FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2001 |
Release # 360-01 |
Contact: | Sunny Mindel / Sid Dinsay | 212-788-2958 |
Tom Antenen (DCPI) | 212-374-6700 | |
Tom Cocola (DOT) | 212-442-7033 |
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today announced that the City's Holiday Traffic Control Plan, which in years past successfully helped to cut down congestion in the City, will be implemented again during the upcoming holiday season. Joining the Mayor were Chief of the Department Joseph Esposito of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Iris Weinshall.
Mayor Giuliani said, "This holiday season we again expect a record number of visitors to come to New York City. And while we strongly encourage the use of mass transit, we want to make our streets as safe as possible for pedestrians and motorists. That is why we are again implementing our Holiday Traffic Control Plan, which proved so successful last year. The City will have zero tolerance for drivers who block intersections or park illegally, and there will be more cops and traffic agents making sure traffic rules are followed. Our message is the same as last year: if you think you can break the law, think again."
The comprehensive strategy comprises continuing enforcement programs by the NYPD and traffic mitigation initiatives by DOT, including those recently introduced in the weeks following the events of September 11th. The Holiday Traffic Control Plan will go into effect November 16, 2001 and will end January 2, 2002.
DON'T BLOCK THE BOX:
- The Don't Block the Box initiative continues this year, with a comprehensive zero tolerance enforcement effort aimed at vehicles that block intersections. There will be a special emphasis on the Midtown Manhattan area. Vehicles caught in the intersection after the light has turned red will be issued a summons. The initial fine is $65.00 plus two points against the driver's license. Since 1999, approximately 85,000 summonses have been issued.
- Approximately 180 Probationary Police Officers and 1,000 Auxiliary Police Officers will provide additional coverage at heavily congested intersections.
- The City's toll-free hotline for pedestrians and motorists to report vehicles seen blocking the box is 877-GRIDLOCK or (877-474-3562).
OPERATION MOVE-ALONG
- To keep traffic flowing and improve vehicular and pedestrian safety, the NYPD will continue Operation Move-Along, which targets double parking, as well as the unauthorized use of bus lanes, no standing zones, and construction permits. All violators will be subject to ticketing, booting and towing. Operation Move-Along summonses range from $55 to $280, depending on whether the vehicle is tire booted, towed, or both.
OPERATION ON-BOARD
- Operation onboard, in which traffic agents travel on buses and write summonses as they come across vehicles parked in bus zones and bus lanes, will continue. From January 1st through October 19th, 2001, 9,318 Operation Onboard summonses were issued, along with over 13,000 summonses and 1,044 vehicles towed for bus lane enforcement during the same period.
GRIDLOCK ALERT DAYS
- Gridlock Alert warnings are generally issued when the number of vehicles in Manhattan is expected to exceed one million. They usually fall on Wednesdays (matinee days on Broadway) and Friday. The ten Gridlock Alert Days that fall within the Holiday Traffic Control Plan period are as follows:
Friday, November 16
Wednesday, November 21 (Day before Thanksgiving and Matinee Day)
Wednesday, November 28 (Matinee Day)
Friday, December 7
Wednesday, December 12
Thursday, December 13
Friday, December 14
Wednesday, December 19
Thursday, December 20
Friday, December 21SINGLE-OCCUPANT VEHICLE BANS
- On September 27th, 2001, the City instituted a ban on single-occupant passenger vehicles on river crossings entering Manhattan south of 63rd Street. The ban affects Manhattan-bound traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, the Williamsburg Bridge, the Queens-Midtown Tunnel, the Queensboro Bridge and the Lincoln Tunnel from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays. Currently, the restriction on the Holland Tunnel is from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.
Exceptions are made for:
- Vehicles with commercial plates;
- Official government plates or NYP plates;
- Vehicles with essential emergency personnel;
- Vehicles with New York City special parking ID permits for the disabled;
- Vehicles with authorized emergency personnel, such as police, fire, EMS or OEM officials;
- Vehicles with taxi cabs and livery vehicles, authorized by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission;
- Hearses and motorcycles.
