Governor Hochul Announces New Measures to Mitigate Bridge Strikes in Upstate New York

 

Road Safety Enhancements Being Deployed Along Onondaga Lake Parkway in Onondaga County and Glenridge Road in Schenectady County

 Governor Kathy Hochul announced that new measures are being implemented this week in the Capital Region and Central New York intended to reduce collisions with low-clearance railroad bridges. These new safety enhancements, put in place by New York State Department of Transportation, are being employed along the Onondaga Lake Parkway in the Village of Liverpool and the Town of Salina, Onondaga County, and along Glenridge Road in the Town of Glenville, Schenectady County. Both roads travel under railroad bridges with posted clearances of 10 feet 9 inches and 10 feet 11 inches, respectively.

“The measures being put in place this week will help calm traffic and provide clear warnings to truck drivers in danger of striking low-clearance overpasses in Upstate New York,” Governor Hochul said. “Bridge strikes create hazardous situations for drivers and first responders and cause unnecessary inconveniences for local communities. These new systems will build on the numerous steps already taken to prevent these needless bridge strikes.”

Glenridge Road Rail Bridge

In Glenville, a multi-pronged effort is being put in place by NYSDOT to reduce instances of trucks and other vehicles striking the Canadian Pacific Railway-owned bridge that carries the rail line over Glenridge Road. A state-of-the-art vehicle detection system, which uses infrared sensors, flashing beacons, floodlights, and cameras, was fully operational by Thursday, August 31.

The Department of Transportation installed two sets of infrared detectors along with two electronic message boards and two new flashing beacons for vehicles heading westbound, which is the direction of travel in which the majority of bridge strikes have occurred. There is one set of detectors and message boards for vehicles heading eastbound. Additionally, six new permanent cameras will work in conjunction with the over-height detection system.

When an over-height vehicle disrupts the continuity of the newly installed infrared beams, the system will trigger nearby beacons to flash floodlights to shine on the bridge, and electronic message boards will post a warning to the operator that their vehicle is too tall to fit underneath the bridge.

The mobilization of this active warning system is the latest step in immediate and long-term plans announced in November 2021 by the Department of Transportation to reduce the number of bridge strikes at the Glenridge Road overpass. Last summer, the Department completed the construction of a vehicle turnaround area approximately 500 feet ahead of the railroad overpass for westbound vehicles.

In January 2022, the Department activated flashing beacons above and below low-clearance warning signs in advance of the bridge in both directions. Additionally, 14 signs have long been in place in both directions over a 0.9-mile stretch of Glenridge Road warning truckers of the low clearance bridge just east of Hetcheltown Road. This includes nine advance signs in the westbound direction over approximately three-quarters of a mile. Pavement markings displaying similar warnings ahead of the bridge are consistently refreshed.

Onondaga Lake Parkway

Also known as State Route 370, Onondaga Lake Parkway is located within Onondaga Lake Park and runs along the northern shore of Onondaga Lake, parallel to Old Liverpool Road, between the Interstate 81 interchange and the Village of Liverpool. The CSX-owned railroad bridge near the midpoint of the parkway has been subject to frequent collisions with over-height vehicles.

This week, as part of a series of safety enhancements announced in June 2023, the parkway is being reduced to one lane in each direction, for a distance of 1200 feet on each side of the railroad bridge, which is intended to calm traffic and give over-height vehicles additional time to heed the warning signs and avoid the bridge. The lane restrictions will remain in place as NYSDOT assess their effectiveness and their impact on traffic conditions.

The new enhancements being added augment the nearly 50 countermeasures currently in place along both sides of the bridge, which include signs, flashing beacons, pavement markings, variable message signs, and an electronic over-height vehicle detection system.

New, ground-mounted and overhead signs with graphical “No Trucks” messaging are making it easier for drivers with limited English proficiency to understand. Additionally, plans are in place for an upgrade of the existing over-height detection system with additional sensors to improve accuracy, incorporation of LED blank out signs with a graphical “No Trucks” message that will activate when an over-height vehicle is detected, and the installation of a traditional, three-phase traffic signal near the bridge that would turn red when an over-height vehicle is detected.

