Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today joined Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Iris Weinshall to announce the easing of two traffic restrictions implemented after the events of September 11th. The first would reduce the hours in effect of the ban on single-occupancy vehicles coming into Manhattan via the Holland Tunnel; the other raises some restrictions on streets below Canal Street.

Mayor Giuliani said, "Commuters have been very patient in dealing with the necessary traffic restrictions we put into effect following the September 11th attacks. Today, we are glad to announce that we are easing up on even more of those restrictions, a sure sign that the City is well on its way back to normal."

The single-occupancy vehicle ban for the Manhattan-bound Holland Tunnel will now be reduced to 6 A.M. to 10 A.M. on weekdays. These new times will take effect the morning of Thursday, November 29, 2001. Previously, time restrictions were from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. The New Jersey-bound Holland Tunnel has no single occupancy vehicle restrictions.

In another move to help facilitate traffic flow in Lower Manhattan, the Mayor announced that all passenger cars now will be allowed south of Canal Street, except for the hours of 6 A.M. to 10 A.M. on weekdays. Passenger cars still will not be allowed in the frozen zone in the vicinity of Ground Zero.

Previously, only residential vehicles were allowed south of Canal Street, along with emergency and official vehicles, commercial plates, Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) certified vehicles, buses and delivery vehicles.

Here is an updated capsule summary on restrictions at each major Bridge and crossing into the Borough of Manhattan:

SINGLE-OCCUPANCY VEHICLE RESTRICTIONS

On September 27, 2001, the City instituted a ban on vehicles with only one passenger from entering Manhattan from any bridge or tunnel south of 63rd Street between 6 A.M. - 10 A.M., Monday through Friday.

The following crossings affected by the ban are: the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, the Williamsburg Bridge, the Queensborough Bridge, the Holland Tunnel, Queens Midtown Tunnel and the Lincoln tunnel. Once in Manhattan, there are no passenger restrictions.

Motorists in the following categories will be exempted from the ban:

• Vehicles with commercial plates, official government plates, and NYP Plates.
  
  
• Vehicles carrying essential emergency medical personnel (e.g. physicians)
  
  
• Authorized emergency personnel vehicles.
  
  
• Vehicles with NYC special parking permits for the disabled.
  
  
• Medallion taxicabs and livery vehicles authorized by the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission.
  
  
• Motorcycles

BRIDGE AND TUNNEL RESTRICTIONS

• On November 15, 2001, the City reopened the inbound (Manhattan-bound) Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to passenger cars (no trucks or commercial traffic) between the hours of 8 P.M. and 6 A.M. seven days a week. Between the hours of 6 A.M. and 8 P.M., the Tunnel will remain closed to all inbound traffic except emergency vehicles and express buses. The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel is opened to vehicular traffic outbound (Brooklyn-bound) via one lane from the FDR Drive South only. At all other times, only emergency response vehicles are permitted.
  
  
• The Brooklyn Bridge is open both inbound (Manhattan-bound) and outbound (Brooklyn-bound) to vehicular traffic. Motorists traveling Manhattan-bound can access the Bridge via the Eastbound BQE and Sands Street entrance, as well as the Tillary and Adams Streets entrances. Manhattan-bound traffic will be directed to the Northbound FDR Drive, or the Centre Street entrance, northbound only. Brooklyn-bound traffic can access the Bridge via the Southbound FDR Drive or Lafayette Street.
  
  
• Other East River Bridges, including the Manhattan, Williamsburg and Queensborough Bridges remain open in both directions.
  
  
• The Queens Midtown and Lincoln Tunnels are open both inbound and outbound to vehicular traffic.
  
  
• The New York-bound Holland Tunnel is open only to cars, with a 6 A.M. to 10 A.M. weekday single occupancy ban. Entrances are available through Laight Street (to head north on West Street) and Hudson Street (heading north). The New Jersey-bound Holland Tunnel is open to vehicular traffic. For New Jersey-bound vehicles, passenger vehicles can access the Holland Tunnel via Watts or Varick Streets. Express buses can access the New Jersey-bound Holland Tunnel via Canal Street. No trucks can utilize the Holland Tunnel at this time.
  
  
• No restrictions on the George Washington, Triborough, Whitestone, Verrazano, Henry Hudson, and Goethals Bridges.
  
  

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