Latest news with #YdanisRodriguez
New York Times
a day ago
- New York Times
The Streets Are Safer This Year for Drivers, Cyclists and Pedestrians
Good morning. It's Wednesday. Today we'll look at street fatalities in the first six months of 2025, which fell to a number not seen since 2018. We'll also get details on Zohran Mamdani's win in the Democratic primary, which is now official. To city transportation officials, 2025 looks a lot like 2018. So far, anyway. In the first half of this year, 87 traffic deaths were recorded on New York City streets. That was the same number as in the first six months of 2018, which went on to become the safest year since the city began keeping records on traffic fatalities 115 years ago, with 206 deaths on city streets. As that total suggests, the statistics may look different by the end of the year. Crashes and collisions typically rise in the summer, and the second half of a year usually outpaces the first. But for now, city officials are encouraged, with Ydanis Rodriguez, the transportation commissioner, saying in a statement that the city's streets are 'are safer than ever' for everyone on them — pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. The 87 deaths from January through June compared with the 128 reported in the first six months of last year, which ended with 251 fatalities in all. Of the 87: 51 were pedestrians, compared with 63 in the first half of last year. 15 were drivers or passengers in cars or S.U.V.s, down from 29 in the first six months of 2024. 20 were people on what the city calls 'motorized two-wheelers,' a category that includes e-bikes, scooters, mopeds and motorcycles. That was down from 33 from January to June a year ago. So far in 2025, one cyclist on a conventional, nonelectric bike has been killed. There were three such deaths in the first half of 2024, six in the comparable months of 2023 and 11 from January to June 2019. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
NYC Summer Streets program set to return in July, with record number of car-free miles
More than 20 miles of car-free streets will be returning to New York City this summer, courtesy of the Summer Streets program. The annual initiative is back and the Department of Transportation says this year will be its most expansive yet, providing New Yorkers a unique way to spend a Saturday outdoors. What Summer Streets is all about The annual event has been taking over the streets of the Big Apple since 2008, with the goal of offering residents and visitors a unique way to experience the city by providing, this year, a record 22 miles of public space devoid of vehicles. For the third straight year, the program will impact all five boroughs. For the first time ever, city residents will also be able to travel the length of Manhattan, from the Brooklyn Bridge to Inwood, the DOT said Tuesday. "With Summer Streets this year, we're not only going to 125th, but we're going to Dyckman, 22 miles," DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said. Queens and Brooklyn will kick off the first Saturday of the program on July 27, followed by Manhattan on Aug, 2, 9 and 16, and then Brooklyn and the Bronx on Aug. 23, with festivities running each day from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. The city said the series will also include free fitness classes, bike-riding lessons, art installations, and performances. CBS News New York "It has the ability to help native New Yorkers come together" New Yorkers said they are thrilled to once again have the opportunity to take part in the program. "Sometimes people are intimidated riding bicycles in New York City, and Summer Streets is a great way to get started," Brooklyn resident Eric Brooks said. "People in New York don't have much space to be out in the street, so it's good for physical health but also mental health," Bronx resident Belkis Loia said. Brooklyn native Kaya Kulu said she grew up experiencing the event in Manhattan with her family and is glad to see it now taking place throughout the entire city. "It has the ability to help native New Yorkers come together. I really get to enjoy supporting small businesses, walking around the streets, meeting people I didn't know," Kulu said. "Everybody is so happy, so excited," another person added.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
More bus lanes proposed for busy Flatbush Avenue corridor in Brooklyn
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) — New York City transportation experts are proposing major changes for what they've dubbed one of 'Brooklyn's most dangerous corridors.' The Department of Transportation announced proposals for new bus lanes along Brooklyn's Flatbush Avenue stretching from Livingston Street to Grand Army Plaza on Friday. More Transit News 'Almost 70,000 daily bus riders are stuck waiting too long for slow buses, drivers are caught in a mess of traffic, and pedestrians are left crossing intersections clogged with vehicles,' said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. The proposal seeks to create center-running bus lanes along Flatbush Avenue with new pedestrian spaces with the intention of improving traffic safety and reducing pedestrian crossing times. Center-running lanes would also help dramatically increase bus speeds by creating physically separated spaces for buses and reducing conflicts with personal vehicles, officials say. More Local News 'This plan will drastically improve the commute times for the tens of thousands of daily riders who live on Flatbush Avenue – many of whom rely on public transportation to get to work,' MTA President Demetrius Crichlow. Currently, Flatbush Avenue is a Vision Zero Priority Corridor, meaning it's one of the most dangerous streets in Brooklyn, with 55 people killed or severely injured since 2019. Bus speeds have also been recorded to be slower than four miles per hour during rush hours which is about the same speed as a person walking, according to the DOT. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Buses along Flatbush Avenue primarily serve Black, female, and low-income riders, a majority of who have household incomes of less than $80,000 a year, researchers from a Pratt Center study found. Many riders in the area have complained of long wait times in extreme weather, transportation experts say. With center-running lanes, NYC DOT would install concrete bus boarding islands in the street for pedestrians. The agency plans to continue community engagement throughout the spring to get feedback from residents, businesses and commuters. Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
