Gridlock Alert Days Started: Peak City Driving Season; Public Feedback On Canal St Redesign; LockerNYC Program Expansion

Gridlock Alert Days Started: Peak City Driving Season; Public Feedback On Canal St Redesign; LockerNYC Program Expansion

Editor’s note: NYC DOT recently commissioned public artworks in each of the five boroughs, including one in St. George on Staten Island.  They also recently redesigned Pershing Square and advocated for renewal of the speed camera program.  

NYC DOT ANNOUNCES ‘GRIDLOCK ALERT’ DAYS, BEGINNING WITH UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON SEPTEMBER 22 AND THROUGH THE HOLIDAY SEASON

Agency Encourages New Yorkers To Use Alternate Forms of Transportation, Especially on These Days

Midtown Traffic Speeds Are the Slowest of the Year During the U.N. General Assembly, With Average Speeds in Midtown Under 4 Four Miles per Hour

NEW YORK — New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez released a list of Gridlock Alert Days through the end of the year, including the week of the United Nations General Assembly (September 22 to September 26). Drivers should expect extensive street closures and delays across Manhattan for the duration of next week. NYC DOT strongly encourages New Yorkers and visitors alike to use non-driving modes of transportation, especially on these days. New Yorkers can choose from a variety of available transportation options including regional rail lines, the 24/7 metropolitan subway and bus system, ferries, cycling, and walking.

“We are seeing the success of Congestion Pricing in its first year as few vehicles enter the city’s urban core, making it especially important to stick with transit during Gridlock Alert days,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “New York City welcomes the UN General Assembly once again this year, but New Yorkers and visitors alike should do their part in minimizing congestion and seeking non-driving modes of transportation.”

Gridlock Alert Days: NYC DOT has identified 20 Gridlock Alert Days through the end of the year – the days when traffic is expected to be at its slowest and most congested. NYC DOT traffic data shows that average motor vehicle speeds in Midtown during U.N. General Assembly week are historically their slowest of the year: less than four miles per hour, whereas Midtown traffic normally averages between four and six miles per hour. Variable Message System boards around New York City will be posted to warn motorists of expected delays. Tourist and holiday activities also contribute to heightened traffic.

Bicycle Access: Based on the success of the temporary bike lane through the tunnel for UNGA over the past five years, NYC DOT completed the permanent First Avenue Tunnel protected bike lane last Fall. This critical upgrade enhances safety for cyclists by providing a jersey barrier-protected express lane bypassing busy intersections around the United Nations headquarters and is the first tunnel in the United States to be repurposed for bike traffic while maintaining vehicle traffic. The protected bike lane also calms traffic by organizing vehicle traffic in the tunnel as well as on the street above.

NYC DOT has also worked with Lyft in recent years to expand Citi Bike to several more neighborhoods and to add docking stations to existing areas in the network, with further ongoing expansion efforts this year.

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NYC DOT continues to upgrade the bus network in Manhattan to offer more enhanced modes of alternative transportation throughout the borough. The agency completed the expansion of the 96th Street crosstown bus lane in 2024, reimagining Third Avenue with bus and bike lanes, and is finishing a nearly 60-block redesign of Second Avenue’s bus and bike lanes—as part of an effort to add wider bike lanes along many of Manhattan’s avenues.

2025 Gridlock Alert Days are:

• Monday, September 22
• Tuesday, September 23
• Wednesday, September 24
• Thursday, September 25
• Friday, September 26
• Wednesday, November 19
• Thursday, November 20
• Tuesday, November 25
• Wednesday, December 3
• Thursday, December 4
• Friday, December 5
• Monday, December 8
• Tuesday, December 9
• Wednesday, December 10
• Thursday, December 11
• Friday, December 12
• Monday, December 15
• Tuesday, December 16
• Wednesday, December 17
• Thursday, December 18

For more information, visit nyc.gov/gridlockalert.

