MELISSA MARK-VIVERITO

THE COUNCIL
OF
THE CITY OF NEW YORK
CITY HALL

SPEAKER

NEW YORK, NY 10007

TELEPHONE
(212) 788-7210

September 26, 2016

Hon. Polly Trottenberg

Commissioner
New York City Department of Transportation
55 Water Street, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10041
Dear Commissioner Trottenberg:
As one of the Bronxs most iconic streets, the Grand Concourse is not only an extremely busy
thoroughfare, but an important symbol of the borough and our City. Unfortunately, however, the
Concourse also has the distinction as the Bronxs most dangerous street for pedestrians. I am
very grateful for all of DOTs ongoing street safety improvements on the Concourse, particularly
through the Great Streets program, which will go a long way towards making it a safer and more
inviting roadway.
The Council has been proud to be an active partner with the de Blasio administration on the
Vision Zero initiative, highlighted by the passage of a landmark package of street safety-related
legislation, including lowering the default citywide speed limit to 25 MPH in 2014. The
ambitious goals of Vision Zero demand that we continue to strive to do more and to do better
when it comes to saving lives on our streets. With DOT currently planning vital Corridor Safety
Improvements for the southern section of the Grand Concourse in my district (138th to 158th
Streets), I am writing to request more information regarding what it would take to further enhance
those improvements and, in particular, to add bike lanes to this area of the Concourse. As the
road is significantly narrower here than in its northern sections, how extensive a project would be
necessary? What would it cost? What would the impact be on current road usage, including
parking?
I was proud to be an outspoken advocate for protected bike lanes elsewhere in my district, on 1 st
and 2nd Avenues in East Harlem, and have seen firsthand the safety benefits they provide.
Therefore, I feel we must take a close look at how we can bring similar protections to cyclists,
and, in turn, pedestrians and drivers as well, along the entire length of the Grand Concourse.
Thank you in advance for your response to this request and for all of DOTs work to make our
streets safer for all road users.
Sincerely,

MELISSA MARK-VIVERITO
Speaker
cc: Bronx Borough Commissioner Constance Moran