Bay Street bleeds: four deaths, hundreds hurt, and the clock keeps going

Apr 8 - Community Board 3 backed the Canal Street open street, but hours got slashed. Residents packed the meeting. Supporters spoke of safety, space, and life without cars. Detractors cited noise and mess. The board voted 13-1 to keep the street open.

""In response to listening to our community, we ve made meaningful changes to the program over this year."" -- Charles Fall

On April 8, 2025, Manhattan Community Board 3 voted 13-1 to continue the Canal Street open street program, despite a reduction in its operating hours and days. The matter, discussed in the Transportation, Public Safety, Sanitation & Environment Committee, drew strong turnout. The meeting's summary: 'A large number of Lower Manhattan residents turned out to support the Canal Street open street, but organizers reduced the program's operating times in response to complaints from some residents.' Chairperson Vincent Cirrito said, 'This is an open space for our residents, for our kids... where they don’t have to worry about vehicles and cars.' Council Member Chris Marte and some residents pushed for further cutbacks, while others defended the open street as vital for safety, accessibility, and local business. The board sided with vulnerable road users, keeping two blocks of Canal Street open to people, not cars.

• Supporters of Open Street Come Out in Droves to Fight Canal Street Cutback, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-08

Apr 3 - Open Streets faces cuts. Federal funds are gone. Mayor Adams offers no city money. DOT warns of shrinking hours and scope. Council Member Krishnan blasts the move. Streets once safe for walkers and riders now risk return to cars. The future is uncertain.

On April 3, 2025, New York City’s Open Streets program entered crisis. The program, legislated by the City Council, lost its federal Covid funding. Mayor Adams has not allocated city funds. The Department of Transportation (DOT) says $5 million is needed to maintain current operations, but the Council’s preliminary budget omits this. DOT Chief of Staff Ryan Lynch told advocates the agency is lobbying for replacement funds. Council Member Shekar Krishnan criticized the mayor’s stance, saying, “It’s deeply misguided to cut funds from the open street program, especially at this moment.” The City Comptroller’s office also faulted the administration for poor planning. The funding gap has already led to reduced hours and fewer open streets. Council members are pushing for restoration, but the program’s future hangs in the balance.

• Open Street Program in Jeopardy As Mayor Adams Is Not Funding It, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-03

Mar 26 - DOT scraps waterfront promise. Bronx greenway will run on streets, not riverside. Seven miles of protected bike lanes, road diets. Advocates praise progress, mourn lost oasis. Cars still close. Bronx stays cut off from river. Public input ongoing.

On March 26, 2025, the Department of Transportation unveiled its plan for the Bronx portion of the Harlem River Greenway. The plan, not a council bill but a DOT action, covers a seven-mile route along Bailey Avenue, Sedgwick Avenue, Depot Place, Exterior Street, E. 135th Street, Lincoln Avenue, and Bruckner Boulevard. The DOT cited access issues with state and private landowners, abandoning Mayor Adams’s earlier promise of a true waterfront path. The official summary states: 'protected bike lanes on streets near the waterfront, rather than a true waterfront greenway.' Advocates like Chauncy Young and Laura Solis welcomed protected lanes but lamented the loss of a car-free riverside route. Mayor Adams claimed the project would help undo highway devastation in the Bronx. Still, the plan leaves vulnerable road users exposed to traffic, not shielded by water’s edge. Public workshops are ongoing.

• Off the Waterfront: Bronx Part of ‘Harlem River Greenway’ Will Be Bike Lanes on Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-26

Mar 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

Mar 22 - A 61-year-old woman was struck while crossing a marked crosswalk on Staten Island. The SUV driver, making a left turn, failed to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian suffered a fractured knee and lower leg injuries, conscious but seriously hurt.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Broad Street near Van Duzer Street in Staten Island at 6:13 p.m. The driver of a 2007 GMC SUV was making a left turn when the collision happened. The pedestrian, a 61-year-old female, was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor by the driver. The pedestrian sustained a fracture and dislocation to her knee and lower leg, classified as injury severity level 3, and remained conscious after the impact. The vehicle struck the pedestrian with its left front bumper but reportedly sustained no damage. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800770 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Mar 21 - A sedan making a left turn struck an e-scooter rider traveling straight on Bay Street in Staten Island. The e-scooter driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The crash exposed a failure to yield right-of-way by the sedan driver.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Bay Street near Townsend Avenue in Staten Island at 7:18 p.m. A 26-year-old male operating an e-scooter was injured when a 2020 Volkswagen sedan, traveling northwest and making a left turn, struck him. The point of impact was the right side doors of the sedan and the center front end of the e-scooter. The e-scooter driver sustained contusions and bruises to his knee and lower leg, classified as injury severity level 3, and remained conscious. The police report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor, attributed to the sedan driver. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. Vehicle damage was reported as none for both vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800768 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Mar 21 - 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

Mar 19 - Dumbo’s speed limit drops to 20 mph. Brooklyn’s first Regional Slow Zone targets crowded streets. Ten severe injuries and one death in five years haunt the area. Council Member Restler and DOT push for slower traffic. Lives hang in the balance.

