Blood on the Asphalt, Silence in City Hall

Dec 23 - 2024 saw bold moves and setbacks for street safety. Congestion pricing staggered forward. Pedestrian braking tech became law. Atlanta banned right-on-red. Cities poured millions into transit. Yet, the death toll from cars barely budged. Streets remain dangerous. The fight continues.

This is a year-in-review, not a single bill, but it covers major 2024 policy actions. Streetsblog’s December 23, 2024 recap highlights the struggle to end car carnage. The piece notes, 'America's first-ever congestion pricing program had been paused at the 11th hour... brought back in November, though in a sadly diminished form.' USDOT approved a rule for automatic pedestrian emergency braking in new cars. Atlanta passed a right-on-red ban. St. Louis invested $300 million in sustainable transport. Canadian leaders pushed for high car registration fees to fund transit. No single council member is named; instead, the review tracks national and local leaders’ actions. The article underscores that, despite new laws and investments, systemic danger remains. Streetsblog’s coverage centers the ongoing risks to pedestrians and cyclists, showing that progress is slow and incomplete.

• Streetsblog Year in Review: The Biggest Sustainable Transport News of 2024, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-23

Dec 21 - Two sedans collided on Richmond Terrace in Staten Island. The female driver suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries with whiplash. Police cite steering failure and driver distraction as causes. Both vehicles sustained left-side damage in the impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:20 on Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, involving two sedans traveling in opposite directions. The female driver, age 35, was injured with upper arm and shoulder trauma and complained of whiplash. The report identifies 'Steering Failure' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors for the injured driver. The collision impact was on the left front bumper of one vehicle and the left side doors of the other. Both vehicles sustained damage consistent with the described points of impact. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected from the vehicle. The male driver of the other sedan was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of the crash. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors, focusing on vehicle control failure and driver distraction as the primary causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782493 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 18 - MTA greenlights $1.27 billion for new subway cars. Fares will jump to $3 per ride. Council Member Holden calls the hikes and congestion tolls a scam. Riders face higher costs as the agency touts safety and reliability. Critics see waste, not progress.

On December 18, 2024, the MTA approved a $1.27 billion purchase of 435 new subway cars and a fare hike to $3 per ride. The move comes weeks before new congestion tolls hit Manhattan. The matter, titled 'MTA plans fare hike as it OKs $1.27B train car purchase weeks before new congestion toll: ‘Keep the grift alive’,' drew fire from Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30), who called the fare and toll hikes a 'scam' and accused the MTA of mismanagement. Holden’s comments echo broader council criticism of the MTA’s spending and question the effectiveness of congestion pricing. MTA officials defend the investment, citing improved reliability and safety with the new R211 cars. No independent safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users. The bill’s status is an approved agency action, not a council vote.

• MTA plans fare hike as it OKs $1.27B train car purchase weeks before new congestion toll: ‘Keep the grift alive’, nypost.com, Published 2024-12-18

Dec 18 - Governor Hochul offered New Jersey over $100 million to settle the congestion pricing lawsuit. Governor Murphy rejected the deal. Transit riders face higher fares and unreliable service. The legal fight drags on. Streets stay dangerous. Cars keep winning.

On December 18, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New Jersey rejected a 'very generous' settlement offer to end its lawsuit against New York’s congestion pricing plan. The matter, reported by Streetsblog NYC, centers on New York’s offer of over $100 million for New Jersey Transit, potentially as an annual payment from congestion toll revenue. Hochul said, 'We've made multiple offers to settle this lawsuit. Very generous offers.' New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy refused, risking further strain on NJ Transit, which recently raised fares 15 percent. Riders Alliance’s Betsy Plum called Murphy’s stance 'a stubbornness tax' paid by transit riders. Environmental advocates criticized Murphy for blocking improvements to public transportation. The congestion pricing program, set to be the nation’s first, remains tied up in court. No safety analyst has formally assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• NJ Refusing ‘Generous’ Congestion Pricing Lawsuit $ettlement, Hochul Says, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-18

Dec 18 - MTA unveiled its final Queens bus overhaul. Seventeen new routes, more frequent service, but cuts on 29 lines. Rush routes aim to speed riders to trains. Public feedback starts January. MTA Board votes in winter. Rollout set for summer 2025.

The MTA announced its final Queens bus network redesign on December 18, 2024. The plan, now entering its last public feedback phase, will be reviewed by the MTA Board in early winter 2025 and implemented by late summer. The proposal includes over $30 million in new funding, 17 new local routes, and increased frequency for 17 lines, but also service reductions on 29 routes. The main highlight is the introduction of 'rush' routes to connect riders to rail faster. MTA Chair Janno Lieber said, 'Every change to a route has an impact on the schedule... and we did it.' Queens Borough President Donovan Richards voiced support, stating, 'I'm ready. We're ready.' The process began in 2019 and was shaped by extensive community input. No formal safety analysis was provided for vulnerable road users.

