Council Member Julie Won, Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, and Transportation Advocates Hold “People’s Ribbon Cutting” at the Queensboro Bridge
City Hall’s ribbon-cutting ceremony was originally scheduled for March 16.
At the last minute, the mayor’s office canceled the opening of the pedestrian path, without clear reasons. They still have not said when it will open.
NEW YORK — Today, City Council Member Julie Won, Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, and Transportation Alternatives held a “people’s ribbon cutting” rally at the Queensboro Bridge to demand that Mayor Adams open the completed but closed pedestrian path that was supposed to open last month.
"New Yorkers need more space to get over the Queensboro Bridge by foot or bike," said Ben Furnas, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. "The pedestrian path is finished – it just needs to be opened. We know there is a lot happening at City Hall, so we took the liberty of planning this ribbon cutting so all Mayor Adams had to do was swing by and open the path. But they’re continuing to delay for no reason. Every delay is another day where New Yorkers are forced to bike and walk on a dangerous path that could instantly become safe.”
Currently, a two-way bike lane and a two-way pedestrian path both share space that is only 11 feet wide.
Transportation Alternatives calls on Mayor Adams to act immediately and open the Queensboro Bridge pedestrian path, making this bridge safer for all.
“Without a clear explanation of why City Hall delayed the south outer roadway opening after DOT said it was safe to open in March, it appears that they are playing politics with people's lives,” said Council Member Julie Won. “For three years, we marched across the bridge with advocates and pushed DOT to give us clear timelines at hearings and in letters. Each delay threatens the safety of 10,000 pedestrians and bike riders who use the Queensboro Bridge daily. DOT must open the south outer roadway without further delays to prevent more injuries and deaths.”
"The Queensboro Bridge remains the only New York City East River bridge without dedicated bike and pedestrian lanes, forcing New Yorkers into dangerous conditions on a shared path that is well over capacity," said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris. "After years of delays, communities on both sides of the bridge were thrilled to hear the south outer roadway would finally be dedicated to pedestrians, only for the Mayor to step in at the eleventh hour and delay this project yet again. Enough is enough - the construction is done, and our constituents are at risk every day simply trying to cross the bridge. The south outer roadway pedestrian path must be opened now."
"We wrote a letter joined by elected officials on both sides of the river telling City Hall to stop stalling on pedestrian safety,” said Senator Kristen Gonzalez. “We’re proud to stand with advocates today, and we won’t stop until this walkway is opened."
“The Queensboro Bridge South Outer Roadway Pedestrian Path will be transformative for the thousands of New Yorkers biking, walking, and running over the bridge every day,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “This project has been years in the making - it’s time to open the pedestrian path and deliver on the promise to make the Queensboro Bridge safer and more enjoyable for all.”
"As someone who allocated $3 million in capital funding early in my administration toward the Queensboro Bridge South Outer Roadway project, I'm just as frustrated as my government and community partners that this initiative has yet to be unveiled," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "I continue to be in direct discussion with the NYC Department of Transportation on its status and I'm steadfast in my belief that this project will make this vital interborough crossing safer for all who use it, no matter how they use it."
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