On July 22, Community Board 10 held a public meeting (via internet) to discuss the NYC Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Road Diet plan.
The proposal would cut lanes on a portion of East Tremont Avenue from four lanes to three, and would would further reduce driving space through the development of a dedicated bike lane.
The Throggs Neck BID, joined by an overwhelming number of participants at the meeting, including Councilmember Mark Gjonaj, vigorously opposed the plan. It would intentionally make driving slower and unintentionally more dangerous, since drivers would be forced to pass double parked vehicles by pulling into oncoming traffic. In a commercial area, double-parking by trucks making deliveries is inevitable, since stores and restaurants must get deliveries to stay in business.
The timing of the plan, which DOT seeks to implement late this summer, is particularly poor, since businesses already hurt by the COVID shutdown would be further detrimentally impacted.
DOT claimed their proposal would help reduce traffic accidents by reducing speeding, ignoring the fact that poor lighting is a key factor in safety. BID Executive Director Bob Jaen noted that numerous requests had been made to DOT for improved lighting, which would address safety issues, but the requests remain unfulfilled.
It became apparent at the meeting that DOT had not bothered to gather all the facts, including the location of speed cameras, and the impact on attached traffic areas.
It was also pointed out by Jaen that citywide, only 0.65% actually use bikes for transportation, and inconveniencing the other 99.35% by installing a bike lane made no sense whatsoever.
Despite the opposition of the residents, businesses, the BID, and elected officials, DOT remained determined to move ahead with their proposal, in defiance of all the above.
The BID is determined to fight on.