Two deaths on the shore roads. The speed stays up.

Jun 7 - Assembly passes A 7652. Schenectady gets school speed cameras. Law aims to slow drivers near kids. Cameras expire in 2028. Vote split. Streets may get safer for children on foot.

Bill A 7652, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' passed the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymembers Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2028. The Assembly vote saw strong support but also opposition. Steck and Santabarbara led the push. The bill's text is blunt: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.' No formal safety analyst note was provided, but speed cameras have a record of reducing driver speed and protecting children walking to school.

• File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 6 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Jun 3 - Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

May 28 - Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

Apr 24 - Assembly bill A 9877 seeks to kill congestion pricing. Sponsors want more MTA board seats and a forensic audit. No mention of safety for people on foot or bike. The car threat grows unchecked.

Assembly bill A 9877 was introduced on April 24, 2024. It sits in the sponsorship stage. The bill aims to repeal congestion pricing, add a new MTA board seat for each city borough, and force a forensic audit of the MTA. The matter title reads: 'Relates to repealing congestion pricing (Part A); commissioning an independent audit of the metropolitan transportation authority (Part B); and conducting an environmental impact study (Part C).' Assembly Members Michael Tannousis (primary), Mike Reilly, Samuel Pirozzolo, Michael Novakhov, Lester Chang, and Alec Brook-Krasny sponsor the bill. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided. The bill ignores the deadly risk cars pose to New Yorkers outside vehicles.

• File A 9877, Open States, Published 2024-04-24

Mar 27 - Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

Mar 20 - Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-03-20

Mar 14 - Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks joined Staten Island leaders to denounce Manhattan’s congestion toll. They warned it would raise costs for working families and worsen air for minority neighborhoods. The MTA’s own study found pollution could rise in outer boroughs. The fight continues.

On March 14, 2024, Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks (District 49) stood with Staten Island officials at a press conference to oppose New York’s congestion pricing plan. The event, covered by nypost.com, highlighted concerns that the $15 toll for driving south of 60th Street in Manhattan would, as Hanks said, 'have a negative impact in neighborhoods of color in the outer boroughs.' Hanks and others argued the plan would burden working residents and increase pollution in Staten Island’s minority communities. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s environmental assessment confirmed air quality could worsen in Staten Island, the Bronx, and New Jersey, even as it improves in Manhattan. The MTA pledged $130 million for clean-up, but local leaders remain unconvinced. Hanks’s opposition underscores the ongoing debate over who pays—and who suffers—when the city tries to curb car traffic.

• NY’s congestion toll will discriminate against forgotten borough of Staten Island: local pols, nypost.com, Published 2024-03-14

Mar 7 - Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Feb 28 - Council wants DOT to check 100 speed camera spots a year for raised speed bumps. If possible, bumps go in within a year. DOT must track and report on driver behavior changes. No delay. No loopholes.

Int 0161-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Members Louis (primary), Carr, Ung, Holden, Ariola, Paladino, and Morano. The bill orders DOT to assess at least 100 speed camera locations each year for raised speed reducer feasibility. If feasible, DOT must install the bump within a year. The law demands annual reports on these checks and on shifts in dangerous driving at treated sites. The bill summary reads: 'requiring a raised speed reducer feasibility assessment at speed camera locations.' Council aims to force physical changes where cameras alone fail.

• File Int 0161-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 20 - A sedan backing unsafely struck another sedan traveling south on Sand Lane. The backing driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cite driver inattention and unsafe backing as contributing factors in this nighttime crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 23:20 on Sand Lane. One sedan was backing when it collided with another sedan traveling straight ahead southbound. The driver of the backing vehicle, a 20-year-old male, sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises. The report explicitly lists 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The backing sedan's left rear quarter panel impacted the front center of the other sedan. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles legally. The injured driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was conscious after the crash. The report focuses on driver errors—unsafe backing maneuvers and distraction—as the cause of the collision, with no mention of victim fault or pedestrian involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4704325 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Feb 4 - Eighteen lawmakers, including Joseph Borelli, sued to stop New York’s $15 congestion pricing. They claim the toll shifts pollution, burdens drivers, and fails communities with poor transit. The MTA defends the plan, saying it funds safer, less crowded streets.

On February 4, 2024, Council Member Joseph C. Borelli (District 51) joined seventeen other lawmakers in a federal lawsuit to block New York City’s $15 congestion pricing toll for Midtown Manhattan. The suit, supported by both Democrats and Republicans, argues the toll 'is a detriment to those that will be affected by this toll, environmentally and financially,' and claims it will shift traffic and pollution to other neighborhoods. Other plaintiffs include State Senators James Skoufis, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Iwen Chu, Monica Martinez, and Assemblymembers Aileen Gunther, Jamie Williams, and David Weprin. The MTA, backed by Governor Hochul, says the toll will raise $1 billion yearly for transit upgrades, promising safer, less congested streets and better transit for the majority who rely on public transportation. The case highlights the political and environmental battle over how to fund and shape New York’s streets.

• 18 NY lawmakers join suit to block $15 congestion toll, nypost.com, Published 2024-02-04

Jan 9 - Senator Lanza pushes to kill congestion pricing. Streets may see more cars, more chaos. The bill strips a key tool for safer, calmer roads. Vulnerable New Yorkers face greater risk.

