FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release #14-55
Scott Gastel/Nicholas Mosquera, (212) 839-4850
NYC DOT, NYPD, Council Member King And Assembly Member Gjonaj Announce Implementation Of Arterial Slow Zone On East Gun Hill Road, A Key Vision Zero Initiative
DOT will reduce the speed limit on East Gun Hill Road to 25 m.p.h. along a three mile stretch that has seen four fatalities since 2008
New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Bronx Borough Commissioner Connie Moran, New York City Police Department (NYPD) Deputy Chief of Patrol Borough Bronx Terrence Monahan, Council Member Andy King and Assembly Member Mark Gjonaj today announced the implementation of an Arterial Slow Zone along three miles of East Gun Hill Road, from Jerome Avenue to the New England Thruway. Beginning next week, the speed limit will be lowered from 30 to 25 m.p.h. and traffic signals will be retimed to reduce opportunities for dangerous speeding along this stretch of the corridor that has seen four fatalities, all pedestrians, since 2008.
East Gun Hill Road is one of 13 Arterial Slow Zones that the City has announced as part of its Vision Zero initiative, with an additional 12 zones to be released by the end of the year. Details on the first 13 Arterial Slow Zones:
Details on the first 13 Arterial Slow Zones
| Corridor | From | To | Borough | Miles | Approximate Month |
Fatalities Since 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Avenue | Columbia Street | 76th Street | Brooklyn | 7.6 | April | 25 |
| Grand Concourse | East 140th Street | Mosholu Parkway | the Bronx | 5.2 | April | 20 |
| Northern Boulevard, Phase I | 40th Road | 114th Street | Queens | 4.2 | May | 5 |
| McGuinness Boulevard | Freeman Street | Bayard Street | Brooklyn | 1.1 | May | 4 |
| East Gun Hill Road | Jerome Avenue | Northeast Thruway Southbound | the Bronx | 3 | May | 4 |
| Jamaica Avenue | Van Wyck Expressway | 224th Street | Queens | 4.8 | May | 8 |
| Eastern Parkway | Plaza Street East | Bushwick Avenue | Brooklyn | 3.9 | June | 15 |
| Canal Street | East Broadway | West Street | Manhattan | 1.5 | June | 6 |
| Forest Avenue | Victory Boulevard | Goethals Road North | Staten Island | 5 | June | 6 |
| Broadway | Columbus Circle | West 220th Street | Manhattan | 8.3 | July | 24 |
| Southern Boulevard | Bruckner Boulevard | East Fordham Road | the Bronx | 4 | July | 3 |
| Queens Boulevard | Jackson Avenue | Hillside Avenue | Queens | 7.4 | July | 23 |
| Rockaway Boulevard | 75th Street | Farmers Boulevard | Queens | 5.4 | August | 9 |
“I am pleased that we are implementing the Arterial Slow Zone program on East Gun Hill Road under Vision Zero,” said DOT Bronx Borough Commissioner Connie Moran. “High speeds and long crosswalks have been an unnecessary reality for many Bronx residents and this initiative will improve safety along this vital corridor.”
“Vision Zero is a commitment to deliver safer streets and roadways for all New Yorkers. With proper enforcement, the Department of Transportation’s Arterial Slow Zones will improve pedestrian safety,” said NYPD Deputy Chief Terrence Monahan, Executive Officer Patrol Borough Bronx. “This important collaboration between agencies and communities will bring us closer to our goal.”
“East Gun Hill Road is a challenging roadway utilized by tractor-trailers and commercial trucks, buses, cars, bikers and pedestrians. To better ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians and to discourage speeding, it’s necessary to lower the speed limit and expand traffic enforcement on this major thoroughfare,” said Council Member Andy King, 12th District. “I thank Mayor de Blasio and DOT Commissioner Trottenberg for making road safety a top priority and for bringing the Arterial Slow Zone program to East Gun Hill Road.”
