Still Counting Corpses: Who Will Make District 31 Streets Safe?

Two SUVs crashed head-on in the dark on Belt Parkway. Metal screamed. A young woman bled from her leg. A man bruised his knee. Both stayed conscious. The airbag burst. The night stayed cold. The road bore the cost.

Two sport utility vehicles collided head-on late at night on Belt Parkway in Queens. According to the police report, a 22-year-old woman driving a Jeep suffered severe bleeding to her leg. A 47-year-old man driving the other SUV sustained a knee contusion. Both drivers were conscious after the crash. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Both vehicles sustained heavy front-end damage. The police report describes the scene: 'Two SUVs met head-on in the dark. Metal tore. A 22-year-old woman, alone in her Jeep, bled from the leg. The airbag burst.' The cause remains unclear in the official record.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4552497 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A new crosswalk and four-way stop sign now stand at Surf Avenue and West 37th Street. Years of community pressure forced action. The intersection, deadly for seniors and pedestrians, finally gets protection. Council and DOT responded. Locals, especially elders, celebrate the change.

On July 26, 2022, Councilmember Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Transportation Chair, joined Councilmember Ari Kagan and DOT officials at Surf Avenue and West 37th Street. The matter: 'Surf Avenue gets new crosswalk and four-way stop sign, creating a safer intersection for seniors.' Kagan’s office led the push, with Brooks-Powers elevating the issue. Kagan said, 'It was one of the most dangerous intersections in Coney Island, not just for pedestrians but for drivers as well.' The crossing serves the Scheuer House senior facility. Community Board 13 and local groups demanded action. Brooks-Powers praised the advocacy: 'Now, your residents will be able to cross the street safely!' The intersection, once life-threatening, now offers basic protection for the city’s most vulnerable.

• Surf Avenue gets new crosswalk and four-way stop sign, creating a safer intersection for seniors, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-07-26

A woman, sixty, walked with traffic on Belt Parkway. A vehicle struck her head-on. She died by the shoulder. No crosswalk. No stop. The road stayed busy. She did not move again.

A 60-year-old woman was killed while walking along Belt Parkway. According to the police report, she was walking with traffic, not at an intersection, when a vehicle struck her head-on. She suffered crush injuries to her entire body and died at the scene. The report notes the point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle. The contributing factor is listed as 'Unspecified.' No crosswalk was present. The police report does not identify any driver errors or vehicle details. The victim’s actions and safety equipment are not cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4549579 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Two Queens council members want the city to scrap Jamaica’s busways. They say bus lanes hurt drivers and businesses. Riders say commutes barely improved. DOT stands firm. The fight pits car convenience against safer, faster transit for thousands.

On July 18, 2022, Council Members Nantasha Williams and Selvena Brooks-Powers opposed the city’s pilot busways on Archer and Jamaica avenues. The Department of Transportation (DOT) launched the one-year, 24/7 busway pilot to speed up commutes for over 250,000 daily bus riders. Williams called her district a 'car community' and argued, 'there's only one metric of success for the bus lane and not looking comprehensively at how it's actually impacting the community.' Brooks-Powers claimed, 'People cannot access our local businesses.' Both members urged the city to end or shorten the pilot, citing business and driver complaints. DOT and transit advocates countered that bus speeds improved. The DOT plans to continue the pilot and survey businesses and riders at its end. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Two Queens Pols Want City to Eliminate the Jamaica Busways, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-18

Two Queens council members want the city to scrap Jamaica’s busways. They say bus lanes hurt drivers and businesses. Riders say commutes barely improved. DOT stands firm. The fight pits car convenience against safer, faster transit for thousands.