On March 19, 2025, Council Member Lincoln Restler announced the lowering of Dumbo’s speed limit to 20 mph, making it Brooklyn’s first Regional Slow Zone. The measure follows the passage of Sammy’s Law, which lets the city set its own speed limits. The Department of Transportation cited ten severe injuries and one death in Dumbo over five years. The new zone covers streets packed with pedestrians, from Furman to Navy and Hudson, and John to Sands and the BQE. Restler said, 'Data has shown that a one mile per hour increase in speed results in a nearly three percent increase in mortality.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez added, 'Lowering vehicle speed limits by even a few miles per hour could be the difference between life or death in a traffic crash.' The change will take effect after a public comment period. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso called for more slow zones in high-crash neighborhoods. The city plans to expand 20 mph limits to over 250 locations by the end of 2025.

• Speed limit in Dumbo to be lowered to 20 mph as nabe becomes Brooklyn’s first ‘Regional Slow Zone’, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2025-03-19

Mar 15 - A police cruiser swerved from a U-turning car and crashed into a building. Two officers went to the hospital. The street bore the scars. Metal, glass, brick—shattered. Sirens cut the air. The city’s danger showed, again.

ABC7 reported on March 15, 2025, that two NYPD officers crashed their cruiser into a building at Victory Boulevard and Montgomery Street in Staten Island. The officers were responding to a call about a man with a gun. According to the article, 'another vehicle attempted to make a U-turn, causing the police cruiser to swerve to avoid a collision.' Both officers were hospitalized and are expected to recover. The crash highlights the risks of sudden maneuvers and U-turns on busy city streets. No bystanders were reported injured. The incident underscores the persistent dangers posed by unpredictable driver actions and the high stakes of emergency response in dense urban environments.

• Police Cruiser Slams Into Staten Island Building, ABC7, Published 2025-03-15

Mar 14 - DOT admits failure. City missed legal targets for bus and bike lanes. Adams’s interference and staff cuts left streets unchanged. Pedestrians and cyclists pay the price. The mayor’s words and actions stalled safety. The law sits ignored. Danger remains.

"Pearlstein said that the mayor has spent four years coming up with various reasons not to do one project after another when he should have been supporting his agency in the face of expected opposition. As a result, it's difficult to give Hizzoner a pass for falling short." -- Charles Fall

On March 14, 2025, the Department of Transportation released its annual report on the 2019 Streets Master Plan law. The report, required by the City Council, reveals the city missed mandates for protected bike lanes (29.3 of 50 miles) and bus lanes (17.9 of 30 miles) for the third year running. The matter summary states: 'New York City has failed to meet legally required benchmarks for redesigning streets for bikes, buses, and pedestrians due to a lack of resources and political interference.' Mayor Eric Adams is named as the main obstacle. The report cites staff shortages, shrinking divisions, and political pushback—especially the mayor’s role in killing the Fordham Road busway. Former DOT commissioner Polly Trottenberg warned the plan needed more funding and a new approach. Advocates and officials say Adams’s lack of support left the city’s most vulnerable road users exposed. The law’s promise is broken. The streets stay deadly.

• DOT Report Reveals How Eric Adams Kneecapped Progress on Bus and Bike Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-14

Mar 12 - A 60-year-old man suffered knee and lower leg injuries after an SUV traveling west on Victory Blvd hit him at an intersection. The driver’s unsafe speed and inattention caused the collision, leaving the pedestrian bruised but conscious.

According to the police report, a 60-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing against the signal at an intersection on Victory Blvd, Staten Island. The collision occurred at 17:41 when a Jeep SUV traveling west struck the pedestrian with its right rear bumper. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The report cites the driver’s unsafe speed and inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The vehicle showed no damage, indicating the impact was likely at low speed but sufficient to cause injury. The pedestrian’s action of crossing against the signal is noted but the primary cause identified is the driver’s failure to maintain safe speed and attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798643 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Mar 12 - Lawmakers push new taxes to plug the MTA’s $35 billion gap. Riders face higher costs for packages and rideshares. The capital plan hangs in limbo. Transit leaders warn: without cash, the system crumbles. Riders and advocates rage at more fees.

