No More Blood for Broken Streets: Demand Safety Now

Albany leaders talk. Riders wait. The $33-billion hole in the MTA capital plan grows. No new funding. No real answers. Delays mount. The system crumbles while politicians promise support but deliver nothing concrete. Vulnerable New Yorkers are left exposed.

On January 15, 2025, Governor Hochul addressed the $33-billion shortfall in the MTA’s 2025-2029 capital plan. The matter, described as a need for a 'concrete blueprint that will deliver actual results,' remains unresolved. Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins all voiced support but offered no funding solutions. Hochul rejected raising personal taxes and delayed the cap-and-invest program. Heastie pinned hopes on federal aid, while Stewart-Cousins admitted, 'we didn't have an answer.' The MTA is already delaying purchases. No council member or legislator advanced a plan. The gap leaves transit riders—especially those on foot, bike, or bus—at risk as the system’s decline continues.

• ‘Trust Us’: Albany Pols Offer Only Promises To Fill Massive Hole In MTA Capital Plan, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-15

Albany leaders stall on MTA funding. They block capital plans. They threaten congestion pricing. Subways face cuts. Riders pay the price. Service, safety, and reliability hang in the balance. Political games choke the city’s lifeline. Vulnerable New Yorkers lose again.

This report covers the ongoing 2025 state legislative budget negotiations over the MTA’s 2025-29 capital plan and congestion pricing. The article, published January 13, 2025, highlights how Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and Governor Hochul have failed to deliver needed funding. The matter summary states: 'Starving the MTA will not actually improve service and will not actually improve safety, will not actually improve reliability.' Lawmakers consider exemptions or repeals to congestion pricing, undermining the MTA’s financial foundation. Andrew Rein, a key voice, warns that withholding funds is 'a recipe for disaster and an abdication of responsibility.' The legislature’s inaction threatens subway modernization, safety, and reliability. Without proper investment, vulnerable riders—those who rely on transit—face greater risk and hardship.

• Albany’s Power Brokers Are Trying To Break Your Subway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-13

Andrea Stewart-Cousins appears in a sharp editorial blasting Governor Hochul’s 2025 agenda. The piece slams congestion pricing, green policies, and tax hikes. It accuses leaders of ignoring public will. Vulnerable road users remain unmentioned. Systemic danger persists.

On January 13, 2025, an editorial opinion referenced State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (District 35) in a critique of Governor Hochul’s upcoming State of the State address. The editorial, published by nypost.com, claims, 'Gov. Hochul's State of the State address Tuesday will outline her 2025 legislative priorities, but New Yorkers shouldn't expect them to reflect their own desires.' Stewart-Cousins is mentioned as an opponent of charter school expansion and as a key legislative figure. The editorial opposes congestion pricing, green energy programs, and tax increases, but does not address the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst assessment is provided. The piece highlights ongoing systemic risks by ignoring the needs of those most at risk on city streets.

• Political deathwish: Gov. Hochul to unveil sad ’25 agenda in her State of the State, nypost.com, Published 2025-01-13

Two sedans slammed head-on near Bronxwood Avenue. Metal twisted, airbags burst. Four people inside crushed, stunned, incoherent. Parked cars struck in the chaos. The street fell silent, wreckage marking the cost of unsafe speed and reckless force.

On E 216th Street near Bronxwood Avenue in the Bronx, two sedans collided head-on, tearing through the night. According to the police report, the crash occurred at 1:09 a.m. and involved a 2008 Acura sedan and a 2013 Nissan sedan, both traveling straight ahead. The report details that 'Unsafe Speed' was a contributing factor, with one driver also flagged for 'Alcohol Involvement.' The narrative describes airbags bursting and metal folding, leaving four occupants—two drivers and two passengers—injured. Victims suffered crush injuries, with one semiconscious, two incoherent, and one in shock. The force of the collision sent vehicles into parked cars, compounding the destruction. The police report makes clear: unsafe speed and driver recklessness shattered the quiet, leaving bodies broken and a street scarred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785315 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A distracted driver struck a 35-year-old woman crossing White Plains Road outside a crosswalk. The impact caused abdominal and pelvic injuries, leaving her bruised and conscious. The driver’s inattention was the sole cited cause of the crash.

