Council Member Helen Rosenthal spoke at a press conference and discussion at 96th Street and West End Avenue last week.
By Carol Tannenhauser
City Council Member Helen Rosenthal criticized the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Mayor Bill de Blasio for holding off on making further changes to the intersection of West End Avenue and West 96th Street, deemed by data to be one of the 25 most dangerous intersections in the city.
“What’s it gonna fucking take for them to do something?” Rosenthal demanded at a press conference and “community discussion” last week, standing on the northwest corner, across 96th Street from P.S. 75, which shares a building with West Side Collaborative Middle School. She was surrounded by parents, transportation activists, crash survivors and other concerned community members.
Rosenthal discussed traffic safety with community members.
Robert O’Brien, the principal of P.S. 75, also attested to the dangers of the intersection. “What’s been very scary is how many close calls we have,” he said. “There are 800 students in the middle school, and 600 in our school, who cross these streets every day. The aggressiveness of some drivers is scary to watch. It’s also an on-off ramp for the busiest highway on the west side of Manhattan. To its credit, DOT has made some changes, but the changes have not been enough to make us believe we’re safe.”
An NYPD officer was directing traffic at the intersection.
“It’s gonna happen here,” Rosenthal said. “We better fix it. It’s gonna happen here.”
She was alluding to and admittedly “feeling emotional” about Cooper Stock, the nine-year-old boy who was killed three years ago just one block to the North. Cooper was walking in the crosswalk holding his father’s hand with the light when a cab driver hit him.
“The reason we all came together the first time was because Cooper was killed,” Rosenthal said. “And, within two months, DOT really did respond.”
A major redesign of West End Avenue from 72nd Street to 108th Street was approved and implemented, as were several local laws supporting the mayor’s Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths in NYC by 2024.
However, the number of crashes resulting in injuries at 96th and West End has spiked again.
“While total annual injuries along West End Avenue (excluding 96th Street) dropped from 15 in 2013 to 3 in 2016, the reverse has happened at 96th Street,” Rosenthal says on her website. “Injuries at this intersection have increased from 3 in 2013 to 10 in 2016. This is unacceptable, and Helen has written to the Department of Transportation in July 2016 and December 2016, urging them to evaluate and treat this intersection for greater pedestrian safety.” In the July letter she suggested a right-hand turn signal for Southbound cars trying to turn right onto 96th Street — cars often get backed up at that intersection as they wait for pedestrians and sometimes try to rise through the light. When The DOT said that “engineering realities” made that difficult, she asked for other solutions.
A DOT official wrote back to Rosenthal last month, saying that the agency isn’t able to make new changes. “In 2017, based on community requests, DOT evaluated the intersection of West End Avenue and 96th street for additional pedestrian improvements,” a DOT spokesperson wrote in an email to West Side Rag. “DOT found that additional signal phases at this location (which include dedicated left turn phases and a Leading Pedestrian Interval within a 90 second cycle), are not feasible at this time.” The mayor’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Car turning right onto 96th Street can be seen in the upper left corner of this photo.
Rosenthal isn’t taking no for an answer.
“The mayor says very strongly that he’s supportive of Vision Zero,” Rosenthal said. “We need to start holding his feet to the fire. I don’t feel he’s been doing enough recently. We’re grateful to the DOT for doing the street redesign on West End Avenue. We just need them to do this corner.”
They’ll soon have no choice, if a bill co-sponsored by Rosenthal passes. Scheduled for a vote by the full City Council on April 25th, the legislation would require DOT to examine re-designing certain intersections with a “pedestrian-exclusive signal phase” – sometimes called a “Barnes Dance.” A Barnes Dance allows pedestrians to cross the street while vehicular traffic is at a full stop, so there’s no chance of a turning car hitting a pedestrian.
Rosenthal explained: “In the 1950s, there was a traffic engineer named Henry Barnes, who implemented, in New York City, this idea that all the cars in every direction would stop at one time, so that only pedestrians would be moving. Most crashes happen during a turn. What we don’t want is pedestrians and cars going at the same time. A Barnes Dance stops that from happening.
“New York City had quite a few Barnes Dances in the 50s,” she continued, “but they fell out of favor in the 60s, because cars rose in favor and the streets were really just turned over to them. The Barnes Dance reverses that. The truth is, we’ve succeeded in getting DOT’s attention. They are now looking at the Barnes Dance as a real option at crossings that may not be safe.”
If you want to see a Barnes Dance in action, New York City currently has one: the intersection where Broadway meets Vesey Street, Park Row, and Ann Street in Lower Manhattan.
“We need to get them moving again,” she concluded. “It’s time. It’s time. We’re not going to wait until anyone else dies to move the ball forward.”
Want to weigh in? The Community Board 7 Transportation Committee is set to discuss the intersection of 96th and West End Avenue (among other issues) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at 250 West 87th Street.
Photos by Carol Tannenhauser.
Really, Ms Rosenthal? ““What’s it gonna fucking take for them to do something?” Rosenthal demanded”.
Clearly she’s been reading some of the spreading criticism about her being clueless and ineffectual — but is that the kind of language we should expect from our elected representatives?
