Steel Wins, Kids Lose—Lower the Limit Now

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

Two sedans collided on Bronx Blvd near E 233 St, injuring three occupants. The impact struck the right front bumper and quarter panel. All injured were vehicle occupants, including two children, suffering shock and body injuries.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 23:46 on Bronx Blvd near E 233 St. A 2021 sedan traveling north went straight ahead and was struck on its right front bumper by a 2020 sedan making a left turn, which impacted its right front quarter panel. The collision injured three occupants: a 41-year-old female driver with knee and lower leg injuries, a 9-year-old female passenger, and a 7-year-old male passenger, both with injuries to their entire bodies and in shock. All occupants were not ejected. The report lists the contributing factors as unspecified, providing no direct attribution to driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The crash highlights the dangers at intersections involving turning vehicles and through traffic, with injuries concentrated among vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781596 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan making a left turn struck a 57-year-old pedestrian crossing with the signal in the Bronx. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries and a concussion. Driver inattention caused the collision at a busy intersection on White Plains Road.

According to the police report, a 57-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing with the signal at an intersection on White Plains Road in the Bronx. The collision occurred at 7:30 PM when a 2017 Honda sedan, traveling south and making a left turn, struck the pedestrian with its left front bumper. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor twice, highlighting the driver's failure to notice the pedestrian. The pedestrian sustained injuries to the knee, lower leg, foot, and suffered a concussion but remained conscious. The vehicle sustained no damage. This crash underscores the dangers posed by distracted driving, especially at intersections where pedestrians have the right of way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780692 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV swung a U-turn on Nereid Avenue. Smashed into a westbound sedan. Two inside the sedan hurt. One with back trauma. One with abrasions. Failure to yield and bad turn caused the crash.

According to the police report, a Hyundai SUV making a U-turn struck an Acura sedan traveling west on Nereid Avenue in the Bronx at 11:05 AM. The sedan's driver, a 31-year-old woman, suffered abrasions to her arm and hand. Her 38-year-old male front passenger sustained internal back injuries. Both were conscious and not ejected. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. No victim behavior or safety equipment is cited as a cause. The crash left both sedan occupants injured after the SUV's improper maneuver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776253 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV making a left turn hit a westbound sedan on Bruner Avenue. Woman driver suffered abdominal and pelvic injuries. Police cited failure to yield and unsafe speed. Streets scarred. No ejections.

According to the police report, an SUV making a left turn on Bruner Avenue in the Bronx struck a westbound sedan at 10:57 a.m. The SUV's front end hit the sedan's right front quarter panel. The 45-year-old woman driving the SUV was injured in the abdomen and pelvis and complained of whiplash. She was conscious and wore a lap belt and harness. Police listed failure to yield right-of-way and unsafe speed as contributing factors. The SUV's left front bumper and the sedan's right side doors were damaged. No one was ejected. The crash left one driver hurt and exposed the danger of left turns at speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774155 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Bronx crash. SUV driver, 31, struck. Face injured. Pain, shock, nausea. Police cite distraction and inexperience. Impact mangled bumpers. Night, Mundy Lane. System failed to protect.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old woman driving a 2021 Chevrolet SUV was injured near 4517 Mundy Lane in the Bronx at 21:27. She suffered facial injuries, pain, and shock. The SUV was traveling northwest when the crash occurred, damaging both left and right front bumpers. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The driver held a New York learner's permit. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774154 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 65-year-old e-bike rider was ejected and badly hurt after a crash with a pick-up truck on East 241st Street. Police cite traffic control disregard and driver inattention as causes. The rider suffered leg and foot fractures.

According to the police report, a 65-year-old male e-bike driver was ejected and seriously injured in a collision with a pick-up truck on East 241st Street in the Bronx at 3:14 PM. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. Both drivers were unlicensed. The e-bike rider suffered fractures and dislocations to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The impact struck the right side doors of the e-bike, causing center back end damage. The victim remained conscious at the scene. No victim behaviors or helmet use were listed as contributing factors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776559 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided on E 233 St in the Bronx. One driver suffered a fractured elbow and lower arm. Police cite failure to yield right-of-way as the cause. The injured driver was restrained and conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:12 on E 233 St near Paulding Ave in the Bronx. Two sedans traveling west collided when one vehicle was starting from parking and the other was going straight ahead. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the vehicle starting from parking. The report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error. The injured party was a 48-year-old male driver who suffered a fracture and dislocation to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. He was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. No ejection occurred, and the other vehicle showed no damage. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774151 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Sedan and pick-up truck collided on Paulding Avenue. An 81-year-old front passenger suffered arm and shoulder injuries. Police cite traffic control disregard and slippery pavement. Shock followed. System failed to protect.

According to the police report, a sedan and a pick-up truck crashed on Paulding Avenue in the Bronx. The front passenger, an 81-year-old woman, sustained upper arm and shoulder injuries and was in shock. She was not ejected and wore a lap belt. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as driver errors. 'Pavement Slippery' was also cited twice, highlighting hazardous road conditions. The sedan was damaged at the center front end, and the pick-up truck at the left rear quarter panel. The report details driver failures and environmental hazards, with no blame placed on the injured passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770229 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 19-year-old female e-scooter driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries after an SUV disregarded traffic control and collided with her. The crash happened on E 231 St near Bronxwood Ave. The SUV driver was making a right turn when impact occurred.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on E 231 St near Bronxwood Ave in the Bronx at 9:55 AM involving a 2018 Ford SUV and a female e-scooter driver. The e-scooter rider, age 19, sustained abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and not ejected. The report cites the SUV driver's errors as 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The SUV was making a right turn when it struck the e-scooter on the left front bumper, damaging the SUV's right side doors. The e-scooter was traveling north, going straight ahead. No contributing factors related to the victim were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768419 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Gov. Hochul may slash the $68.4-billion MTA capital plan. Transit advocates rage. Riders face crumbling subways, broken promises. The governor holds the knife. The future of safe, reliable transit hangs in the balance. The buck stops with her.

