NYC-WTC_000195490

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document I

highway and contribute funding for the cleaning and maintenance of the roadside. In conjunction with City and private funding, the Department also utilizes State aid to perform both maintenance and safety structure repair activities. Currently, the Department cleans and maintains 200 miles of arterials annually with a staff of over 200.

Traffic Operations

The Bureau of Traffic Operations maintains and collects revenue from approximately 71,500 metered spaces, operates 58 municipal parking facilities, and installs and maintains approximately one million traffic signs, approximaitely 11,000 signalized intersections, and over 325,000 streetlights. The 2002 Executive Budget provide.s for 1,050 positions and $169.7 million, a decrease of $28.6 million from the amount forecast for 2001. As with the Highway Operations budget, this decrease is a result of ^Federal and State grants temporarily expiring at the end of 2001. T/he 2002 Executive Budget provides $40.4 milliori for the continued maintenance of streetlights and traffic signals. ■ ' / 1 ' ' ' . /

In an ongoing effort to enhance traffic safety, the City will continue an expanded Red Light Camera program in 2002. Designed to promote safe, responsible driving by photographing and fining vehicles “running” red lights, this program became fiilly operational in 1994 and was quickly expanded to its current level of 30 cameras. By the start of 2002, DOT will operate 50 cameras at various locations, Citywide. Due to its success in containing traffic violations, DOT is considering a further expansion of the program.

As part of its efforts to improve the flow of traffic through the City, DOT will install 50 video cameras at various intersections throughout the City. This will bring the total number of DOT operated cameras up to 100. By improving the City’s responsiveness to accidents, breakdowns and other traffic blockages, this program will allow the City to ameliorate the effects of congestion. These additional cameras will improve DOT’s ability to provide traffic reports (updated every 15 minutes) on its 1-800-DOT-MOVE public information line. Furthermore, ; as of January 2001, up to 24 locations monitored by these cameras have been available for public viewing on the DOT websjte for improved trip planning.

By increasing the number of streets checked regularly by the Highway Inspector Quality Assurance (HIQA) program, DOT will further reduce traffic congestion and improve the quality of street cut restorations. DOT plans to increase: the number of streets monitored by HIQA inspectors from 70 percent to 100 percent of streets - thus creating a disincentive for illegal construction projects. This will have the benefit of reducing congestion due to illegal construction projects and reduce the number of potholes resulting from noncompliance with City regulations regarding Utility street cuts. ! ; Due to the success of the joint New York Power Authority/DOT pilot program for traffic signal red Light i Emitting Diodes (LED’s) in Queens, the Department has decided to proceed with the installation of an additional 48,500 red and green LED’s in over 3,000 signalized intersections in Queens and Staten Island. After these high- efficiency bulbs have been fully installed, the City will save approximately $1.6 million per year.

Transit Operations.

' The Bureau of Transit Operations operates and maintains the Staten Island Ferry and its terminals, regulates private ferry operations, provides school bus service for disabled pre-kindergarten children, and manages the subsidized franchise bus program. The 2002 Executive Budget provides for 540 positions and an operating budget of $91.5 million, a decrease of $11.8 million from the 2001 forecast. This decrease is a result of current Federal and State grants expiring at the end of 2001.

The Staten Island Ferry is expected to carry approximately 19 million passengers and approximately 360,000 vehicles. In addition, the Department anticipates that the Ferry program will achieve an on-time performance

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