On July 18, 2022, Council Members Nantasha Williams and Selvena Brooks-Powers opposed the city’s pilot busways on Archer and Jamaica avenues. The Department of Transportation (DOT) launched the one-year, 24/7 busway pilot to speed up commutes for over 250,000 daily bus riders. Williams called her district a 'car community' and argued, 'there's only one metric of success for the bus lane and not looking comprehensively at how it's actually impacting the community.' Brooks-Powers claimed, 'People cannot access our local businesses.' Both members urged the city to end or shorten the pilot, citing business and driver complaints. DOT and transit advocates countered that bus speeds improved. The DOT plans to continue the pilot and survey businesses and riders at its end. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Two Queens Pols Want City to Eliminate the Jamaica Busways, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-18

Two motorcycles tore down Beach Channel Drive. Both hit a sedan. Metal twisted. One rider, thrown, died on the street. Another ejected, hurt. The sedan driver had no license. Speed ruled the moment. Lives changed in seconds.

On Beach Channel Drive near Beach 45th Street in Queens, two motorcycles crashed into a sedan. According to the police report, both motorcycles were traveling at unsafe speed. The impact demolished both bikes. A 38-year-old man riding without a helmet was ejected and killed after his head struck the ground. Another motorcyclist, age 33, was also ejected and suffered internal injuries. The sedan driver, a 52-year-old man, was injured and complained of pain. The police report notes the sedan driver was unlicensed. The only contributing factor listed is 'Unsafe Speed.' The absence of a helmet is noted for the rider who died, but the primary cause remains unsafe speed and the presence of an unlicensed driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4546808 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A Nissan sedan sped east on South Conduit Avenue. Metal twisted. The car slammed and crumpled. In the back, a man lost his arm. Two others hurt. The wreck lay still. Unsafe speed left blood and ruin.

A 2007 Nissan sedan, traveling east on South Conduit Avenue near 150th Street in Queens, crashed at high speed. According to the police report, the car was 'speeding east, slammed hard. Metal twisted.' Three people were inside. The right rear passenger, a 31-year-old man, suffered a traumatic arm amputation and remained conscious. The driver, age 22, and the front passenger, also 31, both sustained neck injuries and reported pain. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The vehicle was demolished. No other vehicles or road users were involved. The crash left one man maimed and two others injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4545234 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Transit groups and Queens leaders urge the MTA to fix its bus redesign. They want faster service, all-door boarding, and better outreach. They demand equity and safer conditions for drivers. The MTA has not answered. Riders wait. Danger lingers.

On June 29, 2022, a coalition of transit advocacy groups and Queens officials sent a letter to the MTA regarding the proposed Queens bus redesign. The matter, titled 'Transit Advocates to MTA: Queens Bus Redesign Needs Some Key Tweaks,' calls for five improvements: more frequent service, all-door boarding, better driver conditions, multilingual outreach, and equity transparency. Borough President Donovan Richards and groups like Riders Alliance, Straphangers Campaign, and Transportation Alternatives led the push. Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance said, 'We are trying to be responsible by saying the bus design simply needs some improvements.' Advocates stress that redesigns must reduce racial inequity and expand access for marginalized communities. The MTA has not yet responded to these urgent demands.

• Transit Advocates to MTA: Queens Bus Redesign Needs Some Key Tweaks, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-29

City leaders struck a budget deal. $53 million goes to the Streets Master Plan—far less than the Council wanted. Advocates call it a step, not a leap. The mayor and speaker skipped safety talk. Streets still wait for real protection.

On June 13, 2022, the City Council and Mayor Adams reached a budget agreement, allocating $53 million in operating funds for the Department of Transportation for the fiscal year starting July 1. This is a down payment on the mayor's promised $904 million for the Streets Master Plan, but falls short of the Council's $3.1 billion ask to double the plan's targets. The plan mandates 250 miles of protected bike lanes, 150 miles of dedicated bus lanes, and new public plazas. The official matter summary notes, 'the agreement provided far less for street safety projects than the Council originally sought.' Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Mayor Adams announced the deal, but neither mentioned street safety in their press conference. Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, did not comment. Advocates praised the funding as a significant step, but stressed the need for strong implementation to protect vulnerable road users.

• THE HANDSHAKE: Budget Deal Seals Big Funding for Safety … But Much Less Than the Council Sought, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-13

Council passed Albany’s speed camera expansion. Cameras now run all day, every day. Seven members opposed. Supporters cited lives lost when cameras slept. Opponents called it a tax. The vote followed a deadly year. Danger stalks city streets, especially near schools.