On March 12, 2025, New York State lawmakers unveiled a budget proposal to fund the MTA’s 2025-2029 capital plan, which faces a $35 billion shortfall. The plan, discussed in both Senate and Assembly one-house budgets, suggests new taxes: fees on online deliveries, higher payroll mobility taxes, and more surcharges on rideshare trips. The matter summary reads: 'Taxes to back the MTA? That is what some New York lawmakers are proposing.' Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins is mentioned as a key figure. Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie previously rejected the MTA’s $68.4 billion plan last December over funding gaps. The proposal has sparked public anger, with advocates and riders decrying more taxes. MTA chair Janno Lieber insists full funding is essential to keep trains and buses running safely. The bill’s safety impact for vulnerable road users is not assessed.

• NYS proposes more taxes on New Yorkers to fund the MTA, amny.com, Published 2025-03-12

Mar 4 - A 42-year-old man suffered neck injuries and shock after a sedan struck him at an intersection. The driver failed to yield right-of-way while making a left turn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred.

According to the police report, a 42-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Victory Blvd and Bay St at 10:53. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2015 Honda sedan, driven by an unlicensed female driver traveling east and making a left turn, struck him with the vehicle's left front bumper. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained neck injuries and was in shock, complaining of pain or nausea. The driver’s unlicensed status and failure to yield created the conditions for this collision. The vehicle sustained no damage, indicating the impact was likely at low speed but sufficient to cause serious injury to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796295 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Mar 4 - Weigh-in-motion sensors slashed overweight truck crossings on the BQE by 60%. Councilmember Lincoln Restler backs the tech and calls for state lawmakers to extend the program. The city wants expansion before the enabling law expires. DOT hails the results.

On March 4, 2025, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) urged state lawmakers to extend the weigh-in-motion truck enforcement program on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The program, launched in fall 2023, uses sensors to detect overweight trucks and issue $650 fines. According to the city, overweight truck crossings on the Queens-bound BQE dropped from 7,920 daily to about 3,041 per month—a 60% reduction. The sensors are set to expand to the Staten Island-bound side this year. Restler said, "Weigh-in-Motion technology has successfully eliminated 60% of the overweight truck traffic on the Queens bound BQE." The Department of Transportation and Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez praised the program's impact and called it a potential national model. With the authorizing law set to expire, city officials are pressing Albany to extend and expand the program.

• Weigh-in-motion tech has cut overweight trucks on BQE by 60%, city says, urging state to extend program, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2025-03-04

Mar 4 - Weigh-in-motion sensors slashed overweight trucks on the BQE by 60%. City officials want Albany to extend the program. Councilmember Restler and DOT Commissioner Rodriguez call for more enforcement. The tech fines violators, cuts danger, and protects crumbling roads.

On March 4, 2025, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez urged state lawmakers to extend and expand the weigh-in-motion truck enforcement program on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The program, launched in fall 2023, uses sensors to detect overweight trucks and issue $650 fines. According to the city, 'Weigh-in-Motion technology has successfully eliminated 60% of the overweight truck traffic on the Queens bound BQE.' Restler said he hopes for similar results on the Staten Island-bound lanes. The bill authorizing the program is set to expire, prompting calls for urgent legislative action. Rodriguez called the technology a 'national model.' Lawmakers want to expand the system to other sites, including the Washington Bridge. The crackdown aims to reduce illegal truck loads, which threaten road safety and infrastructure.

• Weigh-in-motion tech has cut overweight trucks on BQE by 60%, city says, urging state to extend program, amny.com, Published 2025-03-04

Feb 28 - Vanderbilt Avenue’s open street shrinks. Organizers slash car-free days to Saturdays only, May through September. City funding falls short. Community leaders call the cuts a blow to safety, commerce, and public space. Cars reclaim ground. Pedestrians and cyclists lose out.

On February 28, 2025, organizers announced another reduction to the Vanderbilt Avenue Open Street program. The change, reported by Streetsblog NYC, limits car-free hours to Saturdays only from May to September—a 50 percent cut from last year’s already reduced schedule. The program, once a weekend staple from spring to fall, now faces its smallest footprint yet. Alex Morano, a volunteer organizer, called the rollback 'really unfortunate,' stressing the street’s value to the neighborhood. Saskia Haegens, Chair of the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Corporation, urged full city funding, saying the program is 'transformative.' Organizers blame insufficient city support, with less than half the cost covered this year. The Department of Transportation claims $10 million in annual support and promises a permanent redesign, but for now, cars win back space. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, families—lose a vital refuge.