• The Queens Bus Redesign Is Finished. Probably, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-18

Dec 16 - Gov. Hochul hid her public schedule for months when she killed congestion pricing. Repeated records requests hit a wall. Advocates and legal experts say the secrecy blocks vital scrutiny. New Yorkers are left in the dark as drivers keep clogging city streets.

On December 16, 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office refused to release her daily schedule for April, May, and June—the months when she halted congestion pricing. Streetsblog filed two Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests (R001199-062024 and R001389-102924), both denied or delayed without reason. The matter centers on the governor's decision to 'pause congestion pricing,' a move that impacts every New Yorker who walks, bikes, or rides transit. Heather Murray of Cornell Law School called the delay 'unconscionable,' saying, 'Delaying release of these records for six months is tantamount to denial of the request and violates the Freedom of Information Law.' Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance urged Hochul to 'level with New Yorkers.' The governor's secrecy shields her from accountability as city streets remain dangerous for vulnerable road users.

• Gov. Hochul Won’t Reveal Public Schedule For Period When She Flopped on Congestion Pricing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-16

Dec 16 - A Staten Island cop drove drunk from a precinct party. Her car hit another, airbags burst, blood spilled. Three fellow officers rode with her. All face discipline. Two more NYPD drunk-driving arrests followed. System failed. Streets paid.

NY Daily News (2024-12-16) reports that NYPD Officer Diana Todaro was arrested for driving while intoxicated after crashing her car with three colleagues as passengers. The crash happened at Huguenot Ave. and Drumgoole Ave. West, Staten Island, after a precinct holiday party. Todaro admitted, "I had three or four drinks. My life is over." The impact triggered airbags and left her with a forehead gash. All three passengers, also officers, were placed on desk duty and may face charges for allowing Todaro to drive or being unfit for duty. The article notes this was one of three NYPD DWI arrests in four days, highlighting a pattern during holiday party season. The incident raises questions about internal discipline and the risks posed by impaired driving, even among law enforcement.

• NYPD Officers Crash After Holiday Party, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-16

Dec 13 - The Hudson River Greenway uptown reopens next week after months of sinkhole repairs. The fix is temporary. Cyclists and pedestrians face the same dangers. Advocates demand a highway lane for bikes. The city delays. The threat remains. Lives hang in the balance.

On December 13, 2024, officials announced the reopening of the Hudson River Greenway between W. 181st and Dyckman streets after months of repairs. The Parks Department said, 'While durable repairs have been made, efforts are ongoing to address underlying challenges and create a stronger, safer greenway for New Yorkers.' The path, north of the George Washington Bridge, has collapsed twice in two years. Advocates like Allegra LeGrande and Ira Gershenhorn, along with former Traffic Commissioner Sam Schwartz, urge the city to convert a Henry Hudson Parkway lane into a protected bike path. They call this 'low-hanging fruit.' Instead, the city has forced cyclists onto dangerous, unprotected detours. The city’s refusal to provide a safe, direct route exposes vulnerable road users to ongoing harm. No council bill number applies; this is an urgent matter of infrastructure and safety, not legislation.

• Patch Job: Hudson River Greenway Uptown Returns Next Week, For Now, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-13

Dec 10 - Council Member Paladino’s bid to ban e-bikes from city parks failed at Manhattan Community Board 2. Members called the bill vague, redundant, and unenforceable. Even e-bike skeptics dismissed it. The board demanded real solutions, not empty gestures or propaganda.

Bill number not specified. On December 10, 2024, Manhattan Community Board 2’s transportation and parks committees reviewed Council Member Vickie Paladino’s proposal to ban e-bikes from city parks. The committees voted overwhelmingly against it. The matter, described as an effort to 'make it more harmonious and safer for people in parks,' was criticized as 'not fleshed out.' Paladino, a Queens Republican, failed to provide data or address existing rules. Co-sponsor Gale Brewer admitted she signed on under pressure and doubted enforcement. Committee members Shirley Secunda, Susanna Aaron, Janet Liff, and Jeannine Kiely all voiced strong opposition, calling the bill redundant and inadequate. The Central Park Conservancy declined to endorse a ban, urging more protected bike lanes instead. The board found the proposal did nothing for safety and ignored systemic issues.

• ‘Not Fleshed Out’: Paladino’s E-Bike Ban Falls Flat at Manhattan Civic Panel, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-10

Dec 9 - A 75-year-old woman broke both arms tripping over Christmas trees dumped on a sidewalk. Video shows others stumbling too. A jury awarded her $1.1 million. The article slams sidewalk dumping, calls for strict enforcement, and demands clear paths for pedestrians.

