The Department of Transportation (DOT) and Bronx elected officials gathered on Wednesday to celebrate street safety improvements in the borough with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a completed street redesign project in Soundview.
The DOT identified Soundview as a priority area for upgrades under the multi-agency Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic injuries and fatalities. Launched in 2022, the project introduced a range of safety features across Soundview Avenue, Rosedale Avenue, and Lafayette Avenue. These enhancements include protected bike lanes shielded by parked cars, improved visibility at intersections through “daylighting,” pedestrian islands, new crosswalks, and better connectivity between the ferry and bike lanes.
“Whether you live in Soundview, SoHo, Washington Heights or in any part of New York City, you deserve the same safe streets,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “The results show we are delivering for working class New Yorkers and communities of color.”
City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farias, who represents Soundview, said in the last five years, three people from the community were killed in traffic crashes.
“These tragedies should have never happened,” she said. “No family should have had to endure the pain of losing a loved one on our streets, and that is why we are here today. Because the safety of our community members is and must always be a top priority.”
Simultaneously, the agency released a street safety and equity report highlighting that its efforts over the past decade have had a significant impact on improving street safety in low-income communities and communities of color.
The report revealed that since the launch of the Vision Zero initiative in 2014, low-income communities experienced an average 34% decrease in traffic crash fatalities compared to the decade prior, marking the steepest decline among neighborhoods of all income levels in the city.
Street safety advocates from the nonprofit Transportation Alternatives stated that past urban planning practices have disproportionately placed low-income communities and communities of color, such as Soundview, at higher risk for traffic injuries and fatalities.
“We commend DOT on working to right these historic wrongs and prioritizing investment in every corner of the five boroughs,” said Ben Furnas, executive director of Transportation Alternatives. “It’s fantastic to see an emphasis on work in every neighborhood — no one should have to put their life on the line to get around, and everyone should know their loved ones will make it home safe.”
However, many nonprofits and commuters have urged the city to take more action. Advocates have criticized the Adams administration for falling far short of meeting the mandated mileage for protected bike and bus lanes outlined in the NYC Streets Plan.
