Steel Wins, Kids Lose—Lower the Limit Now

Two SUVs crashed on Wilder Avenue in the Bronx. Both drivers suffered back injuries. Police cite failure to yield and unsafe speed. Metal twisted. Pain followed. System failed the people inside.

Two station wagons, both SUVs, collided on Wilder Avenue near Cranford Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, both drivers, men aged 53 and 67, were injured with back and internal injuries. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for both vehicles. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left both vehicles damaged and two men hurt. The system allowed speed and failure to yield to meet at impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805353 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

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

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

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

After a hit-and-run injured a child, Bronx lawmakers called for speed humps and stop signs. They refused proven fixes like road diets and daylighting. Council Member Dinowitz claimed streets are too narrow for lane removal. DOT denied their request, citing low crash data.

On March 10, 2025, Council Member Eric Dinowitz and Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz pressed the city for speed humps and four-way stop signs in Riverdale, following a hit-and-run that injured a 9-year-old girl. Their request, sent to the Department of Transportation before the crash, was denied due to low car volumes and insufficient crash history. The lawmakers, at a press conference, supported speed humps and stop signs but opposed road diets and universal daylighting. Eric Dinowitz argued, 'If you walked down any of these streets, they are far too narrow to narrow any more.' He also rejected citywide daylighting, insisting, 'Daylighting has to be done corner by corner.' The council member has criticized DOT’s safety efforts before, framing the agency as unresponsive. No safety analyst assessment was provided for this action.

• Riverdale Pols Push for Some Street Safety, But Balk at More Serious Interventions, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-10

After a hit-and-run injured a child, Bronx lawmakers called for speed humps and stop signs. They refused proven fixes like road diets and daylighting. Council Member Dinowitz claimed streets are too narrow for lane removal. DOT denied their request, citing low crash data.

On March 10, 2025, Council Member Eric Dinowitz and Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz pressed the city for speed humps and four-way stop signs in Riverdale, following a hit-and-run that injured a 9-year-old girl. Their request, sent to the Department of Transportation before the crash, was denied due to low car volumes and insufficient crash history. The lawmakers, at a press conference, supported speed humps and stop signs but opposed road diets and universal daylighting. Eric Dinowitz argued, 'If you walked down any of these streets, they are far too narrow to narrow any more.' He also rejected citywide daylighting, insisting, 'Daylighting has to be done corner by corner.' The council member has criticized DOT’s safety efforts before, framing the agency as unresponsive. No safety analyst assessment was provided for this action.

• Riverdale Pols Push for Some Street Safety, But Balk at More Serious Interventions, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-10

Lawmakers push for cameras to ticket double parkers. Streets choke with blocked bike lanes and chaos. Manual enforcement fails. DOT backs automation. Some lawmakers resist, call for cops. Vulnerable road users left dodging danger as debate drags.

On March 3, 2025, a legislative proposal surfaced to deploy automated parking enforcement cameras across New York City. Assemblymember Steven Raga leads the push for a $35 million pilot, aiming to install 150 cameras targeting double parking and illegal stops. The bill, not yet assigned a committee or number, seeks to automate enforcement where manual efforts fall short. Raga writes, 'manual enforcement has not been able to meet the demand to combat double parking and illegal parking.' State Senator Simcha Felder of District 44 opposes the measure, arguing for traditional police summonses instead. The Department of Transportation supports the expansion, stating, 'Automated enforcement has proven to change driver behavior and make our streets safer for everyone.' The debate centers on whether automation or police presence best protects pedestrians and cyclists from blocked lanes and traffic hazards.

• New push for automated ticketing of drivers who double park in NYC, gothamist.com, Published 2025-03-03

A moped slammed into a minivan in Soundview. Two teens thrown. One died. The other survived. The driver stayed. Police probe who had the right of way. Another young life lost on Bronx streets.

Gothamist (2025-02-25) reports a fatal crash at Metcalf Avenue and East 172nd Street in the Bronx. A 17-year-old, Juan Alexander Quizhpi Naranjo, drove a moped with a 14-year-old passenger when they collided with a Honda Odyssey. Both were thrown from the moped. Quizhpi Naranjo died at Jacobi Hospital; the girl survived. The minivan driver, 42, remained at the scene and faced no charges. NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is still determining 'who had the right of way and whether a traffic violation played a role.' This marks the second traffic death this year in the 43rd Precinct, highlighting ongoing dangers for young road users.

• Bronx Teen Killed In Moped-Minivan Crash, Gothamist, Published 2025-02-25

Trump killed congestion pricing. Subway riders fumed. The city lost billions for transit. Streets will clog again. Danger rises for those on foot and bike. Riders called the move insane. Politicians slammed the decision. The city’s lifeline is at risk.

On February 19, 2025, President Trump ended New York City’s congestion pricing program, just weeks after it began. The federal action canceled the $9 toll meant to fund the MTA’s capital plan, threatening $16 billion for transit upgrades. The matter drew sharp words: Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, 'The president and the Republican members of New York's congressional delegation ... just blew a $16-billion hole in the most important transit system in the nation.' Subway riders at Canal Street called the move 'insane' and accused Trump of ignoring New Yorkers. Advocates and everyday riders warned that ending congestion pricing would slow commutes, worsen traffic, and put vulnerable road users at greater risk. The city’s future now hangs in the balance, with transit funding gutted and streets set to fill with cars again.

• NYC Subway Riders to Trump: Drop Dead, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-19

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

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13