Press Releases

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release #19-065
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Contact: Scott Gastel/Brian Zumhagen (212) 839-4850

Vision Zero: City, State to Lower Speed Limit Along Manhattan’s West Side Highway

New York City and State DOT will reduce speed limit this weekend from 35 to 30 MPH on the West Side Highway from Battery Place to 59th St; Known as Route 9A, roadway has been site of 10 traffic fatalities since 2013

The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYS DOT) today announced that the speed limit would be reduced from 35 to 30 MPH on Route 9A along the Hudson River on Manhattan’s West Side. The new speed limit will go into effect and new speed-limit signs will be installed on Saturday, October 12th between Battery Place and 59th Street.This five-mile stretch of roadway has seen 10 traffic fatalities since 2013.

“Lowering the speed limit on this dangerous stretch of roadway will not only slow down drivers, but make it safer for all New Yorkers who live and enjoy the area,” said Deputy Mayor Laura Anglin. “Through Vision Zero this Administration continues to strive for safety improvements throughout New York City and thanks to our partners at the State we are improving the roadways leading into New York City as well.”

“Adjusting speed limits to safer travel speeds has been among the keys to saving lives under Vision Zero,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “With the growth of Hudson River Park and the Greenway, the country's busiest bike path, never mind great gathering places like Chelsea Piers, it is quite clear that the old “West Side Highway” is now more boulevard than highway — and this new speed limit reflects that evolution. We thank our partners at the State Department of Transportation for working with the City to make the West Side Highway safer for all of its users.”

“Safety is always the top priority of the New York State Department of Transportation and these changes to Route 9A, including new markings, signals and signage, will enhance safety along this heavily traveled roadway and make it easier for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists to move around Manhattan's West Side,” said New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez.

In addition to posting new speed limits, NYC DOT is adjusting traffic signal timing in keeping with the new speed limit that will take effect on the three following parts of Route 9A, formerly known together as the “West Side Highway”:

  • West St from Battery Pl to W 14th St
  • 11th Ave from W 14th St to W 22nd St
  • 12th Ave from W 22nd St to W 59th St

Since 2013, this segment of Route 9a has seen 10 fatalities, including three pedestrians, two cyclists, and five motor vehicle occupants. Injuries among all street users have been consistent on the stretch of roadway, at an average of about 300 per year. All three affected sections of the roadway are among the highest in the city for rate of motor vehicle occupants killed or seriously injured per mile. The high rate of rear-end crashes especially suggests that slower speeds would reduce injuries.

Reducing vehicle speeds on roads where pedestrians and cyclists interact with motor vehicles, increases the likelihood of surviving a crash. Route 9A is designed like an urban boulevard - with a median, traffic signals and frequent crosswalks -- but because it functions as a connector between highways, bridges and tunnels, drivers often move closer to 40MPH, a speed at which nearly 90% of pedestrian or cyclist crashes are fatal.

As part of DOT’s speed camera expansion, cameras are being added along the West Side Highway, including one on West Street in Tribeca, which DOT announced in June. Speed cameras will be programmed to reflect the new speed limit.

"Hudson River Park has long been one of the most cherished green spaces in all of Manhattan,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “Reducing the speed limit on Route 9A should make accessing the park a more pleasant and, more importantly, safe experience. I applaud NYC DOT and NYS DOT for their work on this and look forward to working with them to advance greater safety measures for New Yorkers."

"As a continuation of the City’s historic Vision Zero initiative, the reduction of speed of the West Side Highway by 5 mph to 30 mph may not seem like a lot, but it cuts the chances of pedestrians dying from being hit by a vehicle in half,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler.  “I applaud City and State DOT for this action.  We must make our streets safer for pedestrians and reduce the tragic loss of life that is too often the result of dangerous driving.  The West Side Highway is not some interstate highway in a rural area, but a boulevard street in Manhattan that is adjacent to a park, pedestrian walkway and bike path. This speed reduction initiative will help to create a safer environment for all New Yorkers."

"The West Side Highway in my Senate district is adjacent to neighborhoods of explosive population growth and one of the busiest parks in the nation. That’s why I’m glad that the New York State and New York City Department of Transportation are lowering the speed limit on the West Side Highway and enacting numerous other safety improvements that will protect pedestrians, cyclists and motorists,” said State Senator Brad Hoylman. “These safety improvements are a direct result of a close collaboration by the New York State Department of Transportation, New York City Department of Transportation, elected officials and community board members on the West Side of Manhattan who have worked over several years to make these changes possible."

"My district spans the west side of Manhattan from Marble Hill all the way down to 26th Street, so I am all too familiar with the dangers posed by fast-moving traffic along this portion of 9A,” said State Senator Robert Jackson. “I am grateful to both City and State Departments of Transportation for their work—together with the Community Boards and other local stakeholders like my office—in designing new signal timings and, now, reducing the speed limit along West Street, 11th Avenue, and 12th Avenue. These changes will keep us all safer!"

"We must continue reducing speed limits in our streets, it is the right thing to do to protect cyclists and pedestrians. The streets belong to the public, no only to drivers and we need to share them. We have seen that lowering the speed limit by even 5 MPH, would significantly increase the chances of a pedestrian or cyclists surviving the crash,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Chairman of the Transportation Committee. “We need to ensure that the DOT gives some time for drivers to adjust to the new speed limit before they begin to enforce it. I will be working closely alongside DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg to ensure we continue implementing life saving measures for all New Yorkers."

"Here in Lower Manhattan we have long advocated for improved safety measures along the West Side Highway,” said Council Member Margaret S. Chin. "By curbing the high-speed, dangerous traffic at three critical junctures, increasing pedestrian crossing times and improving signal times, the Department of Transportation is showing they understand the urgency of the situation. I want to thank the advocates for their tireless efforts to push for a West Side Highway that is safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers."

About Vision Zero: In 2014, New York City became the first City in the United States to implement Vision Zero. Through a combination of enforcement, education and engineering, New York City made dramatic changes that have helped drive down fatalities for five consecutive years, bucking national trends. To maintain progress, since the beginning of 2019, New York City has released a Vision Zero Year 5 Report, as well as a major update to its Pedestrian Safety Action Plans.

For more information about the de Blasio Administration’s Vision Zero initiative, please see www.nyc.gov/visionzero.