No More Blood for Broken Streets: Demand Safety Now

Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Pick-up and sedan collided on Bronx River Parkway. Aggressive driving fueled the crash. One driver and one passenger injured. Metal twisted. Pain and shock followed. System failed to protect.

A pick-up truck and a sedan crashed on Bronx River Parkway in the Bronx. According to the police report, 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' was a contributing factor. The crash left a 56-year-old male driver with facial injuries and shock, and a 56-year-old female passenger with back pain. Both vehicles were traveling south. The pick-up was changing lanes; the sedan went straight. The police report lists no other contributing factors. The system allowed aggression to rule the road. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803992 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A speeding sedan struck a woman at Pratt Ave and E 233 St. She suffered a bruised hip. Police cite aggressive driving and unsafe speed. The street turned violent in an instant.

A 31-year-old woman walking at the intersection of Pratt Ave and E 233 St in the Bronx was hit by a sedan. She suffered a contusion and hip injury. According to the police report, the crash involved aggressive driving, road rage, and unsafe speed. The sedan, a BMW, was involved in a police pursuit before impact. The report lists no errors for the pedestrian. The driver and other occupants were not seriously hurt. The SUV involved was parked. The crash highlights the danger when drivers act with aggression and speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803834 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A pickup truck struck a man crossing with the signal on Needham Ave. The impact injured his leg. Police cite driver inattention and failure to yield. The street stays dangerous for those on foot.

A 53-year-old man was injured when a pickup truck hit him as he crossed Needham Ave with the signal. According to the police report, the driver was making a left turn and struck the pedestrian at the intersection. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and a leg injury. The report does not mention any errors by the pedestrian. The crash highlights the ongoing risk for people walking in the Bronx.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803830 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two SUVs crashed on E 237 St in the Bronx. The driver of one SUV suffered bruises and arm injuries. The collision involved failure to yield and limited visibility. The impact damaged the front left quarter and center front ends of the vehicles.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided on E 237 St near Richardson Ave in the Bronx at 7:50 AM. The driver of one SUV, a 27-year-old male, was injured with contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors to the crash. The driver was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness, and the airbag deployed. The collision caused damage to the left front quarter panel of one vehicle and the center front end of the other. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead before impact. The crash highlights driver errors related to yielding and visibility at this Bronx location.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802757 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 20-year-old bicyclist was ejected and injured in a collision with an SUV traveling east on Laconia Avenue. The impact hit the bike's left side doors and the SUV's center front end. Failure to yield right-of-way was cited.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:03 on Laconia Avenue in the Bronx. A 20-year-old male bicyclist, traveling north, was struck on the left side doors by a 2008 Ford SUV going straight east. The bicyclist was ejected and sustained a neck injury classified as severity 3. The SUV driver, a licensed female, had one occupant and the vehicle sustained damage to the center front end. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor to the crash. No safety equipment was noted on the bicyclist, but the report does not list this as a contributing factor. The collision highlights driver error in yielding, leading to serious injury of the vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802243 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A motorcycle and sedan collided head-on on Boston Road in the Bronx. The motorcycle driver, a 40-year-old man, suffered a head contusion but was conscious. Both vehicles impacted on their left front bumpers, traveling southbound at the time.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:31 AM on Boston Road near De Reimer Avenue in the Bronx. A sedan and a 2023 motorcycle, both traveling southbound and going straight ahead, collided with impact on their left front bumpers. The motorcycle driver, a 40-year-old male occupant, sustained a head injury described as a contusion or bruise but remained conscious and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the motorcycle driver but does not specify any driver errors or violations such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. Vehicle damage was limited to the left front bumpers of both vehicles. The report does not indicate any helmet use or other victim behaviors as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802237 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Albany has no plan. The MTA faces a $35-billion hole. City lawmakers reject a payroll tax hike unless suburbs pay too. Federal officials blast subway decay. Riders wait. The capital plan hangs in limbo. Danger grows with every delay.

""I haven't discussed all of the options with the members yet, but I'm fully confident that we'll figure out how we could fund the MTA... we will make sure that the MTA capital plan is funded. I didn't disclose with him how we plan to do it, because we don't have a solid plan yet. I just gave him assurance."" -- Carl Heastie

On March 26, 2025, state budget talks stalled over the MTA's 2025-29 capital plan. The $35-billion gap remains. The matter, described as a 'lack of a concrete plan from New York State leaders,' sits unresolved. Assembly Member Micah Lasher calls for regional funding, arguing suburbs benefit most. City lawmakers oppose a payroll tax hike limited to New York City. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie offers only vague assurances. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber warns the capital plan is as vital as Medicare. Federal officials, including U.S. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy, criticize subway neglect and demand improvements before aid. Gov. Hochul’s office claims progress and urges fair federal funding. No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users. The system’s decay puts riders at risk. The clock ticks. Lawmakers stall.

