New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced on Sept. 3, that the NYC Department of Transportation has improved pedestrian visibility at 33 locations in The Bronx, using a technique called “daylighting” which removes obstructions, like parked cars, from intersections in an effort to enhance safety.

 

Some of the targeted intersections in The Bronx include Kings College Place, Creston Avenue & East Kingsbridge Road, East Tremont Avenue & Washington Avenue, East Tremont Avenue & Crotona Avenue, and Park Avenue & East 178th Street. To see the full list of Bronx intersections that have been upgraded under the latest daylighting initiative as of Aug. 27, click here.

 

DOT officials said daylighting enhances pedestrian safety by removing visibility-blocking obstructions, such as parked vehicles near crosswalks, so drivers more easily see pedestrians and other road users like cyclists. Other daylighting tools include the extension of sidewalks, adding speed bumps, and rubbered turn calming. Department officials said 59 percent of pedestrian fatalities and 77 percent of pedestrian traffic injuries occur at intersections.

 

Of the new daylighting initiative, Rodriguez said, “As students return to classrooms, we want to remind everyone to be careful when crossing intersections. Daylighting enhances safety for pedestrians by reducing drivers’ blind spots and giving everyone a better view of the intersection.” The commissioner added, “This first wave of locations is only the beginning, and we look forward to improving visibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike at even more intersections across the city.”

 

Reacting to the project, Ken Podziba, CEO of Bike New York, said, “We look forward to DOT continuing to prioritize roadway safety by using every tool at its disposal to implement safer street designs in every neighborhood across the city.”

DOT officials went on to say that they are ahead of schedule with the required street upgrades and expect to complete the remaining
daylighting work by the end of construction season, which falls between mid-April and mid-November. They said the initiative is part of Mayor Eric Adams’ goal to daylight 1,000 locations by the end of the year, and added that as of August 2024, 314 locations across the city, including those in The Bronx, have been daylighted so far.

 

Elizabeth Adams, interim co-executive director of Transportation Alternatives, said, “For decades, Transportation Alternatives has been fighting to daylight every intersection in New York City. Daylighting saves lives, and we know the changes made today will protect countless New Yorkers walking, biking, or driving through our city for years to come.”

 

Attached are example renderings of the before and after of daylighting upgrades installed by NYC DOT like sidewalk extensions to 10 corners of Audubon Avenue, from West 168th Street to West 170th Street in Washington Heights in Manhattan, through painted sidewalk extensions that are reinforced with bicycle parking and concrete and granite blocks.

 

DOT officials said the redesign adds new pedestrian space, shortens the time it takes to cross the street, and naturally slows turning drivers to improve safety for everyone on the corridor. DOT is also proposing to reduce the speed limit to 20 miles per hour along Audubon Avenue from West 165th Street to Fore George Avenue  as part of the implementation of Sammy’s Law, which was signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier this year.

DOT officials said in 2023, the Adams administration doubled its initial goal regarding the project and is now making safety improvements at 2,000 intersections with design improvements like raised crosswalks, extended sidewalks, and leading pedestrian signals. Of those intersections, 1,000 locations will receive daylighting treatments to enhance visibility along with design upgrades to slow down turning vehicles. DOT officials said they will meet both goals by the end of the year.

 

The updates on the project were announced during a press conference held in Washington Heights in Northern Manhattan on Tuesday, Sept. 3, during which NYC Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi said, “We’re being creative with our pedestrian infrastructure because we have to. One street death is too many.”

 

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.