According to the police report, at 4:47 AM on White Plains Road in the Bronx, a Jeep traveling southeast struck a 35-year-old female pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk. The report cites "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the sole contributing factor, repeated twice for emphasis. The pedestrian suffered contusions and injuries to her abdomen and pelvis, classified as injury severity level 3, but remained conscious. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian at the center front end, with damage to the same area. The pedestrian’s crossing outside a signal or crosswalk is noted but not listed as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were cited. This crash highlights the systemic danger posed by driver distraction in urban streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785252 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A southbound SUV struck a parked sedan from behind on Boston Road in the Bronx. The sedan’s female driver suffered back injuries and shock. Police cited unsafe speed as the contributing factor in the collision that damaged both vehicles’ bumpers.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:20 on Boston Road in the Bronx. A 2022 Jeep SUV traveling southbound struck the left rear bumper of a parked 2009 Nissan sedan. The sedan’s driver, a 25-year-old woman, was injured with back pain and experienced shock. She was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to control speed appropriately. The impact point was the center front end of the SUV and the center back end of the sedan. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision highlights driver error related to speed management in a parked vehicle scenario.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785317 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate bill S 131 demands complete street design for state-funded projects. Sponsors push for safer roads. Guidance will go public. Streets could change. Pedestrians and cyclists stand to gain.

Senate bill S 131 was introduced on January 8, 2025, now in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Requires the consideration of complete street design for certain transportation projects which receive federal or state funding,' aims to force safer street planning. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan leads, joined by co-sponsors Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, Samra Brouk, Cordell Cleare, Leroy Comrie, Jeremy Cooney, Nathalia Fernandez, Michael Gianaris, Kristen Gonzalez, Robert Jackson, Rachel May, Kevin S. Parker, Christopher Ryan, and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill also orders the department to publish guidance on street design. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 131, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly crossings for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, forces the Department of Transportation to install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. The bill, sponsored by Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, Ariola, and others, passed on March 15, 2025. The law demands annual reporting on compliance and reasons for any delay. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Quick, visible lines cut confusion and protect people crossing or riding. The law took effect immediately.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-08

Republican lawmakers blasted MTA chief Janno Lieber. They called for his resignation. They slammed the new $9 congestion toll. They dismissed claims of safer subways. They warned of more taxes. Riders and walkers remain caught in the crossfire.

On January 8, 2025, Republican state legislators, including Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick (District 9), held a press conference demanding the resignation of Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chair Janno Lieber. The lawmakers, joined by Senators Steven Rhoads and Bill Weber, criticized Lieber for 'losing the trust of commuters' and downplaying subway crime. They condemned the new $9 congestion pricing toll for Midtown, with Weber calling it 'tone deaf' and demanding repeal. The event summary reads: 'GOP pols push MTA boss to resign after brushing off transit crime as New York braces for even more taxes, fees.' The lawmakers oppose further taxes and fees to close the MTA’s $33 billion gap. No safety analyst assessed the impact on vulnerable road users. The debate leaves the city’s most exposed—pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders—uncertain and unprotected.

• GOP pols push MTA boss to resign after brushing off transit crime as New York braces for even more taxes, fees, nypost.com, Published 2025-01-08

A 38-year-old woman suffered severe leg injuries when a sedan failed to yield while making a right turn on Murdock Ave in the Bronx. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal. Driver inattention contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:30 AM on Murdock Ave near E 233 St in the Bronx. A sedan making a right turn struck a 38-year-old female pedestrian who was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal. The pedestrian sustained serious injuries including fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The point of impact was the center front end of the sedan, indicating the vehicle struck the pedestrian directly during the turn. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The crash underscores the dangers posed by drivers failing to yield and paying insufficient attention to pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789226 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Lawmakers face a $33 billion MTA budget gap. The new Manhattan congestion toll hits drivers, but it is not enough. Senate leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins objects to the unfunded plan. More taxes and fees loom. Riders wait. Streets stay dangerous.

