Special Reports

One of New York City’s preeminent jurists, Frederick A.O. Schwarz Jr., affirmed today that the city possesses full legal authority to toll its own roads and bridges and thus does not require state approval to implement congestion pricing.

An internal study estimates Stuy-Town/Peter Cooper Village residents account for at least 7,000 daily L train riders.

During the L shutdown, the MTA plans to run shuttle buses at rush hour connecting Williamsburg to Manhattan. Some sort of transit priority treatment is on the table for Brooklyn streets where buses connect to the bridge, but what DOT has in mind isn't clear.

DOT and the MTA may go beyond typical bus lanes in their plan to keep people moving on 14th Street during the L train shutdown, which will suspend service west of Bedford Avenue for 15 months starting in April 2019.

In light of a new legal analysis that concluded NYC can toll its own streets without waiting for Albany, the Move New York campaign has proposed a "home rule" version of its road pricing plan that would charge $2.75 to drive across the four East River bridges and a 60th Street cordon and tax for-hire vehicle and taxi trips in the densest parts of Manhattan. But despite a supportive City Council, the de Blasio administration isn't adding road pricing to its agenda.

Starting in January 2019, service on the L train west of Bedford Avenue will be suspended for 15 months to allow for Sandy-related repairs. The only way to keep hundreds of thousands of people moving is to dedicate significant street space to buses on both sides of the East River. But at a presentation to elected officials on Friday, the MTA and DOT did not indicate that bus lanes are part of their plan, except on the Williamsburg Bridge itself.

The Delancey Street approach to the Williamsburg Bridge bike path is slated for a two-way bike lane linking to Allen Street, as well as an eastbound connection from Chrystie Street.

While we're waiting to get a look at DOT and the MTA's forthcoming plans for the L train shutdown, Gothamist and Transportation Alternatives put on "L-ternative Visions" -- a design competition to envision 14th Street "as a people-first transit corridor." On Wednesday the winner was revealed.

At Brooklyn Community Board 1, DOT will present a plan to improve bicycle connections on the Brooklyn side of the Williamsburg Bridge, including protected bike lanes on the blocks approaching the bridge's bike path.