In addition, the entrance ramp to the parkway from Interstate 81 northbound, which is currently closed, will remain closed as NYSDOT assesses the impact and effectiveness of the lane reduction on the parkway.

NYSDOT continues to alert drivers of over-height vehicles that consumer GPS and cell phone mapping systems do not include warnings for bridge heights, which puts them at risk of collisions. Commercial-grade GPS systems, on the other hand, account for and include height, weight, and other road restrictions.

The Department continues to partner and meet with local and state elected officials and the Trucking Association of New York to ensure that truckers use proper routes.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Onondaga Lake Parkway and Glenridge Road have seen far too many bridge strikes involving trucks and other over-height vehicles in recent years, which can cause unnecessary hazards to local motorists and first responders. Bridge strikes are 100 percent preventable, and operators of over-height vehicles need to drive safely, pay attention to the new and existing warnings in place, and use commercial-grade GPS navigation systems. I thank Governor Hochul for her support and commitment to the safety of all those who drive in New York.”

EDITOR'S NOTE:

How about the Henry Hudson Parkway overpasses in the Bronx where trucks are hitting the West 239th and West 246th overpasses on a regular basis Governor Hochul?

Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association September 12, 2023 Meeting

The Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association is back with their monthly community event on TUESDAY Sept 12,2023 starting at 7:00 pm at our location 2134 Barnes Avenue corner of Barnes and Lydig Avenue Bx, NY 10462. Scheduled to appear from the NYPD are Captain Ashraf from Transit District 12 and Deputy Inspector Kentish and Commanding Officer  from the 49th Pct in the Bronx.

Please join us for this very important and informative session.

We look forward to seeing you! 

LA JARA WAY in Westchester Square

There was a sea of blue at the corner of East Tremont Avenue and St. Raymonds Avenue in Westchester Square, as the corner was to be co-named for the Latin New York City Police band La Jara. La Jara is a band made up of NYPD officers who come from various Latin American countries. 

Captain Alexander Cedillo formed the band in 2013, and when he is not busy at work in the 63rd Precinct he is thinking of music. He said the band which is ten years old has members from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Peru, and Mexico. La Jara plays Salsa and Merengue, are all volunteers who play as a community service, and do not charge any fee for their performances.  

On hand for the street co-naming were NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Tania I. Kinsella, Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, 45th Precinct Commanding officer Captain Johnny A. Orellana, Members of LA JARA and other police officers, Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez, Westchester BID Executive Director Jasmin Cruz who was the emcee of the event, and others.

Jasmin Cruz the Executive Director of the Westchester BID was the emcee of the street co-naming. 

NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Tania I. Kinsella speaks about the LA JARA band and what it means to the NYPD.

NYPD Chief of the Department Jeffrey Maddrey says a few words of congratulations to the band.

Captain Cedillo of LA JARA holds a Certificate of Merit from Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson.

Captain Cedillo and Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez hold a second street sign La Jara Band Way that was given to the band. 

After the speeches it was time to uncover the new street sign La Jara Way.

It's official, the corner of East Tremont Avenue and St. Raymonds Avenue is La Jara Way.

The Bronx Museum of the Arts - You're Invited to the Opening Reception for "Michael Richards: Are You Down?" // Friday, September 8, 6pm-8pm

The Board of Trustees of The Bronx Museum of the Arts,  Chairperson Joseph Mizzi, and Executive Director Klaudio  Rodriguez cordially invite you to attend the opening of Michael Richards: Are You Down? Friday, September 8, 2023 6:00pm to 8:00pm With music by Uptown Vinyl Supreme. Michael Richards: Are You Down? is the first museum  retrospective of Michael Richards’s visionary artwork— engaging Blackness, flight, diaspora, spirituality, police  brutality, and monuments—created during a prolific  decade between 1990 and 2001. Curated by Alex Fialho and Melissa Levin, and  organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art  North Miami. RSVP is not required to attend.