On January 6, 2025, the MTA’s $33 billion budget shortfall dominated debate. The matter, titled "MTA eyes new taxes, fees to plug $33B budget hole — even after NYC’s $9 congestion toll!", landed in the spotlight after the new toll failed to close the gap. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, district 35, formally objected to the unfunded capital plan with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. Their joint letter blocked the plan’s January 1 start, forcing negotiations. Governor Hochul, who backs the $68 billion plan, promised no income tax hikes but left other taxes and fees on the table. Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger called for transparency. The MTA’s future—and the safety of those who rely on it—hangs in the balance. No direct safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• MTA eyes new taxes, fees to plug $33B budget hole — even after NYC’s $9 congestion toll!, nypost.com, Published 2025-01-06

An SUV driver fell asleep and struck an e-scooter on Eastchester Road in the Bronx. The e-scooter rider was injured and ejected, suffering back injuries. The crash occurred during a right turn, with unsafe speed cited as a factor.

According to the police report, the crash happened at 18:29 on Eastchester Road near Givan Avenue in the Bronx. A 36-year-old male SUV driver, licensed in New York, was making a right turn when he fell asleep behind the wheel. The report lists 'Fell Asleep' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors to the collision. The SUV struck the right side doors of the e-scooter, which was traveling straight ahead. The e-scooter rider, also male, was ejected and sustained back injuries with an injury severity rated at 3. The e-scooter showed no damage, indicating the rider bore the brunt of the impact. The police report highlights driver error—specifically fatigue and unsafe speed—as the primary causes, with no contributing victim behaviors noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783150 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV making left turn slammed into e-bike rider on White Plains Road. Rider ejected, hit hard, left with leg and foot injuries. Police cite driver for ignoring traffic control. Streets remain unforgiving.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old male e-bike rider was struck and injured by a 2024 SUV making a left turn on White Plains Road at Magenta Street in the Bronx. The SUV, driven by a licensed woman, hit the bicyclist at the center front end. The rider was ejected and suffered contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and went into shock. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, showing the SUV driver failed to obey signals or signs. No contributing factors were attributed to the bicyclist. The crash underscores the danger when drivers ignore traffic controls during turns.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783136 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Albany leaders killed the MTA’s capital plan. Repairs and upgrades freeze. Janno Lieber warns of cascading failures. Riders face broken signals, crumbling tracks, and delays. The Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee urges reversal. Lawmakers argue over funding while the city waits.

On December 30, 2024, New York State legislative leaders rejected the MTA 2025-29 Capital Plan. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins blocked approval, citing incomplete funding. The plan, described as funding 'crucial state-of-good-repair track work,' now hangs in limbo. MTA CEO Janno Lieber called the move a 'Catch-22' that could cause cascading failures and delay urgent repairs. The Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA urged lawmakers to withdraw their objection, warning of long-term delays and higher costs. Stewart-Cousins’s spokesperson, Mike Murphy, dismissed the urgency, pointing to unfinished projects from the last plan. The standoff leaves essential transit upgrades—and the safety of millions—at risk.

• MTA to Albany Pols: Your 11th-Hour Rejection of the Capital Plan Will Cause an ‘Insurmountable’ Problem, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-30