On May 26, 2022, the New York City Council voted 43-7 to approve Albany’s extension and expansion of the city’s speed camera program. The measure, handled by the Transportation Committee, allows speed cameras to operate 24/7. The matter summary: 'The City Council approved Albany's extension and expansion of New York's speed camera program, allowing cameras to operate 24/7, but not before several council members voiced opposition.' Chairwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers urged action, saying, 'We must use all the tools at our disposal.' Council Members Joan Ariola, Vickie Paladino, and David Carr opposed, calling cameras a financial burden. Eric Dinowitz defended the program: 'If you don't want a speeding ticket, don't speed.' The vote came after a year of high road deaths, with special risk near schools.

• Amid Epic Crisis of Road Deaths, Some Members of the City Council Still Oppose Speed Cameras, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-26

Council members clash over speed camera expansion. Some demand revenue for local safety fixes. Others fear 24/7 cameras target Black and brown neighborhoods. Lives hang in the balance. The fight is not just in Albany. It’s here, on city streets.

Bill SB5602, now under City Council debate, would expand speed camera hours and stiffen penalties. The Council’s support for a required home rule message remains uncertain. The measure’s summary: 'Mayor Adams seeks Albany's approval to reauthorize NYC's speed camera program.' Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers backs home rule and cameras but questions where the money goes: 'Does DOT receive back any revenue?' Council Member Charles Barron supports cameras near schools but is noncommittal on home rule, noting, 'We have some of the highest fatalities and accidents, yet we don't see the highest amount of resources.' Speaker Adrienne Adams has voiced skepticism, calling cameras a way to 'nickel and dime' New Yorkers. Assembly Member Khaleel Anderson warns 24/7 cameras could hit Black and brown communities hardest. Assembly Member Dick Gottfried supports cameras and home rule, but many lawmakers hesitate. Advocates urge using revenue for street redesigns in underinvested areas. The debate exposes deep divides over equity, enforcement, and the city’s duty to protect its most vulnerable.

• Not Just Albany: Council Members Also Wary on Speed Cameras … Unless Mayor Allocates Money to their Districts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-16

NYPD claimed bike lane enforcement soared. Data showed the opposite. Tickets for blocking bike lanes fell. Truck violations dropped. Council pressed for answers. NYPD dodged specifics. Vulnerable road users left exposed. Accountability missing. The numbers do not lie.

On May 11, 2022, the City Council's Transportation Committee, chaired by Selvena Brooks-Powers, held an oversight hearing on NYPD traffic enforcement. NYPD Transportation Bureau Chief Kim Royster testified, stating, "So far this year, bike lane enforcement is up 148 percent." Streetsblog fact-checked this claim and found enforcement was actually down 6.4 percent from the previous year. Royster later clarified she referred only to tickets for driving in bike lanes, a small slice of total enforcement. Combined, bike lane enforcement was still down over 4 percent. Brooks-Powers questioned enforcement against illegally parked tractor-trailers. Royster cited fine amounts but gave no enforcement numbers. Data showed code 78 and code 6 violations both dropped sharply. Royster's answers were vague, lacking specifics on enforcement or safety. The hearing exposed a gap between NYPD claims and reality, leaving vulnerable road users at risk.

• CYCLE OF RAGE: On Hearing Day, Fact-Checking the NYPD is Job One, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-11

Mayor Adams launched a $4-million Vision Zero ad blitz. Critics slammed it. They say billboards don’t save lives. Streets need redesign, not slogans. Council Member Brooks-Powers called for real infrastructure. Studies show education campaigns can backfire. DOT offered no proof this works.

On May 3, 2022, Mayor Adams announced a $4-million public education campaign called 'Speeding Ruins Lives, Slow Down.' The effort, not tied to a council bill, was revealed as city policy. The campaign aims to cut traffic violence through billboards and media buys. The official summary states it targets driver behavior. Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, acknowledged the need for infrastructure investments over media campaigns. Jessie Singer, journalist and author, called the campaign a waste, arguing the city should focus on redesigning intersections. A recent study found similar efforts in Texas increased crash risk. The Department of Transportation could not provide evidence of effectiveness. Advocates agree education matters, but stress that engineering and infrastructure are more crucial for safety.

