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

Nov 8 - Governor Hochul slashes NYC’s congestion toll to $9. The move aims to beat a federal block but guts traffic reduction. Streets will see less relief. The plan leaves vulnerable road users exposed. The city trades speed and safety for political timing.

On November 8, 2024, Governor Hochul proposed lowering New York City’s congestion pricing toll from $15 to $9. The plan, a policy proposal to adjust congestion pricing, comes as officials rush to implement it before a new presidential administration can intervene. The original $15 toll, crafted by the Traffic Mobility Review Board and approved by the MTA Board, promised strong traffic reduction and included credits and caps. The $9 version, previously reviewed in environmental assessments, may lack those protections. Economist Charles Komanoff warns, 'You lose other benefits. Most noticeably, you don’t get the immediate traffic speed gain that a $15 toll would give.' State Senator Andrew Gounardes urges swift action, saying, 'The time to commit to better public transit, less traffic and cleaner air is now.' The lower toll is projected to improve traffic speeds by only 6.4 percent, far less than the 17 percent expected from the original plan. With less traffic reduction, streets remain dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Analysis: Hochul’s $9 Congestion Toll May Stave Off Trump, But Won’t Reduce Traffic as Much, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-08

Nov 7 - A Staten Island crash injured a 21-year-old sedan driver after an SUV collided with the vehicle’s right side. The impact caused bodily injuries and shock. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as the primary cause of the collision.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Bay Street near Hannah Street in Staten Island at 3:43 p.m. involving a 2016 sedan and a 2021 SUV. The sedan driver, a 21-year-old male, was making a left turn when the SUV traveling eastbound struck the sedan’s right side doors. The driver of the sedan was injured with bodily trauma affecting the entire body and experienced shock but was not ejected from the vehicle. Both vehicles sustained damage to their right side and front end respectively. The report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver did not yield to the turning sedan. The sedan driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769590 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Nov 6 - Diesel trucks choke New York streets. Pollution hits hardest in poor, Black, and Hispanic neighborhoods. The Advanced Clean Trucks rule promises cleaner air and fewer deaths. Industry fights back. Governor Hochul faces a choice: protect lives or bow to polluters.

This opinion, published November 6, 2024, urges Governor Hochul to uphold New York’s Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) standard and the Low NOx Heavy-Duty Omnibus standard. The piece warns, 'Delaying the implementation of any clean truck rule will likely result in the state losing hundreds of millions in health benefits and lead to additional air pollution-caused deaths.' The ACT, adopted in 2021, sets electric truck sales targets to cut deadly diesel pollution. The statement highlights the disproportionate harm to low-income communities of color, especially in the South Bronx, where truck exhaust drives high asthma rates. The author calls on Hochul to resist fossil fuel industry pressure and keep life-saving rules on track, stressing that clean truck standards are both feasible and vital for public health.

• Opinion: Clean Trucks Will Save Lives — If Gov. Hochul Stays the Course, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-06

Nov 4 - A 13-year-old girl died after an SUV struck her at W. 110th and Manhattan. She was walking to catch a bus for her birthday. The driver stayed. No arrest. The intersection is wide, with poor sight lines. Advocates blame city inaction.

""This intersection was designed to be dangerous, and it's time for the city to prioritize New Yorkers instead of falling even further behind on the daylighting promises it made when another child was killed only a year ago."" -- Charles Fall

On November 4, 2024, a fatal crash claimed the life of 13-year-old Niyell McCrorey at W. 110th Street and Manhattan Avenue. The incident, reported by Streetsblog NYC, highlights a dangerous intersection: wide, two-way, with cars parked to the corner and no daylighting. Transportation Alternatives, represented by Philip Miatkowski, condemned the city for failing to deliver promised safety upgrades, stating, "This intersection was designed to be dangerous." Niyell is the 15th child killed by drivers this year, the second-highest toll since Vision Zero began. Advocates demand urgent action to protect vulnerable pedestrians and end the city's deadly neglect.

• Slaughter of the Innocents: SUV Driver Kills Upper West Side Teen, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-04

Nov 4 - Roadside dining sheds fall. Cars reclaim the curb. Restaurants balk at new rules, costs, and storage. Streets once alive with people now serve as free parking. The city’s new code ends a brief era of public space for people.

On November 4, 2024, New York City enforced new outdoor dining regulations, requiring restaurants to remove pandemic-era dining sheds unless they met updated design standards. The measure, shaped by a Council law passed last year, forced all businesses to clear curbside setups by November 29. The Department of Transportation banned enclosed structures, allowing only temporary, open designs. As the city’s Dining Out NYC program shifts to seasonal operation, many owners, like John Kastanis of Casita and Jerry Hsu of Alimama Tea, chose to dismantle their sheds early, citing high fees and storage hurdles. Fred Kent, co-founder of the Placemaking Fund, lamented, “We’ve lost a whole era that could have been evolved into something far more significant for neighborhood main streets to thrive.” The curb returns to cars, erasing space once claimed by pedestrians and diners.