A 60-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured in the Bronx after a sedan struck him head-on. The crash involved driver inattention and failure to yield right-of-way. The cyclist suffered abrasions to his face and remained conscious.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Laconia Avenue in the Bronx involving a sedan and a bicycle. The bicyclist, a 60-year-old man, was ejected from his bike and sustained facial abrasions, classified as injury severity level 3. The sedan was traveling east, going straight ahead, and struck the bicyclist with its left front bumper. The report cites driver errors including 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. Additionally, the bicyclist's own contributing factors were 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed.' The cyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The sedan showed no damage and had no occupants at the time. The bicyclist remained conscious after the crash, highlighting the violent impact caused primarily by driver errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783787 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two occupants suffered contusions and back and head injuries in a Bronx crash. A sedan and SUV collided head-on and rear-end on E Gun Hill Rd. Alcohol involvement by the sedan driver was a key factor, according to the police report.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on E Gun Hill Rd in the Bronx involving a 2005 sedan and a 2013 SUV. The sedan driver, a 53-year-old male, was found to have alcohol involvement cited twice as a contributing factor. The vehicles collided with impact points at the sedan's center front end and the SUV's center back end. Two occupants in the sedan were injured: the driver suffered a head contusion and the passenger, a 55-year-old female, sustained a back contusion. Both were wearing lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The report highlights alcohol involvement as the primary driver error, with no other contributing factors listed. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783832 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Carl Heastie killed the MTA’s $65 billion capital plan. The move came as Gov. Hochul faced backlash over congestion pricing and fare hikes. Riders and walkers are left exposed. The system stays broken. Albany plays politics. Streets stay dangerous.

On December 26, 2024, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie abruptly blocked the MTA’s proposed $65 billion capital plan. The move followed public outrage over Gov. Hochul’s congestion pricing scheme and a planned 4% fare hike for transit riders. The editorial, titled 'Gov. Hochul is the face of the MTA’s congestion-toll madness: Don’t let her fool you,' blasted the $9 toll and warned that the agency’s legal power to raise prices remains. Stewart-Cousins and Heastie’s last-minute action signals deeper political games, not reform. The article quotes Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli: 'Consolidation, efficiency, and savings in this area was promised years ago, but has yet to be fully realized.' No safety analyst weighed in, but the capital plan’s collapse means no new investment in safer streets or transit. Vulnerable road users remain at risk. The system’s failures continue.

• Gov. Hochul is the face of the MTA’s congestion-toll madness: Don’t let her fool you, nypost.com, Published 2024-12-26

Two state leaders killed the MTA’s $68 billion upgrade plan a day before approval. The veto blocks critical repairs, new subway projects, and safety upgrades. Riders face more delays, broken stations, and uncertainty. The city’s lifeline hangs in limbo.

On December 26, 2024, state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie vetoed the MTA’s $68 billion capital plan. The MTA Board had approved the plan 10-0 on September 25 and submitted it to the Capital Plan Review Board (CPRB) on October 1. The matter, described as 'the MTA's $68 billion budget to fix mass transit,' was rejected by Stewart-Cousins and Heastie with a letter sent on Christmas Eve. Their action blocks dozens of projects, including subway accessibility, station repairs, and new transit lines like the Interborough Express. The veto leaves the future of these upgrades—and the safety of millions of riders—uncertain. The MTA warns this could threaten federal funding and delay critical improvements. The city’s transit system, already battered by delays and breakdowns, now faces more risk and instability.

• 2 NYS legislators reject MTA’s $68 billion capital plan, amny.com, Published 2024-12-26

Albany leaders stopped the MTA’s $68-billion plan. Their move halts new trains, station fixes, and power upgrades. Riders wait. Subways and buses age. Streets stay dangerous. No comment from Heastie or Stewart-Cousins. Advocates warn: delay means risk for millions.

On December 26, 2024, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins blocked the MTA’s 2025-2029 capital plan, worth $68 billion. The action came via a Christmas Eve letter to MTA CEO Janno Leiber, rejecting the plan and stalling critical transit improvements. The plan, as described, funds 'essential work'—new trains, accessibility, power, and station repairs. Riders Alliance called on Albany to 'fix the subway.' Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance warned, 'the least-visible projects are the most vulnerable to cuts – but also often the most essential, like new signals and upgrades to power systems and structures.' Neither Heastie nor Stewart-Cousins responded to requests for comment. The rejection delays contract awards for new electric rail cars and locomotives, leaving millions of riders—and vulnerable road users—at risk from crumbling infrastructure and unreliable transit.

• Christmas Sockings: Carl Heastie and Andrea Stewart-Cousins Say ‘No’ to Better Transit, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-26