• City Launches a New Vision Zero Billboard Campaign — With Little Proof that Such Things Work, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-03

Council members demand bike education in every school. Few students get lessons now. The Department of Education drags its feet. Advocates want more: protected lanes, safe routes. Drivers hold the real power. Kids need more than lessons. They need safe streets.

On April 29, 2022, Council Members Erik Bottcher, Rita Joseph, and Selvena Brooks-Powers introduced a resolution urging the Department of Education to teach bicycle safety in all New York City public schools. The resolution states: 'Providing instruction in bicycle and traffic safety in schools, starting at an early age and continuing throughout students' years in school, would be an effective measure to both promote cycling and prevent bicycle accidents and other safety incidents.' Bottcher criticized the Department of Education for failing to follow the law, noting only a handful of schools offer bike lessons. Bottcher said, 'We want to see that program enlarged significantly.' Advocates support the push but warn that education alone is not enough. Julie Huntington stressed, 'This announcement must come with an investment in building protected bike lanes and safe routes to school to keep our new riders safe.' Bottcher put the responsibility on drivers: 'Drivers are in the vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds... if they hit someone with their car, it’s very likely they could take their life.' The council’s action highlights a gap between policy and real safety for children on city streets.

• Pols Want Every Kid in NYC to Learn How to Ride a Bike, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-29

Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers racked up 17 school zone speeding tickets in 11 months. Her car has 22 violations since 2020, plus a red light ticket. She admits fault. Southeast Queens, her district, faces high rates of pedestrian death.

Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the NYC Council's Transportation Committee, received 17 school zone speeding tickets in 11 months, totaling 22 since May 2020, plus one red light violation. The violations occurred in Southeast Queens, an area with high pedestrian and motorist injury rates. Under the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program, Brooks-Powers must take a safety course or risk her car being impounded. She admitted responsibility, expressed remorse, and pledged to improve her driving, stating, 'I absolutely pledge to do better as public safety is very important to me.' All tickets have been paid, so her car has not been towed. The article notes that camera-issued tickets do not affect a driver's license. Brooks-Powers has advocated for pedestrian safety and bus accessibility, but her driving record highlights the ongoing danger on streets not designed for safety, especially in communities of color.

• EXCLU: Council Transportation Chair’s Car Sped Through School Zones 17 Times in a Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-26

Council members and advocates rallied at City Hall. They demanded $3.1 billion for the Streets Master Plan. Traffic deaths surged 44 percent in early 2022. The mayor’s budget falls short. The city stalls. Streets remain deadly. The call: fund safety now.

On April 22, 2022, more than a dozen City Council members and advocates gathered at City Hall to demand full funding for the Streets Master Plan. The plan, passed in 2019, requires hundreds of miles of protected bike lanes, bus lanes, and safer sidewalks. Council Member Alexa Avilés led the call: "We want $3.1 billion, a little tiny fraction of the [nearly $100-billion] city budget, to make sure our streets belong to us, and to make sure New Yorkers are safe." Council Members Selvena Brooks-Powers, Carlina Rivera, Lincoln Restler, Sandy Nurse, Chi Ossé, Crystal Hudson, Shekar Krishnan, and Amanda Farías joined her. Traffic fatalities rose 44 percent in the first quarter of 2022, the deadliest start since Vision Zero began. The mayor’s proposed $98.5-billion budget did not allocate significant funds for the plan. Advocates say the city must act now to stem the bloodshed on its streets.

• Pols and Advocates to Mayor: Put More Money Into the Streets Master Plan, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-22

City will shift Q60 buses to a mainline lane on Queens Boulevard. New bus lanes, bike upgrades, and a linear park are coming. Officials say it will speed buses and protect walkers and cyclists. But construction lags. Riders and residents wait. Danger persists.