On December 9, 2024, Streetsblog NYC published a media advocacy piece on sidewalk obstruction and pedestrian safety. The article recounts the case of Barbara Hutson, who suffered two broken arms after tripping over Christmas trees left on a Manhattan sidewalk by Regis High School and a neighboring coop. The article states: 'This would not have happened if Regis and the coop had not left the trees to occupy 70 percent of the sidewalk width,' quoting Hutson’s lawyer, Adam White. Hutson sued and won a $1.1 million jury verdict. The piece highlights city code requiring a clear pedestrian passage and criticizes the city’s lax enforcement. The article urges residents and government to keep sidewalks clear, placing discarded trees in the curbside lane, not where people walk. No council bill was involved, but the advocacy centers the danger to pedestrians and the need for systemic change.

• Cycle of Rage: Here’s Why Your Dead Christmas Tree Should Be in the Road, Not on the Sidewalk, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-09

Dec 4 - DOT built just 5.3 miles of new bus lanes in 2024. The law demands 30. Commissioner Rodriguez called it a great job. Critics slammed the city for falling short. Riders wait. Streets stay clogged. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

On December 4, 2024, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez defended the agency’s bus lane record before critics. The Streets Master Plan requires 30 new miles of bus lanes each year. In 2024, DOT delivered only 5.3 miles—just 17 percent of the legal mandate. Rodriguez claimed, “We are doing a great job,” citing national comparisons and blaming delays on community board processes and local opposition, especially around the 96th Street project. State Sen. Jessica Ramos, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, and State Sen. Zellnor Myrie condemned the city’s self-praise and legal failure. The matter title reads: ‘We Are Doing A Great Job’ … Falling Short of Bus Lane Requirement. Several projects are planned for 2025, but completion is uncertain. The city’s slow pace leaves bus riders and other vulnerable road users exposed to dangerous, congested streets.

• DOT Commish: ‘We Are Doing A Great Job’ … Falling Short of Bus Lane Requirement, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-04

Nov 22 - On Victory Blvd, a distracted SUV driver hit a northbound e-scooter rider. The rider suffered knee and leg injuries. The SUV’s rear bumper took the impact. The crash left the scooter driver conscious but hurt.

According to the police report, a crash occurred at 22:17 on Victory Blvd, Staten Island. An SUV, stopped in traffic, was struck at the right rear bumper by a northbound e-scooter. The e-scooter rider, a 50-year-old man, was going straight ahead and suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for the SUV driver. No contributing factors were attributed to the e-scooter rider. The data points to the SUV driver’s lack of attention and unsafe speed as causes of the crash and resulting injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774324 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 20 - A 26-year-old unlicensed driver crashed her sedan on Richmond Terrace. She suffered neck injuries. Police cite driver inexperience. No other people were hurt. The road remains dangerous for all.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old female driving a 2014 Kia sedan crashed on Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, at 21:06. She was the sole occupant. The sedan struck an object with its right front bumper. The driver suffered neck pain and whiplash, classified as a moderate injury. Police list 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Unlicensed' status as contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash underscores the risks posed when unlicensed, inexperienced drivers operate vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773045 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 20 - Council moves to gut parking reforms in City of Yes. Car-centric districts win. Fewer homes, more cars, less safety. The plan shrinks. Streets stay dangerous. The promise of safer, denser neighborhoods slips away in committee rooms.

Bill: City of Yes for Housing Opportunity. Status: Awaiting City Council committee vote as of November 20, 2024. The proposal, described as 'a zoning initiative aiming to eliminate costly parking mandates citywide,' faces heavy opposition from council members in low-density, car-dependent districts. Progressive members like Lincoln Restler, Carlina Rivera, Tiffany Cabán, and Shahana Hanif support full removal of parking mandates. But the Council is set to weaken the bill, keeping parking minimums in many areas. This move will slash the number of new housing units and keep dangerous car volumes on city streets. Experts warn that keeping parking mandates will limit housing growth and keep neighborhoods unsafe for those outside cars. The compromise falls short of the original vision for safer, more walkable streets.

• Council Likely To Weaken Mayor’s ‘City Of Yes’ Pro-Housing Zoning Plan, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-20

Nov 19 - A 48-year-old woman driving a 2019 Dodge pickup truck struck a parked 2024 Hyundai SUV on Bard Avenue. The impact hit the truck's left front bumper and the SUV's left rear bumper. The driver suffered full-body contusions but remained conscious.

