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Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall today announced a series of comprehensive improvements for the intersection of Forest and South Avenues, one of ten high priority intersections identified for design modifications by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's Staten Island Transportation Task Force. Commissioner Weinshall also provided a progress report on the Department of Transportation's (DOT) implementation of the short term recommendations made by the task force in March. Commissioner Weinshall and Department of City Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden will convene the next meeting of the Transportation Taskforce on June 26, 2006.

On March 27, 2006, Mayor Bloomberg announced that ten high priority island intersections would be analyzed for possible design modifications within one year. DOT recently finalized plans for the intersection of Forest and South Avenues and on Wednesday May 31, 2006, work began to construct dedicated left turn bays on the Eastbound and Westbound Forest Avenue approaches to the intersection. A new dual left turn signal (green arrow) will be installed next week and will provide motorists making a left onto South Avenue from Forest with 12-20 seconds of exclusive turning time. The intersection will also be milled and resurfaced and new roadway markings and regulatory signs will be added. Two travel lanes will remain in each direction and the new left turn lanes will ease congestion caused by turning traffic.

"In just 8 weeks since the task force made its recommendations we've made a lot of progress, and the improvements at Forest and South Avenues are just one of a number of steps being taken to address congestion at Staten Island's busiest intersections," said DOT Commissioner Iris Weinshall.

DOT is also currently evaluating the intersections of Richmond Avenue at Draper Place South and Victory Boulevard at Jewett Avenue and has started preliminary data collection at 5 other priority intersections.

• In April DOT installed parking prohibitions at 12 intersections to provide motorists with better visibility (daylighting). They are:

• In May, parking prohibitions were installed at 12 additional intersections, enhancing safety for motorists and pedestrians. They are:

• DOT recently hired engineering consultants Gannett Fleming to analyze right turn on red opportunities on Staten Island.
• DOT has completed a number of key safety projects including: (1) Van Duzer Corridor - installed markings to narrow the Van Duzer corridor (channelization) which has calmed traffic and enhanced safety, (2) Forrest Avenue and Bard Avenue - work began this week to extend the raised concrete median to prevent illegal turning, (3) Henderson Avenue - installed two speed boards along Henderson Avenue and added new markings at the intersection of Henderson and Bard Avenues, and (4) Annadale SIR Station sidewalk project - trees have been removed and sidewalk will be installed in mid-June.
• DOT has milled and paved the Great Kills Park and Ride and will install markings, signs and a guardrail in June.
• The Police Department has increased its overtime for traffic enforcement in Staten Island by 20% and has focused on locations such as Targee and Narrows Rd N, Targee and Narrows Rd S, Richmond and Victory Blvd and along Hylan Boulevard. On Hylan Boulevard alone between 4/24 and 5/21, the NYPD issued 693 summonses -- primarily for moving violations. In addition, the NYPD has increased its focus on truck violation enforcement. The NYPD has also assigned Staten Island Deputy Chief Rudy Landin to the task force. Deputy Chief Landin takes over for Inspector Joseph McKeever.
• Commissioner Weinshall met with Commissioner David Burney of the Department of Design and Construction (DDC) and Commissioner Emily Lloyd of the Department of Environmental Protection and the Law Department to discuss process improvements for Staten Island capital projects, including changes in acquisition, roadway water and sewer coordination and environmental analyses. DDC will be spearheading interagency work groups in all three areas.
• DOT has established a protocol for coordinating with Departments of City Planning, Parks and Buildings on projects that will impact transportation.
• In June DOT will conduct two rounds of community outreach meetings at Staten Island Community Boards. During round one, DOT will provide Task Force progress reports to the Transportation Committees of Community Boards 1, 2 & 3. During round two DOT will discuss with the full boards agency procedures for conducting various studies, installing traffic signals and evaluating other transportation requests.

• June  5, 2006      Community Board 2 Transportation Committee
• June 12, 2006     Community Board 3 Transportation Committee
• June 19, 2006     Community Board 1 Transportation Committee

• June 13, 2006     Community Board 1 - Full Board
• June 20, 2006     Community Board 2 - Full Board
• June 27, 2006     Community Board 3 - Full Board

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Contact: Kay Sarlin (212) 442-7033
Chris Gilbride

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