Jamaica Hills Bleeds: Two Dead, Hundreds Hurt—When Will City Hall Wake Up?

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

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

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

Two sedans crashed on Grand Central Parkway. Both drivers blew past traffic controls. A 22-year-old driver and 18-year-old passenger took hits—whiplash, back, and head injuries. System failed. Signals ignored.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at 12:35 a.m. on Grand Central Parkway near Parsons Boulevard. Both drivers disregarded traffic controls, a key factor in the crash. The impact struck the right side doors of one sedan and the center front end of the other. A 22-year-old female driver suffered back injuries and whiplash. An 18-year-old female passenger took head injuries and whiplash. Driver inattention and inexperience were also cited as contributing factors. Both occupants were conscious and not ejected. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inexperience' as primary causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783458 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A motorcycle struck the right front bumper of an SUV making a left turn on Queens Boulevard. The motorcycle driver suffered a serious knee and lower leg fracture. Police cite driver inattention and inexperience as key factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:35 on Queens Boulevard in Queens. A motorcycle traveling southbound collided with the right front bumper of an SUV making a left turn northbound. The motorcycle driver, a 26-year-old male, sustained a fracture and dislocation to his knee and lower leg, classified as a severe injury. The report lists driver inattention and driver inexperience as contributing factors to the collision. The SUV was damaged on its right front bumper, while the motorcycle sustained damage to its center front end. The report does not indicate any contributing factors related to the motorcycle driver’s behavior or safety equipment. The incident highlights critical driver errors involving turning maneuvers and distraction in a busy Queens corridor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779984 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV and sedan crashed head-on on 85 Drive. The SUV driver, a 44-year-old woman, suffered neck injury and whiplash. Both cars took damage to right front bumpers. No pedestrians or cyclists involved.

According to the police report, a 2020 SUV and a 2022 sedan collided on 85 Drive in Queens. Both vehicles were traveling straight when they struck at the right front bumpers. The SUV driver, a 44-year-old woman, sustained neck injuries and whiplash but was not ejected and remained conscious. Both vehicles showed right front bumper damage. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the SUV driver, with no specific driver errors named. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved in the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778572 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan slammed a parked box truck in Queens. The 77-year-old driver suffered arm injuries. Police cite tire failure and inexperience. The truck was empty. Metal met metal. The driver bled.

According to the police report, a 77-year-old man driving a sedan struck a parked 2013 Ford box truck near 81-09 134 Street in Queens at 14:09. The sedan's right front quarter panel hit the truck's left rear bumper. The driver, alone in the car, suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. He was conscious and not ejected. The box truck was unoccupied and stationary. Police list 'Tire Failure/Inadequate' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. No victim actions contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777783 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided on Grand Central Parkway. The impact struck the left front bumper of one vehicle and the left rear bumper of the other. A 53-year-old female driver suffered a head contusion. Unsafe lane changing caused the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 13:49 on Grand Central Parkway involving two sedans traveling east. One driver, a 53-year-old female, was injured with a head contusion and remained conscious. The collision impacted the left front bumper of a Ford sedan and the left rear bumper of a Honda sedan. The report cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the primary contributing factor, specifically noting that one vehicle was changing lanes while the other was going straight ahead. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt and harness. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were listed. The crash highlights the dangers of improper lane changes on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774409 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan struck a 17-year-old crossing 85 Drive in Queens. The teen suffered bruises and leg injuries. The car hit him head-on. Shock followed. No driver errors listed. The street stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, a 17-year-old male pedestrian was crossing 85 Drive at an intersection in Queens when a northbound 2019 Honda sedan struck him at the center front end. The impact left the teen with contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and he was in shock. The report lists no driver errors or violations. The pedestrian’s action is described as 'Crossing, No Signal, or Crosswalk.' Both contributing factors are marked 'Unspecified.' No safety equipment was reported. Vehicle damage was limited to the center front end.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772824 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Four sedans collided in Queens. A child in the back seat suffered head injuries and whiplash. Police cite driver inattention and unsafe speed. Impact struck center rear and front ends. The child was conscious, not ejected.

According to the police report, four sedans traveling southbound on 82-25 135th Street in Queens crashed in a chain-reaction collision. A child passenger in the right rear seat was injured, suffering head trauma and whiplash. The child was restrained and not ejected. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The impact hit the center front and rear ends of the vehicles, showing a rear-end chain collision. No actions by the injured passenger contributed to the crash. The report highlights driver errors as the cause of the collision and injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773357 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans and an SUV collided on Grand Central Parkway. The 60-year-old female driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited following too closely as the primary cause. The impact left vehicles damaged and one occupant in shock.

According to the police report, a chain-reaction collision occurred on Grand Central Parkway involving two sedans and one SUV, all traveling westbound. The 60-year-old female driver of one sedan was injured, sustaining neck injuries and whiplash, and was reported to be in shock. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the crash, specifically noting this driver error twice. The vehicles collided with center front and center back impacts, indicating rear-end collisions consistent with tailgating. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected from the vehicle. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The crash highlights the dangers of close following distances on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772551 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Councilmember Nily Rozic joined Republicans and business owners to denounce the $9 Manhattan congestion toll. Critics say the fee will batter neighborhoods already scarred by empty storefronts. The MTA board votes soon. The city’s most vulnerable remain at risk in traffic.

