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 7 - 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 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Albany lawmakers shut down a last-ditch MTA funding plan after Governor Hochul paused congestion pricing. No replacement for the lost $1 billion. Transit riders and street users face uncertainty. Lawmakers call the move reckless. The city waits. Danger lingers.

On June 7, 2024, the New York State legislative session ended without passing a replacement funding plan for the MTA after Governor Kathy Hochul paused congestion pricing. The matter, described as 'Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing,' left the MTA without the $1 billion annual revenue congestion pricing would have provided. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced the session’s close without a deal. Lawmakers including State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, State Sen. John Liu, Assemblyman Harvey Epstein, and Assemblyman Tony Simone criticized the governor’s decision and the proposed IOU bailout. Gounardes said, 'I cannot in good conscience ratify a decision that will eliminate a significant, dedicated revenue source for the MTA’s capital plan.' The pause leaves the city’s transit future—and the safety of those who rely on it—uncertain.

• Albany pumps the brakes on MTA funding plan in rebuke of Hochul’s move to ditch congestion pricing, nypost.com, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 7 - Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Jun 6 - Top city officials broke ranks with Mayor Adams. They demanded congestion pricing after Governor Hochul’s sudden halt. MTA board members, planners, and transit chiefs warned of lost funding and stalled projects. They called the suspension a blow to transit and public safety.

On June 6, 2024, New York City officials issued strong statements supporting congestion pricing after Governor Hochul suspended the plan. The matter, titled 'City Officials Demand Congestion Pricing Despite Eric Adams’s Deference to Hochul,' saw Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi, MTA board member Midori Valdivia, City Planning Chair Dan Garodnick, DOT Chief of Staff Ryan Lynch, and public space czar Ya-Ting Liu all speak out. Valdivia warned, 'today it was announced, without MTA Board consultation, the cancellation of projects such as the Second Avenue Subway Phase II, our accessibility program... and a fully zero-emission bus fleet.' Joshi declared, 'It needs to happen now.' Garodnick cited a 'significant hole' in the MTA budget. Liu called congestion pricing 'the only policy' for transit and traffic. The New York City Independent Budget Office also warned of economic harm and delayed improvements. Mayor Adams, once a supporter, deferred to the governor, leaving vulnerable road users without promised transit upgrades.

• City Officials Demand Congestion Pricing Despite Eric Adams’s Deference to Hochul, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-06

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 5 - SUV struck sedan’s rear on Grand Central Parkway. Sedan driver suffered neck injury and whiplash. Police cite driver inattention. Both vehicles moved east. Impact was forceful, sudden, and avoidable.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV rear-ended a Toyota sedan on Grand Central Parkway at noon. Both vehicles traveled eastbound when the SUV hit the sedan’s center back end. The sedan’s 39-year-old male driver was injured, suffering neck trauma and whiplash. He was conscious and not ejected. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the cause, pointing to a lapse by the SUV driver. No contributing factors are listed for the sedan driver. The crash highlights the danger of driver distraction on high-speed city roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731736 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 3 - Taxi struck a man crossing Grand Central Parkway. The impact left him with head wounds and bruises. He stayed conscious. No driver errors listed. The street became a danger zone.

According to the police report, a male pedestrian was injured when a 2021 Toyota taxi, traveling east, struck him with its left front bumper on Grand Central Parkway at 1:43 a.m. The pedestrian was crossing outside any crosswalk or signal. He suffered head injuries and bruises but remained conscious. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors, marking them as "Unspecified." The taxi driver was licensed and driving straight ahead. The crash underscores the risk pedestrians face when vehicles cross their path, even without clear driver violations.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729829 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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

Jun 2 - A 27-year-old male driver suffered whiplash and full-body injuries when an SUV struck the rear quarter panel of his sedan. The crash happened on Grand Central Parkway at 1:04 a.m. The SUV driver followed too closely, causing the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 1:04 a.m. on Grand Central Parkway involving a 2018 SUV and a 2004 sedan, both traveling east. The SUV struck the sedan's right rear quarter panel, damaging both vehicles. The sedan's 27-year-old male driver was injured with whiplash and bodily trauma, remaining conscious with airbag deployment. The report cites "Following Too Closely" and "Other Vehicular" factors as contributing causes, indicating driver error by the SUV operator. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The sedan driver was not ejected and was the sole occupant injured. The report does not list any victim behaviors contributing to the crash. This collision highlights the dangers of tailgating on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729172 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 1 - SUV veered, struck a motorcyclist. Rider thrown, body broken. Police blame driver distraction. Helmet on, but bones shattered. Metal and flesh met at speed. The road did not forgive.