• CAPITOL DISPATCH: Albany Has No Plan, the Feds are Fuming and Transit Riders Are Facing a True ‘Shithole’ If MTA Cash Isn’t Raised, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-26

Top New York lawmakers pressed Washington for billions to fix the MTA. They called the current funding unfair. The MTA moves millions, but federal dollars lag. Without repairs, riders face danger. The fight for transit cash grows urgent as deadlines loom.

On March 25, 2025, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins joined Gov. Hochul and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie in demanding increased federal funding for the MTA. Their letter to President Trump and congressional leaders argued, 'Mass transit must be federally funded at a level commensurate to its importance to our nation and New York must receive its fair share.' The officials seek $14 billion for the MTA’s 2025-2029 capital plan, citing a $30 billion gap and the system’s outsized national role. The request comes as federal transit money from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law nears expiration. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis opposed the request, citing MTA mismanagement. Federal Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatened to withhold funds over safety data and congestion pricing disputes. The bill is not a council measure but a coordinated state push, with Stewart-Cousins mentioned as a leading voice. No formal safety analyst note was provided, but the lawmakers’ action highlights the stakes for millions of vulnerable transit riders.

• Gov. Hochul, top NY lawmakers demand 'fair share' from feds to pay for MTA repairs, gothamist.com, Published 2025-03-25

Trump’s transportation chief blasted New York’s plea for more MTA funds. He called the agency mismanaged and demanded a plan for safer, cleaner subways. Stewart-Cousins joined Hochul and Heastie, arguing the MTA carries the nation but gets shortchanged.

On March 25, 2025, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins joined Governor Hochul and Assembly Speaker Heastie in a letter urging more federal funding for the MTA. The letter stated, 'While the MTA carries 43 percent of the nation's mass transit riders, its share of federal transit formula funding is only 17 percent.' In response, President Trump’s transportation chief, Sean Duffy, condemned the request, calling the MTA 'horribly run' and blaming New York’s financial mismanagement. Duffy insisted the federal government would not provide a 'blank check' and demanded a plan to make the subway 'reliable, secure, and clean' before any funding changes. The dispute highlights a deep divide over transit funding and safety, with Stewart-Cousins and colleagues pressing for fairer support while federal officials demand accountability.

• Trump’s transportation chief Sean Duffy blasts Hochul over ‘outrageous’ MTA funding plea to boost ‘horribly run’ agency, nypost.com, Published 2025-03-25

Andrea Stewart-Cousins joined Hochul and Heastie to demand more federal cash for the MTA. They say New York carries the nation’s riders but gets shortchanged. Without funds, transit projects stall. Riders—millions—hang in the balance. The plea is blunt. The stakes are high.

On March 25, 2025, State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, with Governor Kathy Hochul and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, sent a letter to President Trump and federal officials. They called for increased federal funding for the MTA’s $68.4 billion capital plan, citing that New York’s transit system carries 43% of U.S. riders but receives only 17% of federal formula funds. The letter urges, 'Mass transit must be federally funded at a level commensurate to its importance.' Stewart-Cousins, mentioned as a key signatory, previously rejected the capital plan due to a $35 billion shortfall. The group asks for $14 billion in federal support, up from $13 billion in the last plan. The MTA warns that without this funding, critical infrastructure—power, signaling, accessibility—remains at risk. The request is urgent. The city’s transit future depends on it.

• Hochul pens letter Trump asking for more federal funding for the MTA amid ongoing congestion pricing lawsuit, amny.com, Published 2025-03-25

A Mercedes slammed into Darryl Mathis Jr.'s stalled car on the Major Deegan. Mathis called for help, then for an ambulance. The driver fled. Paramedics rushed Mathis to the hospital. He died. The killer behind the wheel vanished into the night.

NY Daily News reported on March 24, 2025, that Darryl Mathis Jr. was killed when a Mercedes-Benz rear-ended his disabled Ford on the Major Deegan Expressway. Mathis, stranded after his battery died, called friends for help. As one friend recounted, 'He called to get a jump, and after that, he got hit from behind, a hit-and-run.' The Mercedes driver fled the scene and has not been caught. Mathis was transported to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he died. The crash highlights the dangers faced by stranded motorists on city highways and the deadly consequences when drivers flee. No policy changes or enforcement actions were detailed in the article.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Stranded Bronx Motorist, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-24

Two women suffered neck and back contusions in a Bronx crash. A sedan struck a parked vehicle’s left rear quarter panel. Police cited passing too closely as the driver error. Both occupants were restrained and not ejected.

According to the police report, the crash occurred in the Bronx near 4208 Ely Ave at 1:05 AM. A sedan traveling straight ahead collided with a parked sedan, impacting the left rear quarter panel of the parked vehicle. The driver of the moving sedan, a 23-year-old woman, and her 27-year-old female front passenger both sustained contusions and bruises to the neck and back, respectively. Neither occupant was ejected from the vehicle. The police report identifies 'Passing Too Closely' as the primary contributing factor, indicating a failure in maintaining safe distance while maneuvering near the parked vehicle. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The driver was licensed in New York, and the vehicle was registered in New Jersey.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4802247 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A black Mercedes slammed into a Ford on the Major Deegan. Both cars spun out. The Mercedes driver ran. The Ford driver died at St. Barnabas. Police closed the highway for hours. No arrests. The city’s roads stay deadly.

