Press Release Archives # 326-01 - MAYOR GIULIANI ANNOUNCES EASING OF TIME RESTRICTIONS ON SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLES ENTERING NEW YORK CITY

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, Department of Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall and Police Commissioner Bernard B. Kerik announced today that the ban on single occupancy vehicles entering Manhattan south of 63rd Street via any bridge or tunnel will now be in effect from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., Monday through Friday beginning Wednesday, October 17, 2001. The easing of the time restrictions by one hour reflects the fact that motorists have heeded the City's urging to use mass transit, and to carpool. The scaling back of the hours from 11 a.m. to 10 a.m. also comes as a result of additional thoroughfares being opened in Lower Manhattan.

"Scaling back the hours of the single occupancy vehicle ban below 63rd Street in Manhattan is a sure sign that we are making real progress in getting the City and the traffic flow back to normal," said Mayor Giuliani. " Beginning at 6 a.m. tomorrow, the restrictions will be reduced by 1 hour. While I'm pleased with the progress we are making, I am urging New Yorkers to continue utilizing mass transit and continue to car pool."

"Yesterday, we tracked a 23 percent decrease in vehicular traffic from the average weekday rush hour volume recorded the same period last year," said Commissioner Iris Weinshall. "I would like to commend commuters of the New York City region for their patience and for complying with this rule."

As a result of the single occupancy ban, early morning traffic patterns are returning closer to normal. The early morning queue at the Queensboro Bridge along Queens Boulevard, for example, has been at Van Dam Street and the 35th Street area for the past couple of weeks, the Commissioner noted. On September 25, two days before the initial 6 a.m. to 12-noon ban went into effect, the queue was at 57th Street on Queens Boulevard.

Commissioner Weinshall also noted that traffic has decreased by 22 percent along the City's four East River Bridges - the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg and Queensboro - between the 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. hour.

The Commissioner said that D.O.T. and the NYPD continue to work with the Port Authority and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on this initiative. The reduction in the ban hours will take effect at the Lincoln and Midtown Tunnels, as well as the East River Bridges.

Easing the ban will help businesses by allowing them to more easily stagger business hours. Commissioner Weinshall added the change in the hours is also made possible by the recent street openings over the past few days, including Route 9A from 34th Street to Canal Street; the outbound Brooklyn Battery Tunnel; the inbound Holland Tunnel; and greater access to and from the Brooklyn Bridge.

Motorists were also reminded today that the 24-hour single occupancy ban at the New York-bound Holland Tunnel is still in effect.

Bridge and Tunnel Access:

The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel is re-opened to vehicular traffic outbound (Brooklyn-bound) via one lane from the FDR Drive South only. Manhattan-bound Brooklyn Battery Tunnel is open only to emergency vehicles.

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 enter the Brooklyn Bridge via the FDR Drive South or Lafayette Street.

Other East River Bridges, including the Manhattan, Williamsburg and Queensboro Bridges remain open in both directions.

The Queens Midtown and Lincoln Tunnels are open both inbound and outbound to vehicular traffic.

The New Jersey-bound Holland Tunnel is open to vehicular traffic. The New York-bound Holland Tunnel is open only to cars, with a 24-hour single occupancy ban. Entrances are available through Laight Street (to head north on West Street) and Hudson Street (heading north). 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.

Lower Manhattan Access:

The following streets are re-opened to all traffic from 6 p.m. until 5 a.m. on weeknights, and all day on Saturdays and Sundays:

East of Broadway, south of Canal Street (but not Broadway itself).

Tribeca: Between Church and Greenwich Streets, south of Canal and North of Duane Streets.

On weekdays from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., only residents, commercial traffic, licensed taxis, liveries, and buses will be allowed.
Also:

Route 9A - South of 34th Street - Effective this past weekend, Route 9A in Manhattan (West Street, 11th Avenue, 12th Avenue) is now open from Canal Street and above. Previously, it had not been open below 34th Street. An emergency lane has been coned off in both the north and southbound directions - so capacity will be less than usual.

Contact:	Matthew Higgins / Peter C. Fenty	(646) 328-7418
	Tom Cocola DOT	(212) 442-7033//24 hr.(718) 433-3340

Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

MAYOR GIULIANI ANNOUNCES EASING OF TIME RESTRICTIONS ON SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLES ENTERING NEW YORK CITY

MAYOR GIULIANI ANNOUNCES EASING OF TIME RESTRICTIONS
ON SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLES ENTERING NEW YORK CITY