1 Dead and 2 Injured After Boat Explodes on Hudson River in N.Y.C. — 1 Week After Brooklyn Bridge Ship Crash
One man was killed and two others were injured due to a boat explosion on the Hudson River in New York City The incident happened near the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant at around 10:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, May 24 The boat explosion occurred one week after a Mexican Navy ship crashed into N.Y.C.'s Brooklyn Bridge on May 17, killing two people and injuring more than a dozen othersOne man was killed and two others were injured due to an explosion on a boat docked in the Hudson River during New York City's Fleet Week. The incident happened near the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant around West 138th Street at around 10:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, May 24, according to WNBC-TV and The New York Post, which cited New York Police Department (NYPD) officials. Authorities told the Post they received a report about a person in the water, and when they arrived at the scene, they found that a large explosion had ripped through the hull of a ship. Two men, who had been working on the boat, were injured in the explosion. They were taken to nearby hospitals, per the outlet. Their conditions were unknown. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. A third man was thrown into the water by the explosion and became trapped between the boat and the pier, according to the Post. The man — identified as a 59-year-old — died as a result of the incident, the outlet reported. The boat was operated by the Department of Environmental Protection and transports raw sewage from the city to a nearby treatment facility, according to WNBC-TV and the Post. The boat was reportedly docked at the time of the incident. The incident is under investigation, according to the outlets. The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) told the Post that it was still too early in their investigation to determine whether the explosion was accidental or intentional. The NYPD and FDNY did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on the incident. Photos obtained by The Daily Mail and the Post show emergency responders and FDNY vehicles on the scene. Other photos depict rescue boats heading into the area and helicopters hovering over a barge. The incident took place one week after a Mexican Navy ship crashed into New York City's Brooklyn Bridge on May 17, killing two people and injuring more than a dozen others. At the time of the crash, 277 people were onboard, officials said. Following the incident, officials revealed that the 'pilot lost power of the ship' shortly after it had taken off from the nearby Pier 17, causing it to crash into the bridge. Chief Wilson Aramboles of the NYPD's Special Operations Division stated during a press conference that the ship was en route to Iceland. New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez also said during the press conference that a preliminary assessment found no signs of major damage to the iconic bridge. Read the original article on People
Time Out
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Time Out
These NYC streets were just renamed for famous Knicks players
If you notice an uptick in blue-and-orange street signs around Manhattan, don't adjust your glasses—you're not dreaming. As the New York Knicks charge into the Eastern Conference Finals, New York City is going all-in on the hype, temporarily co-naming streets after every active player on the team. Mayor Eric Adams and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced the move this week. It is a full-court press celebration of Knicks pride, with each street sign decked out in team colors and labeled with the player's name and jersey number. It's the most New York way possible to say: We see you, we love you, now beat the Pacers. The temporary renamings are sprinkled across Sixth and Seventh Avenues, each loosely tied to the player's jersey number. Stroll through the West Village and you'll spot Josh Hart Street at Sixth Avenue and West 3rd Street. Head uptown and you'll find Karl-Anthony Towns Square near MSG at Seventh Avenue and 32nd Street. Other renamed corners include OG Anunoby Alley, Precious Achiuwa Place, Mitchell Robinson Road and Mikal Bridges Block, a personal favorite for anyone who loves alliteration and defense. "The Knicks embody the spirit of New York—resilient, passionate and unstoppable," said Mayor Adams. 'On the path to a championship, we recognize the hard work and determination that has gotten this team to the Eastern Conference Finals.' MSG Sports COO Jamaal Lesane echoed the sentiment, calling it a moment to 'bring people together through their shared passion for the team.' The Knicks' 2025 playoff run has been one for the books. After knocking out the reigning champion Celtics and finishing the regular season with their best record in over a decade, the team opened their ninth Eastern Conference Finals appearance last night at Madison Square Garden with a heartbreaking last-second loss. These signs may be temporary (permanent co-namings require City Council approval), but for now, the city's grid is a tribute to the Knicks' grit. Whether you're strolling down Jalen Brunson Boulevard or cutting across Miles McBride Street, consider it the city's love letter to its playoff-bound team.