NY Daily News reported on March 22, 2025, that a 39-year-old driver was killed after a black Mercedes-Benz rear-ended his Ford Crown Victoria on the Major Deegan Expressway. The article states, “The hit-and-run driver responsible escaped on foot, police said.” Both vehicles lost control and crashed. Emergency services transported the victim to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he died. The Mercedes driver fled the scene, and no arrests have been made. Police closed the southbound lanes for several hours during the investigation. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of rear-end collisions and the persistent risk posed by hit-and-run drivers on New York City highways.

• Bronx Highway Hit-And-Run Kills Driver, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-22

A van traveling north on E 222 St collided with a sedan’s left side doors. The crash injured a front-seat passenger in the sedan, causing knee and lower leg trauma. Unsafe speed by the van driver contributed to the impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:43 on E 222 St near White Plains Rd in the Bronx. A northbound van struck the left side doors of a northbound sedan. The van’s driver was cited for unsafe speed, a critical factor leading to the collision. The sedan carried three occupants; a 36-year-old female front passenger sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, described as internal and serious enough to be reported. She was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. Vehicle damage was noted on the van’s left rear quarter panel and the sedan’s right front bumper. The report does not indicate any contributing factors from the passenger or other occupants. The collision highlights the dangers posed by excessive speed in multi-vehicle crashes on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800647 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Albany faces a $33.4-billion MTA gap. The Citizens Budget Commission urges deep cuts, fare hikes, and more city and state cash. Expansion projects like the Interborough Express may die. Riders risk worse service if lawmakers stall. The clock ticks.

On March 21, 2025, the Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) released a warning about the MTA’s $33.4-billion capital budget gap for 2025–2029. The CBC recommends slashing $17 billion, scrapping expansion plans like the Interborough Express, and boosting city and state contributions by $9 billion. The CBC calls for a 6 percent hike in fares, tolls, and vehicle fees—higher than the planned 4 percent. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said tax hikes are on the table. Governor Hochul’s office backs a payroll tax hike, but the CBC wants it regionalized. The CBC’s Andrew Rein said, “We have to prioritize state-of-good-repair, basic modernization, and delay some of the system expansions.” The report warns that failing to fund maintenance will gut service, repeating past crises. No direct safety analysis was provided, but cuts threaten transit reliability for millions.

• Albany Running Out of Options to Close MTA Funding Gap: Watchdog, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-21

Albany weighs a payroll tax hike for big NYC employers to plug the MTA’s $35 billion gap. Steve Chan slams the move as a blow to city businesses. Closed-door talks continue. Transit riders wait. Streets stay dangerous. No clear safety gains for walkers or cyclists.

State budget negotiations on March 20, 2025, centered on funding for the MTA. Lawmakers discussed raising the payroll mobility tax on large New York City employers. The measure aims to close a $35 billion hole in the MTA’s five-year capital plan, which covers subway and bus upgrades. The bill has no number yet and remains under negotiation. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, 'The discussion on revenue raisers is definitely going to have to be a part of the MTA.' Senator Steve Chan, District 17, criticized the tax hike, calling it 'a slap on the Brooklyn businesses struggling for survival in my district.' The talks also floated surcharges on for-hire vehicles and online deliveries. No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users. The budget deadline looms. Riders and pedestrians see no promised relief.

• Gov. Hochul eyes NYC tax hike to fund MTA in closed-door talks, sources say, gothamist.com, Published 2025-03-20

A 24-year-old male bicyclist suffered a fractured elbow and dislocation after an SUV changed lanes and collided with him on Bronx Blvd. The crash involved unsafe speed and passing too closely, causing serious injury to the cyclist’s lower arm and hand.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Bronx Blvd at 8:56 PM. A 24-year-old male bicyclist was injured when a 2013 Honda SUV changed lanes and struck him with its right front bumper. The bicyclist sustained a fracture, distortion, and dislocation to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report identifies the SUV driver's errors as unsafe speed and passing too closely. The bicyclist was not ejected and was the sole occupant of his bike. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the bicyclist's behavior or safety equipment. The collision’s impact point was the center front end of the bike and the right front bumper of the SUV, underscoring the danger posed by the vehicle’s lane change and close passing.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800596 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 40-year-old man was injured in the Bronx when an SUV failed to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal at an intersection on Katonah Ave. The vehicle hit him with its left front bumper, causing chest injuries.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:10 on Katonah Ave in the Bronx. A station wagon/SUV traveling west struck a 40-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian sustained chest injuries and was conscious at the scene. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors attributed to the vehicle driver. The SUV's left front bumper was the point of impact, indicating the pedestrian was hit while legally crossing. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the pedestrian's actions beyond crossing with the signal. The driver error in yielding right-of-way created a systemic danger resulting in the pedestrian's injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798126 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04