NYC Roads

[RobbieL2415]

Looks like NYC will soon be able to lower its default speed limit (again) to 20 mph this time: https://archive.is/v6Gax

Meh.  25 mph was a good one.  If enforcement isn't cutting it now, it certainly won't at 20.

Is there even an objective, factual basis for this?

[Rothman]

Looks like NYC will soon be able to lower its default speed limit (again) to 20 mph this time: https://archive.is/v6Gax

Meh.  25 mph was a good one.  If enforcement isn't cutting it now, it certainly won't at 20.

Is there even an objective, factual basis for this?

For lowering the speed limit?

Let's just say requests for speed limit reductions on State-owned roads come in regularly to NYSDOT and are regularly rejected for not being warranted...

Whether the City has an engineering-based check on people who just think lower speed limits are a panacea...I don't know...

[D-Dey65]

Looks like NYC will soon be able to lower its default speed limit (again) to 20 mph this time: https://archive.is/v6Gax

Meh.  25 mph was a good one.  If enforcement isn't cutting it now, it certainly won't at 20.

I guess the people calling for this are forgetting that we have cars so we can go faster than horses and buggies. That and not having to leave horse or other animal shit on the streets. Are they seriously trying to bring us back to 19th Century speed limits?

 

[Rothman]

Looks like NYC will soon be able to lower its default speed limit (again) to 20 mph this time: https://archive.is/v6Gax

Meh.  25 mph was a good one.  If enforcement isn't cutting it now, it certainly won't at 20.

I guess the people calling for this are forgetting that we have cars so we can go faster than horses and buggies. That and not having to leave horse or other animal shit on the streets. Are they seriously trying to bring us back to 19th Century speed limits?

 

I don't know.  I know some people floor it and then smash their brakes when lights turn on Manhattan -- and then subsequently must get brake work done every six months -- but, 25 mph is a good NY speed limit in my experience.  Sure, you can hit 35 or so, but any faster than that, you become one of those bad drivers that never misses a turn, which ticks everyone off, locals and whoever else alike.

[vdeane]

I guess the people calling for this are forgetting that we have cars so we can go faster than horses and buggies. That and not having to leave horse or other animal shit on the streets. Are they seriously trying to bring us back to 19th Century speed limits?

It's not so much as they forgot as they view the proliferation of cars as a mistake which they seek to undo.

[NoGoodNamesAvailable]

NYC has speed cameras that go off when you go 10 mph over, now they can get money from people doing 30.

[crispy93]

Here's some dashcam pics of the new lane configuration on the Major Deegan northbound at the Cross-Bronx. They re-allocated one of the lanes from the service road to be an exit lane for the CBX: https://imgur.com/a/tXxnIJR

[The Ghostbuster]

Given how constrained the city's road system is, its a wonder anyone can get anywhere in the city by car. As much as mass transit is promoted, it can't provide doorstep-to-destination transport 24/7 without waiting, transfers, or plenty of walking to and from the stops. That is why most people utilize cars and shun mass transit; they want to be able to travel on their own schedule, not when someone else dictates.

[Rothman]

Given how constrained the city's road system is, its a wonder anyone can get anywhere in the city by car. As much as mass transit is promoted, it can't provide doorstep-to-destination transport 24/7 without waiting, transfers, or plenty of walking to and from the stops. That is why most people utilize cars and shun mass transit; they want to be able to travel on their own schedule, not when someone else dictates.

I think the majority in NYC utilizes public transit, not the minority.

[storm2k]

Given how constrained the city's road system is, its a wonder anyone can get anywhere in the city by car. As much as mass transit is promoted, it can't provide doorstep-to-destination transport 24/7 without waiting, transfers, or plenty of walking to and from the stops. That is why most people utilize cars and shun mass transit; they want to be able to travel on their own schedule, not when someone else dictates.

I think the majority in NYC utilizes public transit, not the minority.

Since when do people let something like facts get in the way of a good narrative?

[TheDon102]

Something I dont see talked about here is how NYCDOT has been on a mission removing car lanes from the avenues and the major east-west thoroughfares in Manhattan. They have created a lot of congestion themselves (yes congestion existed before NYCDOT reimagined NYC Streets but it has gotten worse). The remedy to this artificially inflated congestion is to punish drivers by charging them a +$15 toll to enter Manhattan's CBD. In addition trucks will pay much larger tolls thereby increasing prices on food and other commodities. Obviously most NYC residents use public transit, however NYC residents rely on trucks to deliver food to various local businesses.