Learn More  Bronx Museum of the Arts 1040 Grand Concourse at 165th St  Bronx NY 10456

After Completing Extensive Repairs, Governor Hochul Announces Key Bear Mountain State Park Facilities to Reopen for Labor Day Weekend

 

Trailside Museums and Zoo, Bear Mountain Inn and Perkins Memorial Drive Opening Saturday, September 2

Parking and Trail Access Remains Limited as Other Repairs Continue

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that popular Bear Mountain State Park facilities will reopen Labor Day weekend following extensive repairs to damage caused by flooding from a major storm on July 9 and 10. The park’s Trailside Museums and Zoo, Bear Mountain Inn and Perkins Memorial Drive will reopen Saturday, September 2, following an extensive recovery effort that included repairs to the treatment plant that provides water to Bear Mountain’s buildings and facilities.

“New York State is making incredible progress in recovering from the destructive force of the July storm, which dumped more than eight inches of rain over a few short hours in parts of the Hudson Valley,” Governor Hochul said. “With crucial repairs now complete, I’m pleased that Bear Mountain State Park and the famed Bear Mountain Inn will reopen for this Labor Day weekend so that New Yorkers can get back to enjoying these popular destinations.”

The Park’s picnic grounds and Hessian Lake loop trail reopened August 23. Additional facilities to be open for Labor Day weekend include:

• Hessian Lake paddle boat rentals
• Bear Mountain Carousel
• Bathrooms and drinking water fountains
• The Trailside Museums and Zoo – opens on Saturday
• South Entrance Road – between US 9W and the Bear Mountain Circle – opens on Saturday
• Seven Lakes Drive from the Palisades Interstate Parkway Exit 19 to Bear Mountain Circle – opens on Saturday
• Perkins Memorial Drive – opens for vehicular access on Saturday
• Bear Mountain Inn guest rooms, restaurant, bar, hiker’s café, and spa all open as of Saturday. Additional information available here: visitbearmountain.com

Parking remains limited. Visitors should plan ahead, including making alternative plans if Bear Mountain fills to capacity.

Many of the Park’s hiking trails were also damaged and will remain closed until repairs can be completed in the coming months. Bear Mountain’s Trail map will be updated on an ongoing basis as repairs are made to help inform visitors about the status of their favorite hikes. The latest version of the map can be viewed here. The Bear Mountain Pool bathhouse was also damaged and is planned to reopen for the 2024 season.

The storm caused widespread damage throughout Bear Mountain and portions of Harriman State Park, including embankment collapses, rock and mudslides, significant washouts along park hiking trails, roads, bridges, and culverts. Repairs were also needed to address significant damage to the Park’s maintenance garage, and carpentry and plumbing shops.

With the assistance of the New York State Office of General Services, contractors have been working non-stop to address the most critical damage. Significantly, the Park could not re-open without repairs to its water treatment facility, which required the replacement of components that were submerged when the plant was flooded during the storm.

State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “I am grateful to Governor Hochul, our partners at OGS and DOT and our dedicated staff for fast-tracking these key health and safety repairs to Bear Mountain infrastructure. With well over two million visitors each year, Bear Mountain is a vital destination for people in the region for healthy rest and recreation. I am happy to welcome visitors back for Labor Day weekend and beyond.”

Bear Mountain State Park, a part of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC), is situated in rugged mountains rising from the west bank of the Hudson River. The Park features a large play field, shaded picnic groves, lake and river fishing access, a swimming pool, Trailside Museums and Zoo, hiking, biking and cross-country ski trails. An outdoor rink is open to ice skaters from late October through mid-March. The Perkins Memorial Tower atop Bear Mountain affords spectacular views of the Park, the Hudson Highlands and Harriman State Park. Perkins Memorial Drive and Tower are open from April through late November, weather permitting.

About the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which saw a record 79.5 million visits in 2022. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Joins us in celebrating our Centennial throughout 2024, and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and the OPRHP Blog.

About the Palisades Interstate Park Commission

Formed in 1900, the Palisades Interstate Park Commission is the nation’s first bi-state entity established to protect and conserve natural lands. Today it manages 21 parks and 9 historic sites spanning over 125,000 acres in New York and Northern New Jersey. PIPC’s early work helped inspire the emerging fields of environmental stewardship and education, pioneered the goal of exposing children to nature through its group campgrounds, and served as a model for the early growth of the national park system. The Commission’s maple and oak leaf logo represents the official state trees of New York and New Jersey.

