Staten Island BP: Victory On Victory – Bus Lane Paused, New Truck Configuration Plus Staging Area To Alleviate Congestion Entering Howland Hook
BP Vito Fossella
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Editor’s note: See below for the press conference hosted by BP Fossella updating the public on this issue. Here is our coverage of the first press conference about the Victory Blvd bus lane. Along with this announcement is BP Fossella’s suggestion for a truck staging area to alleviate some of the truck-caused congestion surrounding the Howland Hook station. Stay tuned for our coverage of the Borough President’s announcement of the promise made by the City that the homeless encampment, with individuals apparently suffering from mental illness, near the Forest Avenue Shoppers’ Town on Forest Avenue and Decker Avenue, will be cleaned up and the unhoused individuals brought for mental health treatment by November 2nd. We will also be covering several education- and school-related announcements and visits by the borough president. We have reached out to the Mayor’s Office to find out if they plan to appeal this decision. It should be noted that the City is using taxpayer funds to pay for their legal defense of this lawsuit, though their lawyers are already on retainer so there is no direct cost increase. However, they could be working on more important cases that favor working-class New Yorkers rather than fighting against the community’s expressed wishes over this bus lane. It is too narrow and unsuitable for Victory Blvd, agreed a judge this week. And the plaintiff’s side is NOT paid for by taxpayers, but is likely paid for by the citizens themselves, whether collectively or on an individual basis. Statements from the plaintiff suggest that this case is being paid for by a coalition of community members pooling their funds to pay for the lawyer’s fees. The plaintiff, then, unlike the City, has ‘skin in the game’ in this case. The payment structures for legal teams is generally not discussed or revealed while the case is active, as it can be counter-productive to the prospect of prevailing.
BP Fossella Applauds Court Decision in Lawsuit Against Victory Boulevard Bus Lane
Staten Island, NY – Borough President Vito Fossella updates the public with the ruling handed down by Judge Orlando Marrazzo in the Victory Boulevard Bus Lane lawsuit. This took place at a press conference at the corner of Victory Boulevard and Forest Avenue Tuesday, October 27th at 2:15 PM.
During the summer, the City followed through with its plans to extend the bus lanes on Victory Boulevard to run from Seneca Avenue to Forest Avenue, resulting in the elimination of roughly 200 high-demand parking spaces relied upon by local residents. After two rounds of painting, the resulting bus and travel lanes were too narrow, by the DOT’s own Street Design standards, to adequately accommodate bus, truck and passenger vehicle traffic. This artificially created an ongoing source of traffic congestion and a potential safety hazard.
The Borough President joined Staten Island residents to rally against the City’s plans, and a lawsuit was subsequently launched by resident Kevin Squires, represented by attorney John Connors, to put an end to this safety hazard and quality of life disruption.
This morning, Judge Marrazzo delivered a decision in favor of the petitioner, declaring the bus lanes as “arbitrary and capricious” and effectively orders the DOT not only to fix the new bus lanes installed in the spring, but also to reassess the entirety of the bus lanes on Victory Boulevard between Bay Street and Little Clove Road.
At the press conference, Borough President Fossella will applaud the Court’s decision and call upon the City to act quickly to undo the unnecessary and unsafe changes it made to Victory Boulevard.
BP Fossella Proposes Alternative Howland Hook Truck Traffic Configuration to Alleviate Longstanding Congestion Issue
Below is from the Borough President’s official Facebook page:
For years, residents near Howland Hook have dealt with trucks backing up traffic and blocking access to their homes. It’s time for a solution.
BP Vito Fossella is proposing turning a vacant Port Authority lot into a truck staging area to help get trucks off neighborhood streets and ease congestion.
A common-sense proposal to address a longstanding problem on the North Shore.
Staten Island, NY – Borough President Vito Fossella announced his proposal to alleviate truck congestion surrounding the Howland Hook Marine Terminal at a press conference off the corner of Richmond Terrace and Western Avenue on Thursday, October 29th at 12:00 PM.
Howland Hook Marine Terminal is a major commercial hub and vital component of the local maritime economy, facilitating the passage of a significant amount of cargo. A side effect of the high demand has been the passage, and queuing, of a large number of commercial vehicles dropping off or retrieving cargo to and from the vessels.
Oftentimes, the traffic generated by activity at the terminal spills out into the surrounding area, especially onto Goethals Road North, where it blocks the entrances to the Goethals Community and prohibits residents from leaving or accessing their homes.
At the press conference, following preliminary discussions with the Governor’s Office and the Port Authority, the Borough President will publicly announce his proposal to modify the local traffic pattern and accommodate queuing commercial vehicles, to provide the Terminal and Goethals Community residents a potential resolution to the longstanding congestion issue.
Banner Image: The Forgotten Borough represented at the 11th Annual Italian Festival at Mount Loretto. Image Credit = BP Fossella
The Office of the Borough President has a responsibility to advocate for the entire Borough of Staten Island and all its residents, and represents the Borough's interests within City government.
The Borough President communicates directly with the Mayor and the City Council to emphasize Staten Island’s budget priorities.
In addition, the Borough President is responsible for reviewing major land use decisions and proposing sites for city facilities within the Borough.
As the chair of the Borough Board, the Borough President leads Staten Island’s City Council delegation and Community Board chairs in the process of reviewing and approving the transfer of public properties to private use. The Borough President’s Office houses the Borough's Topographical Bureau, which maintains the borough’s official maps and assigns street addresses.
The Borough President monitors the delivery of city services on Staten Island, and acts as a liaison between residents and city agencies when problems arise to devise solutions. The Borough President is also responsible for appointing one member to the Panel for Educational Policy and one member to the City Planning Commission, as well as some 150 members to Staten Island’s three community boards.