On April 22, 2022, the NYC Department of Transportation announced a plan to move Q60 buses from the service road to a dedicated mainline lane along Queens Boulevard, between Roosevelt Avenue and Union Turnpike. The project, under the 'Great Streets' program, is split into four phases, with construction for later phases delayed until at least 2024. The matter summary states: 'transform the currently barren median into a linear park to create a safe and easy way of traversing neighborhoods.' Queens Borough President Donovan Richards pledged $1 million to the first phase, stating, 'it really creates an unsafe scenario, especially for pedestrians and cyclists.' DOT spokesman Vin Barone said the redesign 'greatly improv[es] pedestrian safety while also drawing a huge number of new cyclists.' Laura Shepard of Transportation Alternatives called the delays 'unacceptable.' The plan includes upgraded bike lanes, bus stops, and bus-only lanes, but also adds curbside parking, which could increase congestion. Vulnerable road users remain at risk until the city acts.

• WAIT FOR IT: City To Move Buses To Dedicated Lane on Queens Boulevard — Eventually, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-22

Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers sped through school zones 17 times in 11 months. She racked up 22 speed violations and one red light ticket. Her district sees high rates of pedestrian deaths. She pledges to do better. Tickets paid. No license impact.

Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the NYC Council's Transportation Committee, was cited for speeding in school zones 17 times in less than a year. The violations occurred between May 2020 and April 2022. Brooks-Powers represents Southeast Queens, an area plagued by pedestrian and motorist fatalities. The matter surfaced in April 2022, with Brooks-Powers admitting responsibility for most tickets. She stated, 'public safety is very important to me,' and pledged to improve. Under the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program, she must complete a safety course or risk car impoundment. Her tickets have been paid, so her car was not towed. Camera tickets do not affect her license. Brooks-Powers says she is working with advocates to address traffic violence and congestion, but her record highlights the ongoing danger for vulnerable road users in her district.

• EXCLUSIVE: Council’s Transportation Chair’s Car Sped Through School Zones 17 Times in a Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-13

City Council pushes Mayor Adams for $3.1 billion more for the Streets Master Plan. They want double the protected lanes and more pedestrian space. Advocates cheer. The mayor reviews. The fight is over money, but the stakes are lives.

On April 4, 2022, the City Council called on Mayor Adams to add $3.1 billion to the Streets Master Plan. The plan, passed in 2019, aims for 250 protected bike lanes and 150 bus lanes. The Council wants to double these targets: 500 miles each of protected bike and bus lanes, plus 38 million square feet of new pedestrian plazas. Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers said the goal is 'to make our thoroughfares safer and more accessible, while increasing New York's pedestrian plazas footprint.' The Council’s proposal comes as the mayor’s $98.5-billion budget lacks dedicated funding for these safety upgrades. Advocates for bus and bike infrastructure support the Council’s push. The mayor says he is reviewing the proposal and remains committed to street safety and transit improvements.

• Council to Mayor: Put a Lot More Money into the Streets Master Plan!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-04

MTA unveils a new Queens bus plan. More routes, fewer stops. Faster trips promised. Community voices shape the draft. Officials urge more input, more funding. Advocates demand equity. The redesign aims to fix old mistakes and speed up service for all.

""So, yeah, I'm here as a salesperson to say, 'Let's get this done.' Of course, there's a lot more community input, but there's no such thing as a perfect plan and we should not let perfect be the enemy of good as well."" -- Donovan J. Richards

On March 30, 2022, the MTA released a second draft of its Queens bus network redesign. The plan, not tied to a bill number, is a policy proposal under review. It follows backlash to the 2019 draft and pandemic delays. The redesign boosts routes from 77 to 85, adds 20 new lines, and drops the revenue-neutral rule. Hundreds of stops will be cut to speed service. The MTA and NYC DOT picked 49 corridors for upgrades like bus lanes. The official summary states the plan 'incorporates feedback from over 11,000 customer comments and aims to address previous criticisms.' MTA Chair Janno Lieber said, 'We know we need to get it right this time.' Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and advocates like Riders Alliance back the effort but call for more equity and engagement. The plan’s impact on vulnerable road users is not yet assessed.

• Chastened MTA Tries to Redesign the Queens Bus Network, Again, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-30