NYC DOT SEEKS PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON COMPREHENSIVE PROPOSAL TO REDESIGN CANAL STREET TO ENHANCE SAFETY, BICYCLE CONNECTIONS, AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC SPACE    

Three People Have Been Killed and Another 200 Injured, Including 23 Severely, in Traffic Crashes Along Canal Street Between 2020 and 2024

City to Hold Community Workshops for New Yorkers to Learn More About New Design Proposal and Share Ideas for Improving Canal Street

Pedestrians along Canal Street. Credit: NYC DOT

NEW YORK – New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced the agency seeks public feedback on a comprehensive proposal to redesign Canal Street in Manhattan, one of New York City’s most complex, busy, and congested corridors. The new block-by-block design proposal encompasses the entirety of Canal Street from West Street to Bowery.

The redesign will help to reduce pedestrian crowding, improve sidewalk access, enhance crossing safety, simplify complex intersections, create open space, and improve connections to the existing bicycle network. The agency developed the proposed treatments following extensive community outreach. A robust traffic analysis showed the proposed treatments would lead to shorter pedestrian crossing distances and reduced cut-through traffic at major intersections.

The proposal would also simplify travel for drivers by reducing conflicts with pedestrians, encouraging through traffic to avoid smaller side streets, and simplifying complicated intersections across the corridor. New Yorkers will have the opportunity to share their feedback on the proposal in-person at five community workshops, the first of which begin this week. Feedback may also be shared digitally after viewing the proposal online and completing the online survey

“Every New Yorker deserves safe streets, and that is why this proposal for Canal Street aims to turn a high-crash, highway-like corridor into a street that is safer for everyone,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Through the planning process, we will gather important public feedback on how the future design of this street can improve safety for everyone, ease congestion, and increase economic growth. I encourage everyone to ensure their voices are heard through our upcoming workshops.”

Improved Pedestrian Experience

NYC DOT is proposing to install painted curb extensions for shorter, safer crossings at nearly 30 locations across the entire corridor. New high-visibility crosswalks would be installed at seven locations, which use patterns that are visible to both drivers and pedestrians from farther away compared to traditional crosswalks. Proposed concrete islands would be added at Sixth Avenue and at Mott Street to help shorten crossing distances, provide refuge space for pedestrians, and better direct vehicle flow. The proposed redesign would relieve pedestrian crowding with full block sidewalk extensions along Canal Street at 14 locations.

Expanded Public Space

Canal Street as it currently exists includes narrow sidewalks and few public spaces for pedestrians to circulate. The agency is proposing to add more public space and create better pedestrian connections by closing Walker Street from Baxter Street to Canal Street. Curb regulations may also be updated to relocate parking and loading from Canal Street to side streets in order to rebalance vehicle space with public space. The agency is exploring upgrades on Church Street from Canal to Franklin Street that prioritize open space.

Better Bicycle Connections

A key east-west corridor, Canal Street would benefit from several important bike connections to existing paths including the Hudson River Greenway, the Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges, Grand Street, Centre Street, and Lafayette Street. This proposal will show ways to create a two-way protected bike lane from the Hudson River Greenway to the Manhattan Bridge. Where protected bike lanes were installed, the agency saw an 18.1 percent reduction of total traffic deaths and serious injuries, and pedestrian deaths and serious injuries dropped by 29.1 percent.

Upcoming Workshops

NYC DOT will host five upcoming in-person workshops for New Yorkers to share direct feedback on these proposals.

The agency also encourages New Yorkers to view the proposal online and share any thoughts through the online survey.

NYC DOT EXPANDS PILOT INITIATIVE TO CUT DOWN ON PACKAGE THEFT AND REDUCE TRUCK TRAFFIC USING SECURE PUBLIC DELIVERY LOCKERS

LockerNYC Program Provides Free Public Delivery Lockers on Sidewalks That May Be Used To Send and Receive Packages 

Thirty-Six New Pilot Locations Will Be Added This Fall, Expanding the Overall Network of Lockers to 70 Locations

LockerNYC at 161st Street in Morningside Heights, Manhattan.