[Rothman]

Something I dont see talked about here is how NYCDOT has been on a mission removing car lanes from the avenues and the major east-west thoroughfares in Manhattan. They have created a lot of congestion themselves (yes congestion existed before NYCDOT reimagined NYC Streets but it has gotten worse). The remedy to this artificially inflated congestion is to punish drivers by charging them a +$15 toll to enter Manhattan's CBD. In addition trucks will pay much larger tolls thereby increasing prices on food and other commodities. Obviously most NYC residents use public transit, however NYC residents rely on trucks to deliver food to various local businesses.

I just drove around Manhattan without much issue a few weeks ago.  I find your description to be an exaggeration.

[Plutonic Panda]

Something I dont see talked about here is how NYCDOT has been on a mission removing car lanes from the avenues and the major east-west thoroughfares in Manhattan. They have created a lot of congestion themselves (yes congestion existed before NYCDOT reimagined NYC Streets but it has gotten worse). The remedy to this artificially inflated congestion is to punish drivers by charging them a +$15 toll to enter Manhattan's CBD. In addition trucks will pay much larger tolls thereby increasing prices on food and other commodities. Obviously most NYC residents use public transit, however NYC residents rely on trucks to deliver food to various local businesses.

I just drove around Manhattan without much issue a few weeks ago.  I find your description to be an exaggeration.

I'm shocked that you would have this opinion.

[TheDon102]

Something I dont see talked about here is how NYCDOT has been on a mission removing car lanes from the avenues and the major east-west thoroughfares in Manhattan. They have created a lot of congestion themselves (yes congestion existed before NYCDOT reimagined NYC Streets but it has gotten worse). The remedy to this artificially inflated congestion is to punish drivers by charging them a +$15 toll to enter Manhattan's CBD. In addition trucks will pay much larger tolls thereby increasing prices on food and other commodities. Obviously most NYC residents use public transit, however NYC residents rely on trucks to deliver food to various local businesses.

I just drove around Manhattan without much issue a few weeks ago.  I find your description to be an exaggeration.

8th avenue going from 5 through lanes to 2 lanes, car ban on 14th street for most hours of the day, taking a lane from seemingly all of the NYCDOT owned east river crossings, 3rd avenue going from 5 through lanes to 3, 2nd avenue going from 4 through lanes to 2 (from 23rd street to houston), 9th avenue going from 5 lanes to 3 lanes.   

[Rothman]

Something I dont see talked about here is how NYCDOT has been on a mission removing car lanes from the avenues and the major east-west thoroughfares in Manhattan. They have created a lot of congestion themselves (yes congestion existed before NYCDOT reimagined NYC Streets but it has gotten worse). The remedy to this artificially inflated congestion is to punish drivers by charging them a +$15 toll to enter Manhattan's CBD. In addition trucks will pay much larger tolls thereby increasing prices on food and other commodities. Obviously most NYC residents use public transit, however NYC residents rely on trucks to deliver food to various local businesses.

I just drove around Manhattan without much issue a few weeks ago.  I find your description to be an exaggeration.

8th avenue going from 5 through lanes to 2 lanes, car ban on 14th street for most hours of the day, taking a lane from seemingly all of the NYCDOT owned east river crossings, 3rd avenue going from 5 through lanes to 3, 2nd avenue going from 4 through lanes to 2 (from 23rd street to houston), 9th avenue going from 5 lanes to 3 lanes.   

I'm not seeing the issue.  Like I said, the system seems to be handling it.

[SignBridge]

Mr. Rothman, what time of day did you drive in Manhattan? Maybe 7am on a Sunday morning?

[Rothman]

Mr. Rothman, what time of day did you drive in Manhattan? Maybe 7am on a Sunday morning?

Wasn't my first rodeo driving in Manhattan.  I'm down there quite frequently.  So, various times, various days.

[TheDon102]

Something I dont see talked about here is how NYCDOT has been on a mission removing car lanes from the avenues and the major east-west thoroughfares in Manhattan. They have created a lot of congestion themselves (yes congestion existed before NYCDOT reimagined NYC Streets but it has gotten worse). The remedy to this artificially inflated congestion is to punish drivers by charging them a +$15 toll to enter Manhattan's CBD. In addition trucks will pay much larger tolls thereby increasing prices on food and other commodities. Obviously most NYC residents use public transit, however NYC residents rely on trucks to deliver food to various local businesses.

