Transportation Priorities For Staten Islanders: NYC DOT Hosts Community Forum

The NYC DOT had a planned community forum on Staten Island on January 31st, 2024. 

The DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez was present, as were several other elected officials including BP Fossella.  Following are paraphrased questions, and, in most cases, the answers provided by the DOT.

1- There should be speed bumps at Scarborough by the senior center. A- We work with Dept of the Aging regarding speed bumps and other safety improvements at senior centers.

2- How many passengers daily ride the Staten Island Ferry? A- It’s up to 70% before covid levels:  15.7 million 2023 vs 22 million in 2020

3- There’s a double yellow line outside the Muslim center on the left turn, many people are getting tickets when they attend services. A- They will look into removing this at the location.

4- Scott LoBaido: Speed cameras – all schools have speed cameras that are nowhere near schools. There is a real safety issue with speed cameras:  people slow down at speed cameras, going double speed just after the camera. There also should be more speed bumps, but the 2 lumps of asphalt newly installed, cars can go right over them, even small cars, they are defeating the purpose of a speed bump.  A- These speed bumps are designed to allow buses, which are wider than passenger cars.  Passenger cars should not be able to go right over them.

5- From a worker for Amazon: 6000 employees are in JFK8, the bosses don’t come on time, and they are limited in terms of transportation.  Maybe DOT can look for solution to transportation at Amazon warehouse. Bridge from SI Ferry to Whitehall should be a train bridge. Staten Island train goes too slowly.  There are not enough buses, and the timings are off.   A- S40/90 service, they’re trying to keep up with increases of employee numbers- it’s a very long route from ferry – they have been in contact with management about schedules. Trains are every 15 minutes rush hour and 30 minutes to meet ferry. Due to leaves and slippery rails they have to slow down to not slide into stations, which can cause trains to run more slowly.

6- Mohammed, an immigrant on SI for 50 years. Observation: to bring to attention – it’s  expensive to take the buses – would advise DOT to have more metro card machines throughout Staten Island. Metro card, past few weeks, he see at buses and boats – inside SI Ferry are direction panels that have broken with time and  lights have burned out. Also, inside a bus, people don’t pay for the bus today. 20-30 years, students had bus cards and now they don’t give them to anyone anymore. 90-95% of bus passengers don’t pay. There is also a maintenance problem on the Staten Island side of ferry. Manhattan side is uncomfortable and dirty. There are people who are dirty sitting there. A- They’re working on fare payments and on enforcement for those that do not pay – interfaith groups are helping share the information: NYC has a fair fare- which is a 50% discount for NYers that cannot afford the fare. If you live in a working class community or get food stamps, you get a half off discount. They do need to stop people going on bus without paying.

7- Comment- Member of st George community , want to thank them for their great work

8- He wants to acknowledge DOT for the partnership with Oddo for the fast ferry. He is a home builder- struggling to find workers to work in construction – Verrazano Bridge can be $22 round trip to Bay Ridge, but one could take a fast ferry to Bay Ridge or Sunset Park for only $4 each way – it would be a 12 minute trip, there’s a school in bay ridge that would be happy with that. He thinks some people would come to SI from south Brooklyn if there was a lower cost to come here. Boats have already- need to get the fast ferry there. 2 people in an HOV lane going upstate, the city should make the HOV lane to 2 people in the car instead of 3, as we’re the only one with the 3 passenger requirement. A- Mission of DOT  to manage our streets.  27% of NYC streets run by DOT. Moving people using water is an opportunity to explore further. LIE run by state and DOT, can connect with person that handles that which is state DOT that could change HOV requirement to 2 instead of 3.

9-SI Business Outreach Center- Castleton to Jewett needs better lighting. A- They did a walk through with BID from Jewett to the highway- street lighting study will be undertaken.

10-Joseph Mcallister South Beach Civic Assn- expansion of Staten Island University Hospital, need to open Mason to Benton Avenue to make it easier for people to get to the hospital- A- Working on seaview to help with narrowing road and putting in additional safety treatments. Looking to change parking on Mason Avenue- it is presently too wide and uncontrolled, but the project will make it safer for Mason and Seaview Hospital.

11- Concerns with busing and transportation. Safety regarding areas where bus stops are, for example, if you go to the right outside of the JCC parking lot, there’s a tiny patch of dirt near the bus stop;  many workers are concerned about safety due to  the forest behind it, and that it is very dark at night.  This is at Rockland and Manor. They installed a speed hump right outside this facility- as many are still concerned about speeding outside of Wagner high school, where there isn’t a speed bump.  Near 355 Victory Blvd also a concern. A- They will look into that, making it safer may not be in their capacity, as it is the state’s purview.

DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez: We have to think of our future; sometimes it takes a tragedy for people to understand that we are all one family: Jews, Irish, Latina – all were discriminated against. Our city has a high level of resiliency. It’s only a matter of time- 3 generations of Dominican Americans- unless you are a Native American, you came here from somewhere else. Leave discrimination behind- regardless of political agenda or political party, one thing to celebrate is that men and women have come together to make this great city.

Whoever is the new immigrant will be a police officer, or the next doctor to heal everyone. Only in NYC. The DOT Commissioner came here washing dishes at 18, and he learned that you can work hard become a teacher, become a city council member, then the DOT commissioner

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12-Mariners Harbor association- People under physical challenge need: speed bumps, safer intersections, and to please also resend the van that monitors flow of traffic – this can catch drivers slowing down for the speed camera then speeding up again. Not only need safety for seniors but for all residents of city, including public housing devel.

They’re in need of speed bumps such as the new types- need signal or flashing stop sign so pedestrians can safely cross street. Maybe DOT can make a special bus for Amazon direct from the Ferry. We need an adjacent for our trains. Need better safety and better transportation for the residents, including seniors.

12-Jennie Losantos- is a Dominican. Traffic light on Richmond next to the fire dept by Graniteville: the light is confusing, with the lines on the green light and the flashing yellow light. She feels concerned about traffic behind her. A- Will check that intersection. We are in the great city of NY, and the administration is doing their best to bring this city back. He was marching in the streets, he knows the streets are safe due to the NYPD. Safety for Mayor Adams is more than just about violence, it includes traffic violence.

Banner Image: Community Forum video banner. Image Credit – Staten Islander News