According to the police report, a 20-year-old male motorcyclist was traveling west on Grand Central Parkway when a 2023 SUV, also westbound, changed lanes and struck the motorcycle's center front end with its left rear bumper. The rider was ejected, suffering full-body injuries including fractures and dislocations. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors, both attributed to the SUV driver. The motorcyclist wore a helmet, but helmet use was not listed as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the danger of driver distraction and careless lane changes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729671 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 31 - An armored truck struck a sedan from behind on the Vanwyck Expressway in Queens. The sedan driver, a 65-year-old man, suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries and whiplash. Tire failure on the truck was a contributing factor, according to police.

According to the police report, at 15:25 on the Vanwyck Expressway in Queens, an armored truck traveling north collided with the left rear quarter panel of a northbound sedan. The truck's center front end impacted the sedan's left rear quarter panel, causing damage to both vehicles. The sedan driver, a 65-year-old man, was injured with shoulder and upper arm trauma and reported whiplash, remaining restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report cites tire failure or inadequacy on the armored truck as a contributing factor to the crash. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead prior to the collision. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the sedan driver. This crash highlights the systemic dangers posed by vehicle mechanical failures on busy expressways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729149 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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

May 24 - SUV slammed while changing lanes at speed. Metal twisted. A 61-year-old driver left unconscious, head battered. No pedestrians. No escape. Only impact and injury.

According to the police report, two SUVs and a sedan collided on Van Wyck Expressway at 8:25 a.m. The northbound SUV changed lanes at unsafe speed. The crash left the 61-year-old SUV driver unconscious with a severe head injury. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and a lane change as the causes. The SUV was demolished at impact. The driver wore a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. No pedestrians were involved. The police report cites driver error—unsafe speed and improper lane change—as the cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728410 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 21 - 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 2024-05-21

May 16 - Queens lawmakers demand more express buses before the $15 congestion toll hits. They say MTA left Queens behind. Riders in transit deserts face long, costly trips. Lawmakers call the exclusion unacceptable. They want fair service before new fees begin.

On May 16, 2024, ten Queens lawmakers, including Julia Salazar (District 18), urged the MTA to expand express bus service to Queens before the $15 Manhattan congestion toll starts. The group wrote to MTA chairman Janno Lieber, stating, "Express buses play a vital role in Queens’ public transit network and only stand to become even more pivotal in the near and distant future." They criticized the MTA for boosting express bus service in Brooklyn and Staten Island but not Queens, calling the exclusion "unacceptable." The lawmakers stressed that many southeast and northeast Queens residents lack subway access and rely on express buses to reach Midtown. They argued the 10 percent LIRR discount is no substitute for robust bus service. Salazar and her colleagues support congestion pricing but insist its success depends on expanded, equitable transit for all vulnerable riders.

• Queens lawmakers demand more MTA bus service to Manhattan before $15 congestion toll begins, nypost.com, Published 2024-05-16

May 16 - Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

May 14 - Three people suffered neck injuries in a chain-reaction crash on Grand Central Parkway. Drivers followed too closely. Metal slammed metal. Whiplash and pain followed. No pedestrians involved. System failed the vulnerable again.

A multi-vehicle crash on Grand Central Parkway left three occupants injured with neck trauma. According to the police report, drivers were 'Following Too Closely' and showed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The collision involved sedans and SUVs, with impacts to both front and rear ends. The injured included a 23-year-old male passenger, a 37-year-old male passenger, and a 39-year-old female driver. All were conscious, not ejected, and restrained with lap belts and harnesses. The report highlights repeated failure to maintain safe distance and distraction as causes. No pedestrians were involved. The crash exposes the persistent dangers of tailgating and inattention on city highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726677 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 12 - A 33-year-old woman died beneath the steel of an eastbound SUV on Grand Central Parkway. Her skull was crushed. She was walking outside the crosswalk, alone, in the darkness, when the vehicle hit her head-on. She died there.

A 33-year-old woman was killed on Grand Central Parkway near exit 24 when she was struck head-on by an eastbound SUV, according to the police report. The report states the pedestrian was 'walking outside the crosswalk' and was hit by the 'center front end' of a 2018 Toyota SUV. Her injuries were fatal, with the report noting her skull was crushed and she died at the scene. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are cited in the available data. The narrative describes the woman as being alone and in the dark at the time of the crash. The focus remains on the impact and the deadly consequences of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723692 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19