REMINDER! THE COMMUNITY BOARD MEETING IS TONIGHT!
To listen-in, dial (646) 992-2010 and enter access key 1299536826 when prompted.
The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) has a proposal that may have a negative impact on businesses, residents and shoppers within the Throggs Neck BID.
DOT is seeking to implement a “road diet” plan, which will reduce driving lanes on East Tremont Avenue from the Cross Bronx Expressway Service Road to Harding Avenue, and Harding Avenue from Emerson Avenue to Pennyfield Avenue, from four lanes to three. Drivable space will be even further reduced due to the development of a bike lane.
Community Board 10 had announced its opposition when a similar proposal was announced (and unfortunately implemented) on the portion of East Tremont Avenue from Bruckner to Westchester Square. Our neighboring community, Morris Park, successfully fought against a “road diet” plan that DOT attempted to implement in their area.
Some cities, such as Gainesville in Florida, adopted road diet proposals than subsequently abandoned them.
On 2015, Steve Lopez wrote in The Los Angeles Times:
“Road diet’ is the operative term…everything you do — from commuting, to running errands, to taking the kids to school — will be affected for decades to come. As…David Zahniser wrote, ‘The goal is to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians while also luring more people out of their cars.’…Critics are crying about pollution from idling vehicles, potential emergency vehicle delays, accident risks and new headaches as motorists cut through residential streets to avoid road-diet backups. A Westside nonprofit called Fix the City has sued to overturn the plan, which won City Council approval in August by a 12-2 vote.”
The idea of discouraging vehicular traffic through road diet plans will not work well in a community such as ours. Those who frequent our shops and restaurants, overwhelmingly, use cars, and that is highly unlikely to change.
Community Board 10 has scheduled a CISCO WEBEX virtual meeting where you can listen-in. It will be on Wednesday, July 22 at 7:30 P.M. To listen-in, dial (646) 992-2010 and enter access key 1299536826 when prompted. Since it is a conference call, you will be muted by the host so that the presentation can occur. It is a committee meeting where we may not be able to get each person’s question and/or comment.