The Arterial Slow Zone program – one of 63 proposals included in the Vision Zero report released in February – will lower posted speed limits from 30 to 25 m.p.h. on streets that have seen some of highest numbers of fatalities and serious injuries. Citywide, arterials make up only 15 percent of total mileage but have accounted for some 60 percent of pedestrian fatalities.
On these arterials, DOT will improve signal timing along the corridor, making it consistent with the new 25 m.p.h. speed limit while maintaining mobility on these heavily used corridors and preventing diversions to residential street. The locations will also benefit from increased enforcement by the NYPD, with temporary speed boards installed in key locations to alert motorists of the new speed limit. The program will also feature distinctive blue-and-white signs with the name of the corridor, complementing the agency’s existing Neighborhood Slow Zone program, as well as the administration’s efforts to reduce the citywide speed limit in partnership with the state legislature.
“Pedestrian safety is an issue that affects all New Yorkers and I’m pleased to see DOT’s Arterial Slow Zone program expanding throughout the Bronx,” said Congressman Joe Crowley. “The implementation of this traffic calming measure along East Gun Hill Road will no doubt save lives. I commend DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and Bronx Borough Commissioner Connie Moran for their steadfast commitment to ensuring the safety of our streets and I look forward to the ongoing collaboration with our communities as we strive to achieve the goals of our city’s Vision Zero initiative.”
“We must take whatever steps are necessary to reduce pedestrian injuries or fatalities. East Gun Hill Road has seen enough of both,” said Congressman Eliot Engel. “I applaud Mayor de Blasio and the New York City Department of Transportation for implementing a slow zone along this critical corridor. Drivers save lives when they are forced to slow down.”
“It is time to slow down. A new slow zone along East Gun Hill Road will enhance the quality of life of our pedestrians, drivers, and bikers alike,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “Adding slow zones is one way we can prevent more accidents from happening and as a result make our streets safer for all Bronxites.”
“Starting on Monday, East Gun Hill Road will be significantly safer for both pedestrians and drivers,” said Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester). We are taking a critical step in creating safer streets by reducing the speed along East Gun Hill Road, as part of Mayor de Blasio’s Arterial Slow Zone program.”
“It is imperative that we provide our residents with the safest traffic conditions possible so that we protect both pedestrians and drivers,” said Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson. “The intersection of East Gun Hill Road and White Plains Road is a major transportation hub that will be well served by being made into an arterial slow zone. I wish to thank the Mayor and Department of Transportation for their commitment to implementing Vision Zero.”
“The addition of the new arterial slow zone on East Gun Hill Road furthers the city’s efforts to improve traffic and pedestrian safety,” said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. “The two Neighborhood Slow Zones that I sponsored in my own district will undoubtedly prevent many injuries and possibly save lives. I am very pleased that the de Blasio administration is expanding the efforts to cut down on injuries and fatalities, and I look forward to continuing to work with them on this.”
“I applaud Mayor de Blasio and the DOT for bringing Vision Zero to East Gun Hill Road. This Arterial Slow Zone will reduce traffic speeds and save lives throughout this busy corridor,” said Council Member Andrew Cohen. “This plan combined with the Neighborhood Slow Zone recently implemented in Norwood will make our community a much safer place to live and raise a family.”
These efforts come as the extensive public outreach program for Vision Zero continues. At each of the well-attended town hall meetings and interactive workshops to date, speeding along these corridors has been named a serious safety issue by New Yorkers across the boroughs, and this program is designed to address some of these concerns. Building on these community-driven efforts, the agency is also looking to gain additional input at Vision Zero public workshops to be held across the city. The next Bronx Town Hall will be held on Thursday, May 22, 6-8pm at Herbert H. Lehman College-CUNY, 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West.
For more information on Arterial Slow Zones and DOT’s safety awareness efforts, please visit www.nyc.gov/dot and www.nyc.gov/visionzero.
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