Experts: Vision Zero saves lives
Vision Zero, when you look out on the streets, can you see it? Tangible or not, some New Yorkers see a difference. Some don't. The quick answer: experts and city officials agree that no question, the city's streets are safer. DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said traffic fatalities on the street of the city have fallen 22 percent, bucking the national trend of increased traffic fatalities.
Inside NYC's Traffic Management Center
Fox 5 News got an exclusive look inside New York City's Department of Transportation Traffic Management Center in Long Island City, Queens. The staff's job goes beyond keeping things moving. They're playing an increasing role in driver and pedestrian safety. DOT staff monitor cameras 24/7 at about 600 locations and can adjust signal timing with the click of a key. You might have noticed a change at some intersections. The white sign for pedestrians signals "walk" while the red light for vehicles remains "stop" instead of the usual white-walk, green-go combo. Safety is the reason crews have put it into their traffic signal phasing, DOT Deputy Commissioner Joshua Benson said.
Central Park traffic safety
On a beautiful, sunny day in New York, it can be hard to resist a bike ride, a jog, or a carriage tour through Central Park. The past few years, several bicycle-related incidents and even deaths have happened in Central Park. In response, the city's DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said her agency is taking action.
Congestion pricing
Driving down Manhattan's busiest streets could soon cost you. The New York City Council is debating a plan to implement congestion pricing. This has been tried before, but one advocacy group said the city could impose it with or without Albany's approval. Move NY campaign director Alex Matthiessen proposed a $2.75 fee on cars entering Manhattan's central business district south of 60th Street. Trucks would pay a higher fee while all for-hire vehicles would pay a congestion surcharge based on travel within the zone.
NYC bike lanes
A lot of things get criticized in New York City and bike lanes are no exception. They do take up a lane and are a visible and easy target, but are they the root cause of the traffic woes plaguing the city? Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg literally bears witness to where the rubber meets the road. Evaluating bikes lanes with her team, she dissected the true cause of our modern traffic ordeal. News flash -- it is not bike lanes.
Bridge replacement
For the last four years, we've watched the new Tappan Zee Bridge being built, piece by piece like a giant puzzle. Several months before its planned opening, it is now possible to drive across the entire three-mile length of the new bridge.
Vision Zero report card
Mayor Bill de Blasio's Vision Zero program to reduce pedestrian fatalities is getting a high mark from the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank. Fox 5 got an early look at what the institute will be saying when it releases a report Thursday.
New Jersey flooding
Drivers were risking their cars, and perhaps their lives, driving through flood waters in New Jersey.
Trump Traffic Alert
Ines Rosales has the areas to avoid while President Donald Trump is in NYC and NJ on Thursday.
Mosque rejected
A New Jersey zoning board has turned down an application to open a Muslim community center in a vote following five hours of discussion that the chairman said included some embarrassing audience comments.
Ride share bubble?
Whether you're an Uber, Gett, Juno or Lyft loyalist, safe to say most of us have used at least one of the myriad of apps to get around this city. The industry has grown at breakneck speed with few signs of slowing down. In the last year and a half, the number of app based rides has more than tripled. In New York City alone, adding more than 600 million miles and in the last four years 50,000 more cars on the road.
LaGuardia Airport chaos
Getting to LaGuardia Airport these days takes extra time and extra patience. Many travelers learned that the hard way last week. Traffic backed up so badly getting into the terminal that some people got out of cars and walked into oncoming traffic and even jumped over barriers to try to get to their flights on time. New construction for the airport expansion is part of the trouble coupled with a snow storm last week.