have affirmed at this point that there is no significant structural damage to the load-bearing elements of the bridge," NTSB Board Member Michael Graham said. "There is some damage on one of the travelers, which they use to access and survey the bridge at this point. But nothing structural from the bridge… is an issue at this plan." NTSB Investigator Brian Young told reporters that, based on preliminary navigational data, the Mexican navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc arrived in New York City on May 13 at about noon and docked port side at pier 17. The vessel remained docked for about four days, before pushing away from the dock at about 8:20 p.m. on May 17, with the assistance of a tugboat. "The intent was to sail south down the East River and head for sea," Young said. The preliminary investigation looked at weather data, which showed westerly winds of about 10 knots, along with a current running toward the bridge at about 0.3 knots. The vessel's speed increased to about 6 knots, and at 8:24, a VHF radio broadcast was sounded requesting assistance from other tugboats in the area of the Brooklyn Bridge, he continued. "That was followed by two other requests for assistance, and at 8:24:45, the vessel's mast struck the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge," Young said. "At 8:27, the vessel came to a stop, and at 8:30, both NYPD and FDNY assets were on the scene." The members of the NTSB arrived in New York City on Sunday, and Monday was the first day crews were able to start investigating the incident. Graham said the team is there to gather perishable evidence, which will take as many days as needed. He also said this was the start of a long process, telling reporters that investigations can take between 12 and 24 months. Within 30 days, Graham and his team will provide a preliminary report, but throughout the process, he stressed, the team will not draw conclusions, speculate, or determine probable cause while on the scene. The investigation will involve looking at the crew and the operation of the crew, the vessel and its condition, and nautical elements like weather, wind and tide. On Monday morning, various teams were set up by the NTSB to look into nautical operations, marine engineering, bridge engineering, survival factors and recorders. Young told reporters that the team did not know whether the ship had a recorder, like a black box, on board. "Our recorders group, once getting aboard the vessel, will make a full assessment of any recording devices, and we will capture that information and retrieve it," he said. One reporter asked Graham and Young about preliminary information released by the NYPD, suggesting there was a power outage that may have led to the ship's collision with the bridge. "We don't know where they got that data from," Graham said. "Brian has told us already we haven't even had a chance to access the engine, so, we don't know that. We haven't had a chance to look to see if there's any recorded data or anything like that. So, we're not sure where they got that from, but that will be part of the investigation, too. If somebody has information like that, where did they get it from? We don't know at this point." NTSB investigators will speak with witnesses, crew members, tugboat operators and others to help get a full picture of what caused the ship to crash on Saturday night. They will also look for surveillance cameras in the area to help piece together the puzzle. Still, Graham reiterated that all information provided to reporters during the press conference was preliminary and subject to change throughout the investigation. He encouraged anyone with video of the incident on their phones to reach out to witness@ to notify investigators of the video. The NTSB will then provide a link where the video can be uploaded.
Time Out
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time Out
NYC is giving out free bike helmets this month—here's where to get one
May is Bike Month in New York City and the Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) is marking the occasion with a sprawling slate of events and giveaways designed to keep the city's cycling boom in motion. Whether you're a Citi Bike commuter, a delivery rider or just dusting off your handlebars for the season, there's something for everyone in this wheel-powered celebration. The marquee event will be Bike Bonanza on May 18, a full day of helmet fittings, learn-to-ride classes and kids' bike swaps at Tecumseh Playground on the Upper West Side. It's not just about swag, though—this year's programming goes big on real infrastructure upgrades. Under Mayor Eric Adams' administration, New York City has added a record-breaking 87.5 miles of protected bike lanes and improved 20 more, including nearly 30 new miles in 2024 alone. That work's paying off: cycling trips now top 226 million per year and DOT data shows that protected lanes cut pedestrian injuries by nearly 30%. Cyclists can also expect new tech on the road. A novel set of bike-friendly traffic signals and 'Green Wave' timing debuted along Manhattan's Third Avenue this spring, encouraging slower speeds and safer intersections. Additionally, a brand-new bike counter and visualization tool enable riders to explore citywide cycling data in real-time. Need a helmet? Want a free light? Looking to join a ride? From Staten Island to the Bronx, the full lineup of events (including dates and locations) is available on the DOT's Bike Month calendar. You can browse through the list of free helmet giveaways below. Delivery workers, in particular, can score safety gear and educational resources throughout the month at targeted outreach stops. So grab your bike, tune your brakes and get rolling—NYC's got your back this May. Where to get a free bike helmet in NYC Brooklyn Bronx Manhattan Queens
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New York City installs bike traffic lights to improve cyclist safety
MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) — Bicyclists are being reminded to stop at the red light in the bike lane. The New York City Department of Transportation has now added a small traffic light for bikes on Third Avenue and East 69th Street. More will be installed in the coming weeks. More Local News The signals are five feet off the ground at the cyclist's eye level. The city DOT Commissioner said they 'have proven elsewhere to increase safety as well as cyclist compliance with traffic laws.' NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'These new traffic signals for cyclists complement our green wave traffic timing, the next natural step in making sure the thousands of cyclists who use this street every day can keep both themselves and the many pedestrians crossing Third Avenue safe. We are working every day to make our streets safer and to make it easier for New Yorkers to get around our city.' Alexa Sledge, with Transportation Alternatives, told PIX11 News, 'It brings New York City into compliance with best practices when it comes to how we design our streets, how we design our intersections, how we design our light cycles. Having it so these lights go on and easier to see is the best practice, is the best step forward for New York City, and we're really excited to see it.' NYC DOT plans to return to the corridor this year to deliver similar bike and bus lane upgrades to Third Avenue's northern terminus, from East 96th to East 128th streets. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