On September 30, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul announced she might not fill a $33-billion gap in the proposed 2025-2029 MTA capital plan, threatening to shrink the $68.4-billion package approved by the MTA Board. The plan now awaits review by the Capital Plan Review Board, which has 90 days to approve or reject it. The matter centers on whether the governor will force cuts to desperately needed repairs and upgrades. Advocates like Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance demand Hochul fund 'the reliable, accessible, resilient service we've long been denied but that we need and deserve.' Rachael Fauss of Reinvent Albany calls out Hochul’s record, urging her to cut her own Interborough Express project first if reductions come. The MTA declined comment. The fate of New York’s transit—and the safety of millions who rely on it—rests on this decision.

• Derailed? Gov. Hochul May Rip Up MTA Capital Plan, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-30

Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

A northbound SUV struck a westbound vehicle backing on White Plains Road in the Bronx. The SUV driver, impaired by alcohol and distracted, suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The collision damaged both vehicles’ front bumpers and quarter panels.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 4:03 AM on White Plains Road in the Bronx. A northbound SUV driven by a 54-year-old male collided with a westbound vehicle that was backing. The SUV driver was injured, sustaining contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors for the SUV driver. The SUV’s left front bumper and the other vehicle’s right front quarter panel were damaged. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles legally. The data highlights the SUV driver’s impaired state and distraction as the primary causes of the crash, with no contributing factors attributed to the other vehicle or its occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758209 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A two-year-old boy suffered head contusions after being struck at an intersection in the Bronx. The SUV driver was traveling straight eastbound and hit the child with the vehicle's right front bumper. The child was conscious but seriously injured.

According to the police report, a two-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Nereid Avenue and Murdock Avenue in the Bronx at 12:31 PM. The child was struck by a 2017 Cadillac SUV traveling eastbound, which made contact with the pedestrian using its right front bumper. The pedestrian sustained head injuries classified as contusions and bruises and was conscious at the scene. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian but does not identify any driver errors such as Failure to Yield or Reckless Driving. The vehicle showed no damage, indicating a low-speed impact. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were cited by the police report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754460 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 28-year-old man crossing East 241 Street was struck by a westbound sedan making a left turn. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries. Police cite driver inattention and glare as key factors in the collision.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing East 241 Street at an intersection with Furman Avenue in the Bronx. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk when a westbound 2012 Honda sedan, making a left turn, struck him with its left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report identifies driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with glare impairing visibility. The vehicle sustained no damage. The driver was licensed in New York and was the sole occupant. The report does not list any pedestrian errors or safety equipment as contributing factors, focusing instead on the driver's failure to maintain attention under challenging visual conditions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750823 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A northbound SUV struck a southbound bus on East 241 Street in the Bronx. The SUV driver suffered back injuries and shock. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way and other vehicular factors as causes. Twelve bus occupants were unharmed.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:40 AM on East 241 Street near Katonah Avenue in the Bronx. A 2014 Honda SUV traveling northwest collided with a southbound bus. The point of impact was the right side doors of the SUV and the center front end of the bus. The SUV driver, a 40-year-old woman, was injured with back pain and shock but was not ejected and was wearing a lap belt. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors, indicating driver error on the SUV operator's part. The bus carried 12 occupants who were not reported injured. The collision caused damage to the SUV's right front quarter panel and the bus's right front bumper.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4760718 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A motorcycle struck the right front bumper of an SUV on East 241 Street in the Bronx. The motorcyclist, wearing a helmet, suffered an elbow and lower arm injury. Limited visibility contributed to the collision, highlighting driver sightline issues.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:40 p.m. on East 241 Street near Bronx Boulevard. A motorcycle traveling north collided with the right front bumper of an SUV traveling west. The motorcyclist, a 49-year-old male driver, was wearing a helmet and sustained injuries to his elbow and lower arm, classified as injury severity 3. The report cites 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor for both vehicles, indicating impaired visibility played a significant role in the crash. The motorcyclist's contributing factors also include 'Other Vehicular,' suggesting complex vehicle interactions. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead with no reported damage to the vehicle. The collision underscores systemic dangers related to obstructed sightlines at this Bronx location.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749883 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An e-scooter driver made an improper right turn and collided with a westbound sedan on Bruner Avenue in the Bronx. Both e-scooter occupants, including an 8-year-old passenger ejected from the vehicle, suffered injuries. The sedan driver was unharmed.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:30 on Bruner Avenue in the Bronx. The e-scooter, carrying two occupants, was making a right turn when it collided with a westbound sedan that was slowing or stopping. The e-scooter driver, a 13-year-old male, was cited for 'Turning Improperly' and 'Unsafe Speed.' Both e-scooter occupants were ejected; the passenger, an 8-year-old female, sustained abrasions to the face, while the driver suffered internal injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The sedan, driven by a licensed female driver, sustained damage to its left side doors and left front quarter panel but the driver was not injured. The report highlights driver errors on the e-scooter, specifically improper turning and unsafe speed, as contributing factors. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749123 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15