New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - 18th Annual Banquet and Scholarship Ceremony - Save the Date

 

New York City Hispanic Chamber   159 E 116th St, Second Floor, New York, NY 10029

Statement from Speaker Adrienne Adams and Criminal Justice Chair Carlina Rivera on the Deadline to Close Rikers

 

“For decades, Rikers Island has cultivated a culture of brutal violence and dysfunction, compelling the City Council to pass legislation to end the humanitarian crisis in our city’s jails and transition to a more effective and safer borough-based system. Thursday marked four years to the day that New York City must close Rikers to comply with the law. Public safety demands that we remain on-track to closing Rikers without delay. To achieve this goal, it is imperative that Mayor Adams’ administration take responsibility for implementing the law, including working collaboratively with stakeholders involved in the criminal legal system to advance necessary progress. The City must make consistent investments in pretrial services, alternatives to incarceration, and re-entry services, while addressing unacceptable lengths of stay with the courts, district attorneys, and public defenders. The Council has taken recent actions as a contributing partner in these efforts by advancing increased mental health interventions and greater resources for supervised release programs, among others, but far more is needed.

“We cannot allow Rikers to continue undermining public safety and must continue the necessary work of implementing a more effective approach to public safety. The record deaths and continued violence, which endangers both staff and detained individuals, reaffirms the Council’s 2019 decision to bring this shameful chapter in the city’s history to an end and only emphasizes the urgency we must act with moving forward.”

D.A. BRAGG RETURNS $50,000 IN STOLEN WAGES TO NEW YORK CITY WORKERS THROUGH OFFICE’S "STOLEN WAGE FUND"

 

Seven Workers Receive First Set of Checks Distributed through Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s Stolen Wage Fund with NYS Department of Labor Ahead of Labor Day

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. announced the first-ever repayment of wages to workers through the Manhattan D.A.’s Office’s Stolen Wage Fund, created in partnership with the New York State Department of Labor. Seven employees of the now-defunct Ampak Electrical Services who performed electrical work at the site of the midtown Virgin Hotel in 2021 received the $50,000 pay promised to them for nearly 1,800 total hours of work. 

D.A. Bragg personally distributed the checks to the seven workers.

“All workers deserve to be fairly compensated for the labor they provide. When Manhattan workers are taken advantage of by unscrupulous employers, we are fiercely committed to making them whole,” said D.A. Bragg. “I hope the return of these wages provides some closure to these hard-working individuals. I urge anyone who has been a victim of wage theft to call our Worker Protection Unit at 646-712-0298.”

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “This wage recovery marks a significant step forward in our commitment to justice and fairness for New York’s workers. In collaboration with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, we stand united in our resolve to hold accountable those who look to exploit workers. The first-ever repayment of wages from the Stolen Wage Fund is a testament to our dedication to ensuring that hardworking individuals receive the compensation they rightfully earned.”

New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said, “Today we return wages to construction workers denied full and fair pay by their employer.  DOI and its law enforcement partners will seek to hold accountable those who steal from the City’s workers, and also to repay those workers what they are owed. I thank the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for their shared commitment to this important mission.”

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the New York State Department of Labor, and the New York City Department of Investigation conducted a joint investigation after workers reported missing paychecks and wage theft in March 2021. In September 2021, Ampak Electrical Services pleaded guilty to the felony of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree and was required to pay $112,176 to 18 workers as part of the disposition. The seven workers receiving a total of $50,000 in payments today came forward after restitution was paid and the company folded.

Created in February 2023, the D.A.’s Stolen Wage Fund helps Manhattan victims of wage theft who may not be made whole through the Office’s criminal prosecutions. In partnership with the Department of Labor, the Fund helps victims of wage theft who come forward after a criminal case has concluded and case-related restitution has already been distributed. The Fund also assists victims of companies that declare bankruptcy or otherwise cannot repay stolen wages.

After evaluating the initial one-year pilot, the Office may invest up to $500,000 in the Fund. According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year, the Department of Labor will vet claims and calculates stolen wages, which the D.A.’s Office will then distribute to claimants. Claims must be for work performed in Manhattan, reported within one year of a criminal conviction for theft, and filed under penalty of perjury.