I just drove around Manhattan without much issue a few weeks ago.  I find your description to be an exaggeration.

8th avenue going from 5 through lanes to 2 lanes, car ban on 14th street for most hours of the day, taking a lane from seemingly all of the NYCDOT owned east river crossings, 3rd avenue going from 5 through lanes to 3, 2nd avenue going from 4 through lanes to 2 (from 23rd street to houston), 9th avenue going from 5 lanes to 3 lanes. 

I'm not seeing the issue.  Like I said, the system seems to be handling it.

The rationale for congestion pricing from the MTA is that congestion in the Manhattan CBD is so bad that we need to charge people a fee in order to discourage people from driving. So it doesn't seem like the system is handling it.

[Rothman]

Something I dont see talked about here is how NYCDOT has been on a mission removing car lanes from the avenues and the major east-west thoroughfares in Manhattan. They have created a lot of congestion themselves (yes congestion existed before NYCDOT reimagined NYC Streets but it has gotten worse). The remedy to this artificially inflated congestion is to punish drivers by charging them a +$15 toll to enter Manhattan's CBD. In addition trucks will pay much larger tolls thereby increasing prices on food and other commodities. Obviously most NYC residents use public transit, however NYC residents rely on trucks to deliver food to various local businesses.

I just drove around Manhattan without much issue a few weeks ago.  I find your description to be an exaggeration.

8th avenue going from 5 through lanes to 2 lanes, car ban on 14th street for most hours of the day, taking a lane from seemingly all of the NYCDOT owned east river crossings, 3rd avenue going from 5 through lanes to 3, 2nd avenue going from 4 through lanes to 2 (from 23rd street to houston), 9th avenue going from 5 lanes to 3 lanes. 

I'm not seeing the issue.  Like I said, the system seems to be handling it.

The rationale for congestion pricing from the MTA is that congestion in the Manhattan CBD is so bad that we need to charge people a fee in order to discourage people from driving. So it doesn't seem like the system is handling it.

I thought we were saying that the goal of raising revenue for MTA was blatant in the planning docs, rather than congestion mitigation.

[LilianaUwU]

Something I dont see talked about here is how NYCDOT has been on a mission removing car lanes from the avenues and the major east-west thoroughfares in Manhattan. They have created a lot of congestion themselves (yes congestion existed before NYCDOT reimagined NYC Streets but it has gotten worse). The remedy to this artificially inflated congestion is to punish drivers by charging them a +$15 toll to enter Manhattan's CBD. In addition trucks will pay much larger tolls thereby increasing prices on food and other commodities. Obviously most NYC residents use public transit, however NYC residents rely on trucks to deliver food to various local businesses.

I just drove around Manhattan without much issue a few weeks ago.  I find your description to be an exaggeration.

8th avenue going from 5 through lanes to 2 lanes, car ban on 14th street for most hours of the day, taking a lane from seemingly all of the NYCDOT owned east river crossings, 3rd avenue going from 5 through lanes to 3, 2nd avenue going from 4 through lanes to 2 (from 23rd street to houston), 9th avenue going from 5 lanes to 3 lanes. 

I'm not seeing the issue.  Like I said, the system seems to be handling it.

The rationale for congestion pricing from the MTA is that congestion in the Manhattan CBD is so bad that we need to charge people a fee in order to discourage people from driving. So it doesn't seem like the system is handling it.

I thought we were saying that the goal of raising revenue for MTA was blatant in the planning docs, rather than congestion mitigation.

It is obvious it's a cash grab from the MTA, whether there's actually unbearable congestion or not.

[vdeane]

Plus it's not just congestion in Manhattan... a decent amount of congestion on the BQE is the result of people shunpiking the tunnels, so there's hope that this will put a stop to that and provide some relief there.  Then again, you also have to add in the traffic from people no longer shunpiking the MTA crossings between LI and NJ.

[The Ghostbuster]

If all of the New York Bridges and Tunnels were tolled, the only way to shunpike would be to take transit. If the upcoming congestion pricing plan is considered successful, it may spread to other parts of New York City, although I'm sure plenty here would not want that to happen.

[vdeane]

If all of the New York Bridges and Tunnels were tolled, the only way to shunpike would be to take transit. If the upcoming congestion pricing plan is considered successful, it may spread to other parts of New York City, although I'm sure plenty here would not want that to happen.

You'd need separate zones otherwise you might defeat the point.