On November 17, 2024, Councilmember Nily Rozic (District 25) spoke out during a heated debate over New York’s new congestion pricing policy. The MTA board is set to vote on the $9 toll to enter Manhattan’s business district, effective January 5. The matter, described as 'NYC congestion toll would hit neighborhoods with some of worst vacancy rates in city,' has drawn fire from both Republicans and Democrats. Rozic said, 'Affordability is really the most important thing that voters, that constituents, that people on the street, talk to us about... keep the pause.' Opponents argue the toll will worsen economic pain in areas with high storefront vacancy. Despite the uproar, the policy’s impact on pedestrian and cyclist safety remains unaddressed in this debate. Vulnerable road users are left out of the political crossfire.

• NYC congestion toll would hit neighborhoods with some of worst vacancy rates in city — as GOP issues warning to Dems, nypost.com, Published 2024-11-17

Council demands DOT show its work. The law forces public updates on every street safety project. No more hiding delays. No more silent cost overruns. Progress for bus riders, cyclists, and walkers must be tracked and posted.

Int 1105-2024 became law on May 10, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to post annual and monthly updates on all projects tied to the streets master plan. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' It forces transparency on protected bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and upgrades. The public will see delays, costs, and status. No more secrets. The mayor returned it unsigned, but the law stands.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

A northbound sedan driver suffered back injuries and whiplash in a rear-end crash on Van Wyck Expressway. Both vehicles were traveling straight when impact struck the center back end of the lead car. The driver was conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:30 AM on Van Wyck Expressway involving two sedans traveling northbound. The lead vehicle, a 2002 BMW sedan, was struck in the center back end by a 2023 Toyota sedan. The driver of the BMW, a 49-year-old male occupant, was injured with back pain and whiplash but was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The report lists no specific contributing factors but notes the impact point and vehicle damage consistent with a rear-end collision. The absence of other contributing factors suggests driver error related to maintaining safe following distance or attention. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771691 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A speeding SUV failed to yield right-of-way, striking a 19-year-old pedestrian at an intersection in Queens. Both pedestrian and driver suffered lower leg injuries. The driver’s view was obstructed, compounding the crash’s impact and injury severity.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:08 on 150 Street in Queens. A 27-year-old male driver of a 2013 SUV was traveling south, going straight ahead, when he struck a 19-year-old male pedestrian who was getting on or off a vehicle at the intersection. The report cites the driver’s contributing factors as "Unsafe Speed" and "View Obstructed/Limited," while the pedestrian’s contributing factor was "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." The collision caused injuries to both parties, specifically to their knees, lower legs, and feet. The driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness and sustained abrasions, while the pedestrian suffered contusions. The impact point was the SUV’s center front end, damaging the right front bumper. The crash highlights driver errors, including speeding and failure to yield, as central to the incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770571 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 26-year-old male driver was injured in a solo crash on Grand Central Parkway. The sedan struck an object front-center, causing knee and lower leg fractures. The driver was conscious and restrained, with airbags deployed. Driver errors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old male driver was involved in a single-vehicle crash on Grand Central Parkway at 7:53 p.m. The vehicle, a 2018 Mercedes sedan traveling west, impacted an object with its center front end. The driver sustained fractures and dislocations to the knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The airbags deployed and the driver was restrained by a lap belt. The report lists the contributing factors as unspecified, offering no clear driver error such as failure to yield or speeding. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The focus remains on the driver’s injury and vehicle damage, with no indication of victim fault or additional contributing behaviors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4771118 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 27-year-old motorcyclist suffered a fractured elbow and dislocation after a collision on Grand Central Parkway. The crash involved improper passing and unsafe lane changing by another vehicle. The rider was helmeted and conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:00 PM on Grand Central Parkway. A motorcycle traveling westbound was struck in the left front quarter panel by another vehicle changing lanes improperly. The report cites 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors by the other driver. The motorcyclist, a 27-year-old male wearing a helmet, was injured with a fractured and dislocated elbow but was not ejected and remained conscious. The collision point was the right rear quarter panel of the lane-changing vehicle and the center front end of the motorcycle. The report highlights driver errors in lane usage as the cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the motorcyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773484 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a left turn went wrong on Cedarcroft Road. The vehicle struck an object or surface on its left side doors. The crash occurred in Queens at 1:25 a.m., highlighting driver error and unsafe speed.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 1:25 a.m. on Cedarcroft Road in Queens. The sedan, traveling west, was making a left turn when the driver turned improperly, causing impact to the vehicle's left side doors. The driver, a 35-year-old male occupant wearing a lap belt, sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors to the crash. The driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. Vehicle damage was concentrated on the left side doors, confirming the point of impact. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved or injured according to the data. The crash underscores the dangers of improper turning maneuvers combined with unsafe speed on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765252 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan struck a 28-year-old man on a bike at 164 Place. The cyclist suffered head wounds and minor bleeding. He was in shock but stayed on his bike. Both moved straight before the crash. No driver errors listed.

According to the police report, a sedan and a bicycle collided just after midnight on 164 Place in Queens. The 28-year-old male bicyclist suffered head injuries and minor bleeding. He was in shock but was not ejected from his bike. Both the sedan and the bicycle were traveling straight before the impact, which struck the bicycle's left front bumper. The report does not cite any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No contributing factors were listed for either party. The police report details the crash and injuries but does not assign blame to the bicyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763220 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan making a left turn struck a 65-year-old man crossing 84 Drive in Queens. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries with minor bleeding. Limited driver visibility contributed to the collision, leaving the victim in shock at the scene.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west on 84 Drive in Queens was making a left turn when it struck a 65-year-old male pedestrian crossing the intersection. The pedestrian was injured in the knee, lower leg, and foot, sustaining minor bleeding and was reported to be in shock. The report cites 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating the driver failed to see the pedestrian in time to avoid impact. The vehicle showed no damage despite the collision. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk, but the police report highlights driver visibility limitations as the primary cause. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally at the time.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761924 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04