DOT: “No Plans at This Time” for Car-Free Central Park Trial
The July 4 weekend is upon us and with it, the height of summer. If Manhattan's community boards had their way, summertime would mean a trial closure of Central Park's loop drive to cars.
July 1, 2011
First NYC 20 MPH Zone to Slow Cars With Gateway Neckdowns, Speed Humps
Last month DOT announced plans for the city's first 20 mph zone, located in the Claremont section of the Bronx. The agency's presentation to the local community board is now online [PDF], so you can see how DOT plans to implement the slow zone strategy in what could be the first of several neighborhoods. The approach is low-cost but should be effective: Every entrance to the area will be marked with a highly visible "gateway" announcing the reduced speed limit, and the neighborhood will be blanketed with regularly-spaced speed humps.
June 29, 2011
Yassky: Taxi Plan Will Reduce Car Ownership, Improve Safety
Since Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced his plan to create a new class of taxis allowed to make street hails outside the Manhattan core, most of the coverage has focused on the potential effect on yellow cab medallion owners' profits or livery drivers' earnings. Less has been written about the broader effect such a plan would have on the city's transportation system as a whole (Cap'n Transit being a notable exception).
June 29, 2011
Summer Streets 2011: Play Ball
This August, Park Avenue will again be closed to motor vehicles for three Saturday mornings as part of the fourth annual Summer Streets event.
June 28, 2011
New Signage to Guide Pedestrians in Four Neighborhoods
Improved sidewalk signage and maps for pedestrians will be the latest addition to the streetscape by the Department of Transportation, which just released a request for proposals for a new wayfinding system in four neighborhoods. In Long Island City, Prospect Heights and Crown Heights, Chinatown, and Midtown, DOT hopes the new information will encourage more people to walk and help them get where they're going faster.
June 27, 2011
Assembly Passes Transit Lockbox, Moves on to Governor
The transit lockbox bill, designed to prevent future raids on dedicated transit funds, has passed the State Assembly, according to the Assembly's website. Having already passed the Senate, the legislation now only needs the signature of Governor Andrew Cuomo to become law.
June 24, 2011
As Local Governments Innovate, State DOT Still Focused on Roads
This map shows many of the projects in the region's transportation improvement program, revealing the priorities of the area's transportation agencies for the next five years.
June 24, 2011