• Parking? Lots! Outdoor Dining Structures Are Coming Down Across the City, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-04

Oct 30 - MTA scraps its plan to run the Interborough Express on city streets. Instead, it will study tunneling under All Faiths Cemetery. Advocates cheer. The move keeps trains off dangerous roads. The future of the project hangs on funding.

On October 30, 2024, the MTA announced it will abandon the street-running segment of the Interborough Express (IBX) light rail project. The agency now plans to study a tunnel under All Faiths Cemetery at Metropolitan Avenue. MTA President of Construction and Development Jamie Torres-Springer said, "We're looking at a tunnel at Metropolitan Avenue, which will allow us to avoid street running to make the [Interborough Express] faster and more reliable." Transit advocates, including Blair Lorenzo of the Effective Transit Alliance, praised the decision, calling it a win for speed and reliability. The MTA will assess expanding the existing freight tunnel or building a new one. The engineering and environmental review will take about two years. Funding for the IBX remains uncertain, as MTA CEO Janno Lieber warned that expansion projects could be at risk if the 2025-2029 capital plan falls short. The move removes a threat to vulnerable road users by keeping trains off city streets.

• Tunnel Vision! MTA Abandons Flawed Plan To Run IBX Partly on Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-30

Oct 29 - DOT’s Smart Curbs pilot drags its feet. Free parking remains king. Promised microhubs for deliveries delayed. Only a sliver of free spaces become paid. Advocates call the effort timid. The city leaves most curb space untouched. Vulnerable users wait.

The Department of Transportation’s Smart Curbs pilot, updated October 29, 2024, aims to convert free parking to paid meters and add delivery microhubs on the Upper West Side. The plan, first proposed in June, promised about 200 new metered spots and 27 loading zones, but only 175 free spaces—one-tenth of the area’s 1,700—will be removed. Microhubs, meant to reduce double-parking and delivery chaos, are delayed until next year. DOT spokespersons Vin Barone and Mona Bruno confirmed most changes are just reassignments, not true removals of free parking. Carl Mahaney of StreetopiaUWS called the slow pace disappointing: “We’ve been super eager to see these changes, see what their impact is and start measuring and observing, so it’s a little disappointing.” Parking expert Donald Shoup urged the city to reinvest meter revenue locally, but DOT declined. The pilot leaves most curb space for cars, not people. Vulnerable road users see little relief.

• DOT’s Upper West Side ‘Smart Curbs’ Struggles to Claw Back Free Parking, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-29

Oct 29 - The MTA will tunnel the IBX light rail under All Faiths Cemetery, dropping a street-running plan. Council Member Holden, once opposed, now backs the project. The move keeps trams off busy roads, sparing pedestrians and cyclists from new risks.

On October 29, 2024, the MTA announced it will route the Interborough Express (IBX) through a tunnel beneath All Faiths Cemetery in Queens, abandoning a previous plan to run trams on local streets. The project, covered in committee and public statements, is described as 'transformative for so many New Yorkers.' Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30), who represents the area, had threatened to oppose the IBX if it included street-running. After the MTA’s shift to tunneling, Holden stated, 'Addressing the biggest issue by forgoing light rail on 69th Street is crucial to earning our support.' The plan eliminates a dangerous section where trams would have mixed with cars, reducing exposure for pedestrians and cyclists. The MTA has issued a request for proposals to design the line and guide it through federal review. The $5.5 billion project’s funding remains uncertain, but the tunnel plan removes a major safety concern for vulnerable road users.

• MTA looking to dig tunnel underneath Queens cemetery for IBX light rail project, amny.com, Published 2024-10-29

Oct 25 - Alex Morano calls out City Hall for failing to daylight intersections. He cites a child’s death and demands state action. The mayor’s promises fall short. Exemptions leave pedestrians exposed. Morano urges lawmakers to enforce daylighting everywhere. Lives hang in the balance.

On October 25, 2024, Alex Morano published an opinion piece demanding an end to New York City’s exemption from state daylighting law. The article, titled 'It’s Past Time to Daylight Every Corner in New York City,' criticizes Mayor Adams’s pledge to daylight 1,000 intersections per year as inadequate and misleading. Morano references the death of Kamari Hughes as a tragic example of the city’s failure. He writes, 'New York City should no longer be an exception when it comes to intersection safety.' Morano urges state lawmakers to enforce daylighting standards citywide, arguing that the current exemption leaves pedestrians at risk. He calls for universal daylighting, citing benefits like stormwater mitigation and safer community spaces. The piece is a direct challenge to City Hall’s slow pace and lack of legal accountability.