Senate Bill S 8149, sponsored by Andrew J. Lanza of District 24, seeks to repeal congestion pricing. Introduced on January 9, 2024, the bill is at the sponsorship stage. The measure's title is blunt: 'Repeals congestion pricing.' Lanza stands as the primary sponsor. If passed, this repeal would remove a policy designed to limit car traffic in crowded city streets. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the move threatens to flood roads with more vehicles, putting pedestrians and cyclists in harm’s way.

• File S 8149, Open States, Published 2024-01-09

Jan 8 - A Mercedes SUV struck a 61-year-old man crossing Capodanno Boulevard. Head trauma, internal bleeding, death in the cold dark. Police cite driver inattention. The street offered no crosswalk, no light, only danger and silence.

A 61-year-old man was killed while crossing Capodanno Boulevard near Lincoln Avenue in Staten Island. According to the police report, the man stepped into the street where there was 'no light, no crosswalk.' A northbound Mercedes SUV struck him head-on. The pedestrian suffered head trauma and internal bleeding and died at the scene. The police report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the crash. The SUV's point of impact was the center front end, consistent with a direct collision. The report notes the pedestrian was 'crossing, no signal, or crosswalk,' but lists driver inattention as the primary cause. The deadly outcome unfolded on a street lacking basic pedestrian infrastructure, with driver error at its core.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4693584 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 15 - A taxi struck a sedan from behind on Buel Avenue. The sedan driver, a 22-year-old man, suffered knee and lower leg abrasions. The crash happened as both vehicles traveled south. The taxi driver followed too closely, causing the collision.

According to the police report, a taxi rear-ended a sedan on Buel Avenue in Staten Island. The sedan's 22-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining abrasions to his knee and lower leg. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor for the crash. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead when the taxi struck the right rear quarter panel of the sedan. The sedan driver was conscious and restrained with a lap belt and harness; the airbag deployed. The taxi driver was licensed and driving southbound. The impact damaged the right rear bumper of the sedan and the left front bumper of the taxi. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4687609 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 22 - Port Authority will spend $8.3 million to study widening the Outerbridge Crossing. Critics warn more lanes mean more cars, not less congestion. Officials promise to consider a path for cyclists and pedestrians. The bridge remains dangerous for all who cross.

On September 22, 2023, the Port Authority approved an $8.3 million study to examine widening the Outerbridge Crossing, as required by a 2021 state law. The study, led by HDR, will look at expanding the bridge’s narrow lanes to meet federal standards and possibly adding more lanes. The matter summary states the goal is to 'relieve congestion and improve traffic flow.' State Senator Andrew Lanza pushed for the study, calling the bridge 'very narrow therefore very dangerous.' Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton acknowledged induced demand and said the study will consider all options, including a shared-use path for cyclists and pedestrians. Former Traffic Commissioner Sam Schwartz opposed widening, urging investment in public transit instead. The study’s outcome could shape the future safety of vulnerable road users crossing between Staten Island and New Jersey.

• Madness: Port Authority Will Spend $8.3M to ‘Study’ Widening Outerbridge Crossing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-22

Sep 20 - A 61-year-old woman driver made a U-turn on Capodanno Boulevard. Her sedan struck an object beneath, damaging the undercarriage. She suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors.

According to the police report, a 61-year-old female driver was making a U-turn on Capodanno Boulevard in Staten Island when her 2020 Nissan sedan impacted an object beneath the vehicle, damaging the undercarriage. The driver, who was the sole occupant, sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as moderate. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction during complex maneuvers like U-turns.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4665723 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 17 - Four SUVs collided on Staten Island’s Hylan Boulevard. A 27-year-old female driver suffered head injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. Impact centered on rear ends. No ejections. All drivers licensed and traveling north.

According to the police report, a chain collision occurred on Hylan Boulevard in Staten Island involving four SUVs. The crash happened as vehicles traveled north, with one making a right turn. The point of impact was the center back end of multiple vehicles. A 27-year-old female driver was injured, sustaining head trauma and whiplash, and was conscious at the scene. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as the contributing factors. All drivers involved were licensed in New York. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. No other contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4663309 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Sep 11 - Two SUVs crashed on Staten Island’s Hylan Boulevard. One driver made a left turn, hitting the other going straight. The front passenger in the struck vehicle suffered whiplash. Both drivers showed signs of inattention and disregarded traffic controls.

According to the police report, two SUVs collided on Hylan Boulevard in Staten Island. One vehicle was making a left turn when it struck the other traveling straight ahead. The front passenger in the struck vehicle, a 49-year-old woman, was injured and suffered whiplash. She was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors for both drivers. Additionally, one driver disregarded traffic controls. The impact occurred at the right front bumper of the turning vehicle and the left front bumper of the other. No occupants were ejected. The collision highlights driver errors including failure to maintain attention and failure to obey traffic signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4662321 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Aug 20 - Two motorcycles collided on Hylan Boulevard. Both riders, 23 and 18, suffered bruises to their bodies. Unsafe lane change and illness played a role. Both stayed conscious. Helmets were worn.

According to the police report, two motorcycles collided on Hylan Boulevard in Staten Island. Both drivers, aged 23 and 18, were injured with full-body bruises. The report lists 'Illness' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors. One motorcycle was changing lanes when it struck the other, which was going straight. Both riders wore helmets. Neither was ejected. Both remained conscious after the crash. The collision damaged the right front quarter panel of one motorcycle and the right front bumper of the other.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4656509 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18