Council Member Vacca & Senator Klein Call for More Traffic Controls at Dangerous Intersection

In response to a crash Tuesday night that involved 4 passengers, Council Member James Vacca and NYS Senator Jeff Klein together renewed calls for the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) to install traffic controls at the busy intersection of Crosby and Coddington Avenues.

 

Last month, the NYC DOT denied written requests from the offices of Vacca and Klein to add a traffic light at the intersection despite a long history of accidents and repeated warnings from community leaders and residents that the intersection poses a major blind spot for incoming traffic. A traffic study from the DOT determined that the intersection did not merit any additional traffic controls according DOT standards.

 

“Despite the traffic study results, we know firsthand that safety is compromised at this intersection,” said Vacca. “The city has embraced the Vision Zero plan to reduce the number of traffic fatalities, and as part of this plan, there are many new safety measures including speed bumps and a reduction in the default speed limit from 30 to 25 miles per hour. However, at this particular intersection, it’s clear that more needs to be done. Speeding is a clear and present danger. We can’t wait for more accidents, or worse, a fatality to happen before the DOT installs safety controls at this dangerous crossing.”

 

Council Member Vacca and Dana Caratenuto, senior aide to Senator Klein, were at the scene of the accident Tuesday night following calls made to their offices.

 

“It is disheartening to think that a community has no voice at all when it comes to their safety. I and Councilman Vacca tried time and time again to ask for safety measures at this corner but we keep being told that the data presented doesn’t meet Federal Guidelines. Based on what occurred Tuesday night and the multitude of accident stories being told to me by my constituents, I believe this corner is in need of a traffic light. While thankfully there was only damage to property and not persons at the latest incident, I now ask DOT, how serious does it have to be before we get safety measures at Coddington and Crosby Avenues?” said State Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester).

 

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