If she wants to talk that way, she ought to hang out with some street folk. But how is that kind of language going to sway resistant lawmakers? Is that really the way she talks — for us — on the floor of the City Council?
Clearly we need someone more tuned in not only with what the job needs, but also with how trusted lawmakers and negotiators speak.
Clearly you spend no time around “kids”.
Kids of all ages today throw ‘F’-bombs (and worse, much, much worse)like they’re popping Skittles. They hear it from their peers; they are bombarded by media with harsh language; and in many cases they hear it from their own parents. It’s a generational thing, and pearl-cluthing isn’t worth the energy, even when legitimate offense is taken.
But in this case, it seems more like a pretext to attack Rosenthal for being assertive, and using forceful language, something female politicians aren’t supposed to do from the misogynists’ perspective.
I can pretty well imagine what Rosenthal would have to say about this kind of ‘concern-trolling’, and I would heartily second that motion.
First, Rosenthal isn’t a “kid”. And I’m not sure we want a “kid” representing us in the City Council.
Second, I don’t care how many “kids” throw the f-word around as often as they can. It’s inappropriate. My own kids know better; why don’t yours? Can’t they express their thoughts with a civil tongue?
Finally, I would challenge any male politician who descended so far as to litter his speech with unnecessary swear words. You’re barking up the wrong tree trying to dismiss me as “misogynist”.
And, no, I will not end this reply by saying “F*** off” — because I don’t need to. I can take you on with decent language. Why can’t Rosenthal?
I guess she was educating the children who were supposed to be in the area on the language of the streets. More ineffectual talk from yet another so called leader. Dump her and DeBlasio
By the way, there’s a functional Barnes crossing right in our neighborhood. (I’ve never seen it called a “dance” before.)
The corner of Amsterdam and 81st Street works this way, although only because 81st goes west on the west side of Amsterdam and east on the east side. As a result there is no traffic approaching Amsterdam from either side of the cross-street, so when the light on Amsterdam is red, the intersection is totally free from traffic.
Helen Rosenthal taking a stand against nobody, taking no positions as she does nothing.
I think 60th and Broadway is also a Barnes Dance, though I may be wrong.
It’s going to fucking take pedestrians and cyclist also being precautious when crossing the streets or riding along busy streets! Too many distracted pedestrians walk on to busy streets too immersed in their cellphones to even see or hear a vehicle approaching or honking. How many Nannies haven’t I seen crossing the street spaced out! Cmon we all have a duty in this. Driving in this city is a nightmare too many careless people and only drivers to blame.
Try again. Cooper Stock was in the crosswalk, with the walk signal, holding his father’s hand. You can get more law-abiding and careful than that unless you lock your child inside for life.
Your response infuriates me. The pedestrian in the crosswalk with the light has the right of way no matter what. It doesn’t matter if they are on their phone. It’s the responsibility of the driver to YIELD!!! The distracted pedestrian isn’t going to fucking kill the aggressive frustrated driver. Seriously. There are 8 million people in manhattan, you should aways assume someone will be in the crosswalk when you are turning And here’s an idea. Stop driving and take public transportation. Don’t you dare blame the pedestrian for walking in the crosswalk with the light. Disgusting.
I agree, it is disgusting. But here’s the problem – a person needs to take precautions to protect themselves against inattentive drivers. And staring down at your phone in the middle of an intersection when it is known that too many drivers don’t seem to be yielding to pedestrians is just plain stupid.
If I’m not mistaken, the traffic enforcement officers at that intersection aren’t allowed to write drivers up for moving violations.
Get real NYPD officers stationed there and either (1) drivers will follow the law or (2) the city will clean up $$$$.
What is your source for this? Seems absurd that they aren’t allowed to issue moving violations.
At this risk of sounding like my grandmother — Helen’s language is reprehensible. She is supposed to represent us. We shouldn’t have to clean over children’s ears in her presence. Besides which it makes her seem unintelligent. An educated person could have chosen a better word.
Traffic Enforcement Agents (Meter Maids) aren’t LE officers, they cannot write moving violations tickets. Their functions besides issuing parking tickets pretty much is otherwise limited to directing and traffic safety.
Years ago meter maids were separate (anyone remember “Brownies”?), but some bright blub got the idea to merge them into the NYPD. So away went the brown uniforms and in came the blue of the NYPD.
“Traffic Enforcement Agents perform work of varying degrees of difficulty in traffic enforcement areas. When required, an agent issues summonses to illegally parked vehicles, directs traffic at an intersection, testifies at administrative hearing offices and court, prepares required reports, and may operate a motor vehicle. Traffic Enforcement Agents at assignment level III are required to operate a tow truck. At all assignment levels, personnel may be required to work nights, weekends, and holidays.”
https://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/careers/civilian_employment.shtml
66th St and Columbus has a Barnes Dance. It works well, allowing pedestrians to cross Columbus without all the cars that came through the 66th St transverse making a left into them. One downside is the cyclists who stop at the light while travelling down Columbus then try to get out a few seconds before the cars. They don’t realize they are taking off precisely when the pedestrians have been given the walk signal.
