Assemblyman Marcos Crespo Letter To 

NYS DOT Commissioner McDonald

Re: Bronx River Parkway Accident 

And Response by Commissioner McDonald

May 1, 2012

Joan McDonald

NYS Department of Transportation

50 Wolf Road

Albany, NY 12232

 Dear Commissioner McDonald,

I am writing to officially join Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and many of my colleagues in the Assembly and Senate in calling for an expeditious and thorough investigation and review of the safety conditions of our city and state roadways, particularly the sections of the Bronx River Parkway where the most recent and tragic accident took place last weekend.

I have lent my support to the Rodriguez family, who reside in my Assembly District, as they mourn their loved ones and seek assistance from the public for the tremendous cost of properly burying their deceased family members. Additionally, as their State Assemblyman, I see a greater responsibility on my part to assist in any effort we can undertake as State officials to review the circumstances that led to this and other accidents on the Bronx River Parkway, to consider more appropriate safety measures along our roads, especially in sections which are adjacent to steep drops, and the immediate installation of any additional safety measures.

Hopefully, we can take action in our State and help prevent another tragedy like the one that occurred last weekend.  As we begin this effort to study the safety conditions of the Bronx River Parkway, I expect that we will further this effort throughout our State roads and transportation infrastructure.

As a member of the Assembly Transportation Committee, I respectfully urge your consideration of this request and I look forward to working closely with your office in this effort.

Respectfully,

Marcos A. Crespo

85^th Assembly District

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STATEMENT FROM NEW YORK STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER JOAN MCDONALD ON THE BRONX RIVER PARKWAY

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald said today: “The New York State Department of Transportation shares community concerns about the safety of the Bronx River Parkway in the wake of the tragic crash that claimed the lives of seven family members on April 29.

“Since Sunday’s accident, we have been working on interim actions that will be implemented on the parkway beginning this morning.

“For the viaduct over the Bronx Zoo, as well as two other similarly constructed viaducts south that cross over East Tremont Avenue and Amtrak respectively, NYSDOT will install concrete barriers along the outside (right hand) travel lane so that these barriers will abut the viaduct curbing on both the north and southbound lanes. 

“Beginning today, NYSDOT crews will be installing signage and will be striping the approaches and decking of the three BRP viaducts in question.

“During the installation of the barriers on each of these viaducts, motorists will be informed that they will be traveling through a construction zone, which will limit their legal speed to 35 mph.

“We are working cooperatively with the New York Police Department on enhanced enforcement activities in the area to help raise driver awareness and reduce travel speeds.”

Assemblyman Marcos Crespo said:  “As a member of the Assembly Transportation Committee, I am proud and grateful for the expeditious response from the State Department of Transportation.  We are paying our respects in part through this timely effort to improve safety measures along the Bronx River Parkway as we continue to mourn the tremendous loss of three generations.”

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said: "I am grateful that the State Department of Transportation has heard our calls for safety improvements on the Bronx River Parkway. We must do everything we can to avoid a similar tragedy in the future, and this announcement is an important first step towards the goal of an improved Bronx River Parkway that is safer for drivers and the community alike. I thank the State Department of Transportation for moving quickly to address these issues, and I look forward to assisting them in the implementation of these improvements in the future.”

Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera (in whose district the accident occurred) said:  “I'm extremely pleased that the State Department of Transportation has responded swiftly and in a meaningful way to the calls for new safety measures on the Bronx River Parkway. Drivers on the parkway will immediately be safer as a result of the State DOT's actions today. 

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