• Vanderbilt Ave. Open Street Trims Hours For Second Straight Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-28

Feb 24 - The U.S. DOT erased its Complete Streets page days after Trump took office. The page held decades of safety guides for bike lanes and sidewalks. Its loss leaves local officials stranded. Advocates say the purge makes streets deadlier for those on foot or bike.

On February 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation removed the Complete Streets webpage, a federal resource for safer street design. The action followed President Trump’s inauguration. The page, described as 'not political but focused on safety and access for all road users,' offered technical guides for bike lanes and sidewalks. Its deletion, reported by Streetsblog NYC, is seen as part of a broader purge of diversity and environmental initiatives. Heidi Simon, a leading advocate, said, 'It's disheartening to know that there are people in the trenches at the local and state level who relied on these resources to get their jobs done, and their jobs just got made harder.' The loss scatters vital research, making it harder for cities—especially smaller ones—to build safer streets. No federal official commented on the removal.

• ‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Falls Prey To Trump Purge, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-24

Feb 23 - Sedan struck pick-up truck on Van Duzer Street. Alcohol played a role. Female truck driver suffered neck injury and whiplash. Both vehicles headed south. Impact hit truck’s rear, sedan’s front.

According to the police report, a sedan and a pick-up truck collided on Van Duzer Street, Staten Island, at 20:53. Both vehicles were traveling south. The female driver of the pick-up truck, age 29, suffered neck pain and whiplash. She remained conscious. The report cites alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. The sedan’s left front bumper struck the truck’s center back end. The injured driver wore a lap belt and was not ejected. No victim actions are listed as contributing factors. The police report focuses on alcohol involvement as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794655 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Feb 20 - Gov. Hochul faces pressure to let New York City charge for residential street parking. The plan targets illegal registrations, raises MTA funds, and could cut traffic. Critics say current rules reward fraud and endanger cyclists. Reform means fewer cars, safer streets.

On February 20, 2025, an editorial published by Streetsblog NYC called for Governor Hochul and state leaders to grant New York City the authority to create citywide, resident-only parking zones. The piece, titled 'Gov. Hochul Could Transform Our City with Parking Reform,' argues, 'With permission from the state, New York City could enact a citywide, resident-only parking system. Non-residents needn’t be banned from parking here, just charged for it, with the money going to the MTA.' The editorial highlights rampant illegal vehicle registrations and the dangers they pose, including uninsured cars and increased risk for cyclists. The proposal urges charging both residents and visitors for parking, with higher rates in dense, wealthy areas. The plan aims to reduce congestion, generate MTA revenue, and reclaim curb space for safer uses. No council member is directly named, as this is an opinion piece, but the call is clear: state action is needed to protect vulnerable road users and restore trust in public space management.

• Gov. Hochul Could Transform Our City with Parking Reform, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-20

Feb 13 - MTA’s bus-mounted cameras caught over 400,000 drivers blocking bus stops in five months. Tickets soared. Bus speeds rose. Crashes fell. Cameras now outpace NYPD enforcement. Repeat offenders dodge deterrence. Advocates push for tougher penalties. Streets clear, but danger lingers.

On February 13, 2025, the MTA reported results from its Automated Camera Enforcement (ACE) expansion, which began in August 2024. The program, described as 'bus-mounted camera tickets to drivers who double-park along bus routes or park in bus stops,' has issued over 400,000 tickets in five months. The ACE system grew from 623 buses on 14 routes to 1,000 buses on 34 routes by November. MTA spokesperson Laura Cala-Rauch said the program 'is having a big impact on speeding buses and improving the quality of life for New Yorkers.' Data from Jehiah Czebotar shows cameras now issue 76.4% of bus lane and stop tickets—93% by December. Bus speeds rose 5%, crashes involving buses dropped 20%, and emissions fell up to 10%. Persistent violators remain, with some drivers racking up five tickets. Riders Alliance’s Danny Pearlstein called for escalating fines and legislative changes to target repeat offenders. The ACE program marks a shift toward automated, consistent enforcement, but loopholes for chronic blockers persist.

• ACE In The Hole: MTA’s Bus-Mounted Cameras Nab Over 400K Bus Stop Blockers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-13