Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release #06-34

Contact: Kay Sarlin (212) 442-7033
Chris Gilbride

DOT Announces Enhancements for Forest and South Avenues and Outlines Progress of Staten Island Task Force Recommendations

Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall today announced a series of comprehensive improvements for the intersection of Forest and South Avenues, one of ten high priority intersections identified for design modifications by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's Staten Island Transportation Task Force. Commissioner Weinshall also provided a progress report on the Department of Transportation's (DOT) implementation of the short term recommendations made by the task force in March. Commissioner Weinshall and Department of City Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden will convene the next meeting of the Transportation Taskforce on June 26, 2006.

On March 27, 2006, Mayor Bloomberg announced that ten high priority island intersections would be analyzed for possible design modifications within one year. DOT recently finalized plans for the intersection of Forest and South Avenues and on Wednesday May 31, 2006, work began to construct dedicated left turn bays on the Eastbound and Westbound Forest Avenue approaches to the intersection. A new dual left turn signal (green arrow) will be installed next week and will provide motorists making a left onto South Avenue from Forest with 12-20 seconds of exclusive turning time. The intersection will also be milled and resurfaced and new roadway markings and regulatory signs will be added. Two travel lanes will remain in each direction and the new left turn lanes will ease congestion caused by turning traffic.

"In just 8 weeks since the task force made its recommendations we've made a lot of progress, and the improvements at Forest and South Avenues are just one of a number of steps being taken to address congestion at Staten Island's busiest intersections," said DOT Commissioner Iris Weinshall.

DOT is also currently evaluating the intersections of Richmond Avenue at Draper Place South and Victory Boulevard at Jewett Avenue and has started preliminary data collection at 5 other priority intersections.

—30—