Reminder: The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel is still closed to Manhattan-bound traffic, except express buses and emergency personnel.
STREET RESTRICTIONS IN LOWER MANHATTAN:
- The following street restrictions remain in effect around the World Trade Center disaster site: Park Place (on the north) to Rector Street (on the south) and from West Street to Church Street.
FREE BROOKLYN FERRY:
- This ferry service runs from the Brooklyn Army Terminal at 58th Street and 1st Avenue in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, to the Whitehall Ferry Terminal during the a.m. and p.m. rush hours with a free shuttle bus in the Bay Ridge and Sunset Park area.
SHEA STADIUM PARK AND RIDE
- Increased the utilization of the existing park and ride facility located in the Shea Stadium parking lot. Drivers can park their cars Monday through Friday for $3.00 and then take the #7 Train to Manhattan. Security is provided at the lot until 8 P.M.
MIDTOWN MANHATTAN COMMERCIAL VEHICLE PAID PARKING PROGRAM
- The Commercial Meter Program, successfully implemented last year, charges a parking fee for all commercial vehicles parked on specific blocks in Midtown Manhattan. The areas covered are 43rd through 56th Streets, from 5th Avenue to Broadway; and 7th Avenue between 47th and 55th Streets. Commercial vehicles, while still being subject to the standard three-hour time limit, will be charged an increasing graduated rate for each hour parked.
This initiative relies on Muni-Meters--electronic meters that can be used for multiple parking spaces. Use of these meters allows for more vehicles to be parked on each block than do traditional meters. Last year, over $125,000 in prepaid parking tickets were issued through this program.
STREET AND SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION EMBARGO /
CONSTRUCTION ZONE PERMIT COMPLIANCE- With the exception of emergencies and buildings already under construction, DOT will impose a street and sidewalk construction embargo for the issuance of new permits in numerous locations throughout the City. Each NYPD precinct will be strictly enforcing compliance with existing permits for all construction.
- In addition, NYPD construction compliance personnel and DOT Highway Inspectors & Quality Assurance (HIQA) units issue summonses at construction sites found in violation of permit stipulations.
- From January 1 to September 30, 2001, the NYPD, together with DOT's HIQA Units, issued over 16,000 summonses for failure to comply with permit regulations. HIQA units investigate existing and new permits to make sure they are for genuine emergencies. Permit violators face fines ranging from $150 to $4,000 per occurrence. Complaints may be reported to (212) CALL-DOT.
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CENTER
- DOT operates a centralized command center for citywide traffic operations. NYPD's Traffic Operation Center is also based at the Traffic Management Center (TMC), where closed-circuit TV screens facilitate rapid deployment of appropriate resources to incident areas. The TMC monitors traffic conditions, remotely controls a traffic signalization system, and operates 29 variable message signs to broadcast warnings to motorists. During the holiday season, TMC will utilize its capabilities to mitigate traffic conditions.
- Currently images are received from more than 65 cameras located on the Queensboro and Williamsburg Bridges, the Van Wyck Expressway and major Manhattan intersections. In addition, with federal funding, an additional 50 cameras will be installed throughout Manhattan. DOT expects to have 14 additional cameras operational by Thanksgiving and plans to install two additional cameras each week thereafter, with a total of 87 cameras in place by January 1, 2001.
- Beginning December 1, 2000 real-time traffic video images will be available on DOT's website located at www.nyc.gov/calldot.
PEDESTRIAN SEPARATORS
- The installation of pedestrian separators at highly congested locations enhances the safety of pedestrians, while increasing road capacity. Additional pedestrian separators have been installed along Fifth Avenue at East 50th Street and between West 23rd and West 24th Streets. Fences have also been installed on both sides of Herald Square between 33rd and 34th Streets, and on Park Avenue at East 33rd Street. Currently 5,700 feet of fencing exists.
- In addition, the Times Square Traffic Calming Project was completed this September, improving vehicular flow through the "bow-tie" area of Times Square. Phase One of the plan was implemented late last year, when DOT installed new taxi stand signage. During Phase Two, DOT widened sidewalks using asphalt extensions, and installed planters, pavement markings and bollards to further separate pedestrians from vehicular traffic. In all, 24 block faces between 49th and 41st Streets on Broadway and 7th Avenue underwent changes. Phase Three introduced turn restrictions at certain intersections on Broadway and 7th Avenue.