• Opinion: It’s Past Time to Daylight Every Corner in New York City, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-25

Oct 23 - State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says the MTA cannot borrow its way out. More debt means higher fares or slashed service. Riders face the threat. Congestion pricing was key. Now, the gap grows. The system’s future hangs on real funding, not empty promises.

On October 23, 2024, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released a report warning the MTA against borrowing to fill massive holes in its 2020-2024 and 2025-2029 capital plans. The report, not tied to a council bill but crucial for transit policy, states: 'The MTA can't take on any more debt to fill the hole...without dramatically jacking up fares or cutting service.' DiNapoli’s analysis shows that borrowing $15 billion now, plus $13 billion more for the next plan, would force a 16 percent fare hike by 2037. He notes the MTA’s finances are already strained by weak real estate taxes and slow ridership recovery. DiNapoli opposes fare hikes and service cuts, backing congestion pricing and state support instead. He stresses that without new, reliable revenue, vulnerable riders will pay the price. The warning is clear: more debt means danger for those who depend on transit.

• MTA Can’t Borrow Its Way Out Of Hochul’s Capital Plan Gaps: Comptroller, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-23

Oct 15 - Electric cars are not the clean break promised. A new NBER study finds EVs only 10 percent less harmful than gas vehicles. Heavier batteries mean deadlier crashes. Smokestack pollution from charging outweighs tailpipe gains. The toll on life and air remains high.

On October 15, 2024, researchers from Duke, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and the University of Chicago published a working paper through the National Bureau of Economic Research. The report, titled 'The Effects of 'Buy American': Electric Vehicles and the Inflation Reduction Act,' analyzes the full societal costs of electric vehicles (EVs) versus gasoline vehicles (GVs). The study finds, 'U.S. electric vehicles are only slightly less harmful to the environment and society than conventional gasoline cars.' The analysis aggregates climate damage, crash deaths, and pollution. It reveals that EVs’ heavier weight leads to more fatal crashes, and their battery production is energy-intensive. Charging EVs on carbon-heavy grids causes six times more harmful pollution than gas tailpipes. The authors conclude that, factoring in all harms, EVs are only 10 percent less damaging than GVs. The report urges policymakers to reconsider subsidies and warns that the real-world toll of cars—electric or not—remains immense.

• EVs — What Are They Good For?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-15

Oct 11 - The 11th Edition of the MUTCD brings overdue changes. It allows more crosswalks, green bike lanes, and transit lanes. But it still puts cars first. Pedestrians and cyclists remain at risk. The rules demand human perfection, not safer streets. The danger continues.

On December 2023, the Federal Highway Administration released the 11th Edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), the first update since 2009. This federal document, over 1,000 pages, sets the standards for road markings, signals, and signs nationwide. The update, described as 'important steps toward a safer, more people-focused transportation system,' modernizes speed zone setting and allows more crosswalks, green bike lanes, and red transit lanes. But it still falls short. The MUTCD expects pedestrians and cyclists to act 'alertly and attentively,' ignoring human error and the diversity of street users. It keeps high barriers for pedestrian signals and prioritizes car movement over safety. The new section on autonomous vehicles raises concerns about streets being built for machines, not people. No council members are named; this is a federal action. Advocates and cities submitted over 25,000 comments demanding stronger reforms. The next update is due by December 2027.

• The 1,000-Page Document That Decides Your Street Designs Just Got a Refresh, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-11

Oct 6 - A 9-year-old boy riding a bike was injured when a sedan traveling northeast struck him with its left front bumper. The boy suffered contusions and lower leg injuries. Both vehicles were moving straight ahead at the time of collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on VanDuzer Street in Staten Island at 11:50 AM. A 9-year-old male bicyclist was injured, sustaining contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The bicyclist was conscious and not ejected from his bike. The sedan, driven by a licensed female driver, and the bike were both traveling northeast, going straight ahead. The point of impact was the sedan's left front bumper. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. Vehicle damage was minimal or not reported. The data highlights the collision impact and injuries without assigning fault to the bicyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762793 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Oct 3 - Transit union boss John Samuelsen turned against congestion pricing. He blasted the MTA for failing to boost service before tolls hit. His opposition helped stall a plan meant to cut traffic and fund transit. Riders and streets remain at risk.

On October 3, 2024, John Samuelsen, president of TWU Local 100 and TWU International, publicly opposed New York’s congestion pricing plan. The matter, covered by Streetsblog NYC, details Samuelsen’s resignation from the Traffic Mobility Review Board on November 30, 2023, the day tolling recommendations were released. He argued, 'Congestion pricing alone will not reduce traffic to its fullest potential. Central business district tolling should absolutely be coupled with massive increases and improvements in public transit service.' Samuelsen criticized the MTA for not expanding service and called the toll 'classist.' His stance shifted from earlier support in 2019 to strong opposition, citing unmet promises and risks to transit funding. No council bill or committee action is noted. The union’s move leaves vulnerable road users facing the same old dangers: crowded streets, slow buses, and stalled safety reforms.