NEW YORK – New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced the next phase of LockerNYC, NYC DOT’s free, secure public delivery locker program. LockerNYC, launched in April 2024, is designed to cut down on thefts by providing a secure place to send and receive packages while also reducing delivery truck trips by consolidating more deliveries at central locations. New Yorkers will have access to lockers at thirty-six additional locations across the five boroughs on public sidewalks and indoors. Over the next several weeks, the network of free lockers will be expanded to 70 pilot locations. New Yorkers can sign up for free and manage orders online. This expansion marks the final phase of the LockerNYC pilot before NYC DOT evaluates the program next summer.

“New Yorkers have told us that while they enjoy getting quick delivery packages from anywhere in the world, the explosion of e-commerce has meant the risk of packages getting stolen and delivery truck traffic congesting our streets has been heightened. That’s why we launched LockerNYC, a free public delivery locker program to securely send and receive packages while reducing delivery truck trips in our neighborhoods,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “We’re excited to expand this program to 70 locations across the city so even more New Yorkers can access this free and safe service. We will always deliver for New Yorkers while we reimagine how they receive goods and services. Reducing emissions and crime — while offering added convenience to New Yorkers — is a package deal we can all be proud of.”

“Nearly 80 percent of households receive at least one package a week. The LockerNYC program offers a safe and free way to send and receive those packages without having to worry about porch pirates ruining your day,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “In addition to cutting down on package theft, centralized pick-up and drop-offs can also reduce the number of larger delivery vehicles on our streets improving street safety and reducing greenhouse gases in the process.”

Since the LockerNYC pilot program launched in April 2024, New Yorkers have made over 15,000 reservations for secure package pickup and drop-off. 

In addition to cutting down on package thefts, the program is designed to improve street safety and sustainability. Large delivery trucks are often high-polluting and can present safety risks for pedestrians, cyclists, and everyone who shares our busy streets. Centralized deliveries can reduce the high volume of delivery truck traffic.

The program is available to anyone who is interested and, unlike other delivery lockers, the LockerNYC program serves multiple delivery carriers. To ensure security, all locker locations are equipped with security cameras, LED lighting, and anti-theft mechanisms on locker compartments.

More information on LockerNYC is available online.

Curb Management Action Plan

With nearly 90 percent of goods moving into and through the city by truck, the City of New York ‘s LockerNYC pilot is part of NYC DOT ‘s efforts to reimagine freight delivery in New York City, restructure freight distribution, and create a sustainable last-mile delivery system for getting goods where they need to go.

NYC DOT launched the ‘Smart Curbs’ program on the Upper West Side in 2024 to implement and evaluates new treatments and regulations to improve safety, reduce congestion, create vibrant and clean public spaces, support orderly local deliveries, and more.

In April of this year, NYC DOT also launched the first pilot locations for the ‘Microhubs’ program that established safe, dedicated spaces for truck operators to transfer deliveries onto safer and more sustainable modes of transportation for the last leg of delivery, including e-cargo bikes, handcarts, and smaller electric sprinter vans.

Demand for curb space in New York City – from trash collection and bike lanes to truck loading and parking – is increasing and NYC DOT is responding to address these new demands. ‘Smart Curbs,’ ‘Microhubs’ and the broader Curb Management Action Plan, released in September 2023, are efforts to address the dynamic community needs of today while better preparing the city’s streets for the future. These efforts build on the core tenets of the ‘New’ New York panel’s action plan, which identified public space as a key force for the city ‘s economic recovery.

“This week, as we celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, we extend our deepest gratitude to the hard-working men and women who keep our economy moving. In New York City, truck drivers are responsible for delivering over 90% of the goods New Yorkers rely on every day. It is incredibly demanding work, and we commend NYC DOT for its continued efforts to improve the efficiency of our freight distribution system, said Trucking Association of New York Vice President of Government Affairs Zach Miller. “With last-mile and e-commerce deliveries making up a growing share of consumer demand, programs like LockerNYC are a welcome innovation—providing free, secure storage for residents while enabling drivers to consolidate deliveries and operate more efficiently.”

Banner Image:  Port Richmond Weekend Walks 2010. Image Credit – NYC DOT