Press Release Archives #047-99 - SUCCESS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN FISCAL YEAR 1999

Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Monday, February 8, 1999

Release #047-99

Contact: Colleen Roche/Jennifer Chait (212) 788-2958

MAYOR GIULIANI REPORTS ON SUCCESS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN FISCAL YEAR 1999

Mayor's Preliminary Management Report Shows Major Improvements to City Roadways

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Wilbur L. Chapman today announced significant improvements to City streets and arterial highways as outlined in the Mayor's Management Report (preliminary for Fiscal Year 1999).

"Over the past year, the Department of Transportation has made major improvements to roadways throughout New York City," Mayor Giuliani said. "This year's achievements include making our City streets safer by reducing potholes through a comprehensive pothole blitz; making schoolchildren safer by installing speed humps near schools, and by repaving nearly five times as many lane miles as last year. In addition, the Department's Adopt-A-Highway program has recorded a record number of adoptions this year, making our highways cleaner. I commend Commissioner Chapman and all the DOT professionals for their hard work and look forward to their continued success."

Commissioner Chapman said, "Despite this winter's icy conditions, which wreak havoc on pavement, our roadways and highways are in terrific shape. This is due in large part to the intensive pothole filling campaign implemented last fall and major maintenance throughout the fall and winter by our highway crews."

The NYCDOT maintains approximately 5,700 miles of streets and highways. Major improvements and maintenance to City roadways and arterial highways include:

the filling and repairing of 51,475 potholes since July 1, 1998. Almost 30,000 potholes -- 29,822 potholes -- were filled during the pothole blitz which began in September and ended in early December 1998;
the repaving of 478 lane miles of City streets throughout the five boroughs; almost 100 more miles than last year during the same period;
the record adoption of public highways through DOT's Adopt- A-Highway Program: there are currently 339 miles adopted, out of a total of 378 adoptable miles. There are 149 sponsors participating in this program.
the installation of 116 speed humps around city schools - both public and private. The figure is up from 28 over the previous calendar year. Prior to 1994, DOT had never installed a speed hump.

"Children are our most valued assets. We must ensure that the environment around schools is as safe as possible and that the installation of traffic-calming measures is our biggest priority. It is this Department's goal to make certain that everyone who uses our roads has the best street infrastructure possible," added Commissioner Chapman.

The New York City Department of Transportation also maintains and rehabilitates 770 bridge structures and six tunnels. In addition, it operates The Staten Island Ferry and monitors private ferry services.

The Mayor is scheduled to deliver his preliminary Mayor's Management Report on Wednesday, February 10, where he will further outline the City's accomplishments this past year in such areas as: crime reduction, tax reduction, job creation and school construction among others.

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