According to the police report, at 11:25 p.m. on Bard Avenue in Staten Island, a 48-year-old female driver operating a 2019 Dodge pickup truck traveling south struck a parked 2024 Hyundai SUV. The collision occurred at the center front end of the pickup truck and the center back end of the SUV, damaging the truck's left front bumper and the SUV's left rear bumper. The driver, who was the sole occupant of the pickup truck, sustained injuries described as contusions and bruises to her entire body but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists unspecified contributing factors related to the driver. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The crash highlights risks posed by driver errors leading to collisions with stationary vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773038 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 19 - Three people hurt on Victory Blvd. Taxi and sedan drivers, plus a rear-seat passenger, suffered neck injuries. Police blame driver inattention and distraction for the chain-reaction crash.

According to the police report, a multi-vehicle crash struck Victory Blvd in Staten Island at 17:30. A Nissan sedan hit a taxi from behind, forcing the taxi into a Chevrolet sedan. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the cause. Two drivers and a female taxi passenger were injured, all suffering neck trauma. The passenger was in the middle rear seat with no safety equipment. No ejections occurred. Police cite driver inattention and distraction as the sole contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773041 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 18 - A sedan hit a bicyclist on Richmond Terrace. The cyclist suffered internal back injuries. Police cite failure to yield. The crash happened at 2:45 a.m. in Staten Island. The driver’s details remain unknown.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old male bicyclist was struck by a sedan while traveling east on Richmond Terrace at 2:45 a.m. The cyclist suffered internal back injuries and remained conscious at the scene. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the cause of the crash. The sedan was passing and showed no damage, while the bike was hit at the center back end. No information was provided about the sedan’s driver or occupants. The police report lists driver error as the primary factor, with no contributing factors attributed to the bicyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772458 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 18 - City data shows open streets thrive. Storefronts fill up. Pedestrians and cyclists bring life and cash. Cars do not. Vacancy rates drop where traffic is banned. Volunteers keep these corridors alive, but city support lags behind their success.

On November 18, 2024, the Department of City Planning released a report titled 'Storefront Activity in NYC Neighborhoods.' The analysis, covered by Streetsblog NYC, finds that open streets—car-free corridors—have about half the vacant storefronts of car-filled streets. The report states: 'vibrant public spaces are key to the success of local businesses.' City officials like Ya-Ting Liu, chief public realm officer, and volunteers such as Alex Morano and Brent Bovenzi, praised the program's impact. Bovenzi noted, 'the program is shrinking because too much of the burden falls upon volunteer labor.' The Open Streets program, now permanent, covers over 130 locations but relies heavily on volunteers. Advocates urge the city to invest more, as the data shows people-centric design drives economic recovery and safer, more vibrant neighborhoods.

• Car-Free Streets are Good For Business, Yet Another Report Shows, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-18

Nov 18 - City Council passed a bill to clean up battered newsracks. Erik Bottcher led the charge. The law forces owners to post contact info and lets DOT set strict standards. The goal: clear sidewalks, fewer obstacles, safer passage for all.

On November 18, 2024, the City Council approved a bill regulating sidewalk newsracks. The measure, sponsored by Council Member Erik Bottcher (District 3), passed through committee and aims to address neglected, broken, and obstructive newspaper boxes. The bill summary states it will 'establish clear guidelines and help ensure that our local publications get to maintain their newsracks while also helping to alleviate sidewalk congestion.' Bottcher’s action brings new requirements: owners must display contact information, and the Department of Transportation gains authority to set size, shape, and material standards. Sandra Ung, another council member, noted that without oversight, newsracks become a blight. The law seeks to reduce sidewalk clutter, making streets less hazardous for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.

• ‘Ugly’ NYC sidewalk newspaper boxes will get much-needed makeover under new City Council bill, nypost.com, Published 2024-11-18

Nov 14 - Jessica Scarcella-Spanton led Staten Island and Brooklyn politicians in a rally against congestion pricing. They gathered at the Verrazano Bridge, denouncing the plan as a burden on working-class commuters. The coalition promised fierce resistance, demanding the governor keep the program paused.

On November 14, 2024, State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (District 23) led a bipartisan rally against the revival of congestion pricing. The event, held at the Verrazano Bridge, included U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, Council Member Joe Borelli, and others. The group opposed Governor Hochul's plan to re-implement congestion pricing, which would charge vehicles entering lower Manhattan. The rally's matter title: 'Staten Island, Brooklyn pols rally against congestion pricing as Hochul considers reviving program.' Scarcella-Spanton pledged to 'fight tooth and nail until congestion pricing is dead.' Brooklyn Assembly Member Jaime Williams and others condemned the plan as unfair to transit deserts and working-class communities. No safety analyst assessment was provided regarding the impact on vulnerable road users.

• Staten Island, Brooklyn pols rally against congestion pricing as Hochul considers reviving program, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-11-14