SELECTED TURN - PARKING RESTRICTIONS
- Selected turning movements will be prohibited during the day to both facilitate traffic flow and minimize pedestrian/vehicular accidents. Initial restrictions will be posted on Fifth Avenue, between 47th and 55th Streets, to ease congestion in the vicinity of Rockefeller Center. Similarly, parking regulations on several Midtown cross streets will be upgraded to prohibit standing during the peak periods to provide additional capacity on selected westbound streets providing, access to Route 9A.
SHOPPING MALLS
- To mitigate traffic and provide enhanced security for shoppers, additional NYPD personnel will be deployed at major shopping locations throughout the City, including: Bay Plaza, the Bronx; Kings Plaza Mall, Brooklyn; Queens Center Mall; and Staten Island Mall.
OTHER TRAFFIC CONTROL STRATEGIES
- CENTRAL PARK: Central Park Drive will be open for extended hours - 7 PM through 10 PM to further facilitate traffic flow north of Central Park South during the holiday season.
- DOT'S TRAFFIC INFORMATION HOTLINE: (877) DOT-MOVE provides updates every 15 minutes regarding traffic conditions at key locations in Midtown. The hotline operates Monday through Friday during rush hours - 7 A.M. to 10 AM and 4 PM to 7 PM. Callers also have the option to report traffic conditions as observed. All DOT MOVE information will also be available at DOT's TTY (212) 442-9488.
- BRIDGE AND TUNNEL APPROACHES: The Police Department will position approximately 150 traffic enforcement agents at key gateways into and out of Manhattan during peak rush hours to direct traffic and facilitate vehicle flow.
- COMMERCIAL VEHICLE COMPLIANCE: Commercial vehicles are regulated with respect to the routes they may travel, the size and weight of their vehicles, and the condition of their equipment. Last year, the NYPD issued over 19,300 summonses citywide for various violations of these regulations.
- TOWING: As part of the Highway Emergency Local Patrol (HELP) program, franchised towing operations will deploy additional tow trucks at selected areas, including the FDR Drive and the West Side Highway, to move stalled cars immediately out of traffic lanes.
- BOOTING: Vehicles illegally parked at the curb will be booted and, if appropriate, towed. To have the boot removed, the vehicle owner will be required to go to the tow pound and pay a $75.00 fee. In some cases, vehicles that remain illegally parked may be towed and the vehicle's owner will be required to pay an additional $150.00 fee.
- OTHER AGENCIES: Other agencies/groups that will be involved in the enforcement of traffic laws will be: the Taxi & Limousine Commission, which will provide personnel to issue sanctions for violations committed by taxis and limousines, in addition to continuing Operation Refusal with the NYPD to ensure that no person is improperly denied access to taxis; Metro-North Railroad Police will assist in enforcement around Grand Central Station; the Port Authority Police will assist in enforcement around the Port Authority Bus Terminal, the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels, and the George Washington Bridge; and the Long Island Railroad Police will assist in enforcement around Penn Station/Madison Square Garden.
Chief of the Department Esposito said, "When the NYPD first introduced `Don't Block the Box', `Operation Move-Along' and other initiatives, our aim was to make the streets of New York as safe as possible for citizens and visitors alike. We have proven that these traffic mitigation initiatives have worked, and will continue to employ them to make sure that the greatest City in the world is also the safest."
DOT Commissioner Weinshall said, "The holiday season will bring more tourists to see the Rockefeller Christmas tree; shoppers at our malls; and people visiting loved ones and friends. Our aim at DOT is to make sure their holiday is the safest possible, and with the public's cooperation, we will realize our goal."
Additional information can be found at DOT'S website at www.nyc.gov/calldot
by calling the DOT hotline at 212/718-CALLDOT (225-5368). DOT will
also be working with the Shadow Traffic communications network, which serves
87 radio stations in the tri-state area, to share information on traffic conditions.
www.nyc.gov