• Stop Making Sense: TWU’s Head-Scratching Opposition to Congestion Pricing Doesn’t Add Up, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-03

Oct 2 - City will cut McGuinness Boulevard from four lanes to two. DOT reversed course after backlash. Advocates and Assembly Member Gallagher cheered the move. Fewer lanes mean slower cars, fewer crashes. The fight for safety on the rest of the boulevard continues.

On October 2, 2024, the Adams administration reversed its earlier decision and restored the road diet for McGuinness Boulevard between Calyer Street and Meeker Avenue. The Department of Transportation (DOT) will reduce the street from four lanes to two. The DOT cited community and elected officials' feedback as the reason for the change. Assembly Member Emily Gallagher said, "I'm just really grateful to the better angels of the Adams administration for coming back with this." The advocacy group Make McGuinness Safe called it a win for safety and vowed to keep pushing for improvements. Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi praised the city's willingness to listen. Local business Broadway Stages, which had opposed the plan, said it respects the process. Removing car lanes will slow traffic and protect all users, according to advocates.

• FLIP-FLOP: City Brings Back Road Diet For McGuinness Blvd., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-02

Sep 27 - Columbus Avenue shuts out cars every Sunday. Stores fill up. Foot traffic surges. Shopkeepers call it a game-changer. Customers linger, spend, and smile. Lawsuits and car complaints fade against the buzz of busy sidewalks. Open Streets means safety, commerce, and life.

The Columbus Avenue Open Streets program closes the avenue to cars between 68th and 77th streets every Sunday through October 27, 2024. The initiative, described as 'an absolute game-changer' by Martin Johnson of 67 Gourmet, boosts business and draws crowds on foot. Irene Kalogrias of Celso de Lemos says, 'Open street days are the busiest days for our store.' Vinni Schroeder of J.Jill urges expansion. Despite a lawsuit from some residents, business owners support the program. The matter, titled 'Tables of Success: Columbus Ave. Businesses Love the Open Street,' highlights how car-free streets bring safety and commerce. No formal council bill or vote is noted. The program stands as a testament to the power of reclaiming streets for people, not cars.

• Tables of Success: Columbus Ave. Businesses Love the Open Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-27

Sep 26 - 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

Sep 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

Sep 22 - A new bike lane in Long Island City pits safety against business. Five killed, 170 injured in five years. Councilwoman Julie Won backs the plan. Truckers and owners protest. DOT pushes forward. Streets stay deadly. Cyclists and pedestrians pay the price.

The controversy centers on a planned bike lane in Queens’ District 26, championed by Councilwoman Julie Won. The city aims to connect the Pulaski and Kosciuszko bridges via Borden, Starr, and Review avenues. The project, requested by local civic groups and the community board, follows five deaths—including two cyclists—and over 170 injuries on these roads in five years. Won stated, 'We need to do everything we can to ensure we don’t lose another life to a preventable death.' Thirty-two business owners petitioned DOT to halt the project, citing truck maneuvering dangers. DOT representative Vincent Barone called the route 'a critical gap' in the bike network and promised 'much-needed safety improvements.' The plan will take up to 15 feet from Review Avenue for a two-way bike path and buffer, leaving 22 feet for traffic. The fight underscores the city’s struggle to protect vulnerable road users in truck-heavy corridors.

• Planned new bike lane in industrial NYC neighborhood has business owners fuming: ‘Just not safe’, nypost.com, Published 2024-09-22

Sep 20 - Governor Hochul froze congestion pricing. The MTA lost billions. Subway and bus riders face crumbling service. Republicans claim victory. Democrats gain nothing. The city’s lifeline bleeds. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price while drivers dodge the toll.

On June 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul unilaterally paused New York’s congestion pricing law, first enacted in 2019 to fund the MTA’s $55 billion capital plan. The move slashed $15 billion from transit budgets, threatening repairs and upgrades. Hochul claimed to act for cost-of-living relief, but polling shows her approval at a record low. Republicans seized credit for the pause, while Democrats saw no political gain. Riders Alliance’s Danny Pearlstein called it sabotage: 'Governor Kathy Hochul took a gamble when she sabotaged our public transit system for political gain and she lost dearly.' The MTA now faces a $33 billion shortfall for its next plan. No new revenue source is in place. The legislature, as Rachael Fauss of Reinvent Albany notes, already did its job by passing the law. The pause leaves transit riders stranded, while car traffic and systemic danger persist.

• Hochul’s Congestion Pricing ‘Pause’ Tanked Her Polling, Hurt the MTA and Did Zilch for Democrats, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-20