Kudos to the traffic people at that intersection & 95th St.
They do an extrodinary job. .
“What is it gonna f***ing take for them to do something?”
I’m glad we have such an articulate and classy Council Member in Helen Rosenthal.
They need to redesign that entire intersection to calm traffic. I would also add speed bumps and red light cameras. It would also be nice if traffic cops would issue tickets for honking, speeding, and failure to yield to pedestrians. The 72nd intersection is almost as bad.
It is ad though she is obsessed with WEA. This is all she seems to work on.
I am presently in Sweden, the home of Vision Zero – my 4th visit here – and traffic and pedestrians remain far apart from contact. (Except for the tragic truck attack in Stockholm which has saddened and infuriated all here with the 5th death — of an 11-year old girl from injuries sustained.) All vehicles everywhere in Sweden MUST stop when a pedestrian is about to cross a street EVEN IF there are no traffic lights, or the pedestrian’s crossing is wrong, ill-timed or slow (as with older people). Pedestrians have the right of way AT ALL TIMES. I applaud any and all efforts to get the Mayor and the DOT to listen to the residents of this area – and I am one of them, living at 97th St & WEA. Ms. Rosenthal has come late to the “Dance” now that elections are looming. Having used the “F-bomb” will the Mayor and DOT pay any attention to her and us with the vote ahead? I’ve said repeatedly in print here and in messages to my local email list that NYC’s version of Sweden’s Vision Zero is our Vision Dud. If it was working, why the increase in the pedestrian-related incidents at 96th St & WEA?
Mayor de Blasio and Transportation Trottenberg (and the career bureaucrats at DOT) — YOU are expendable. We residents in this area are NOT.
Again I state Helen Rosenthal was elected BECAUSE uneducated voters thought she was Linda Rosenthal…..Hopefully this gets rectified in the upcoming election
Check out this very insightful podcast by 99% Invisible about how cars in NYC grew in favor over pedestrians: https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/episode-76-the-modern-moloch/
“What’s it gonna fucking take for them to do something?” Actually, this is the first public stance that I can support from Ms Rosenthal who otherwise has been tone-deaf, rude and dismissive of residents with concerns that don’t mirror her own.
true, pedestrians have the right of way assuming they have the walk signal…I’ve seen MANY people/nannies with infants in the carriage cross the walk AGAINST the walk signal while on their cell and not even looking to see if any cars are coming. Reprehensible….however, regarding WITH the light…even if they have the right of way it just makes common sense to pay attention as some driver might not be…it’s likely 2 people…a driver and pedestrian both on their cell/texting…sad, but true…it’s like insurance…just look both ways continuously as you cross…you never know…
CB7’s Transportation committee discussion of the intersection will take place tomorrow, TUESDAY, (not Monday), and at 7 pm, not 6:30.
NYC also includes the Bronx, where there has been at least one Barnes crossing for many years, well before I moved to the UWS in 2011. It is at the intersection of 210th St and Bainbridge Ave, in the middle of several Montefiore hospital buildings. It works very well.
In addition to signal changes, the street lighting at the intersection is awful -the lights are very dim and if you are turning right onto W. 96th to access the highway (as a driver) pedestrians crossing from the southwest corner to the northwest corner are barely visible from the time of sunset into the evening.
The WEst 79th Street corrider also very dangerous, especially all the double turners at Columbus (ironically safer to cross 79th at Columbus against the light) and west side of Broadway and 79th where cars going north turn left and often go through the intersection AGAINST the light. I have brought this up to CB 7 Committee AND H. Rosenthal several times to no avail as well as lack of enforcement of traffic violations by bicyclists who constantly run red lights. ENOUGH
I do the reverse commute and take this route to the westside hywy every morning. There are so many different issues going on with this intersection and I wish that DOT would look at the whole traffic pattern instead of putting band-aids on each issue. There are already delayed lights for pedestrians and during school hours there are traffic agents and sometimes I actually see NYPD enforcing traffic. If they really want to put in “barnes dances” they better look at the impact this will have on Broadway and the rest of west end ave. Its rare that I even see a traffic agent on the westside of Broadway going toward west end ave. Since they took away to old entrance to the hywy from Riverside the only way in is through this intersection. I don’t even want to talk about the buses trying to turn and they can’t because of the congestion on 96st. This is a multi-layered problem.
You are right this is a multi layered problem. It might take an approach that is out of the box and much more expensive than a barn dance. Consider a WEA viaduct over 96th Street that prevents any kind of turns onto West End Ave from 96th Street. It already exists on Riverside Drive. Pedestrians would never have to cross the street against traffic or wait for a light. A drastic redesign of the highway ramps should also be considered.
North side of 96 st. Is councilman Llevin, south side, Rosenthal. There is a real problem also at CPW and 96… I’ve been writing for years…even to borough prez, no results….still dangerous turning onto 96 going north/west from the south on CPW
96 and CPW is an extremely busy intersection
Does Rosenthal suffer from Tourette? If so, shouldn’t she share that with her constituents?
It’s sad that it takes a reelection year before Helen Rosenthal finally takes some sort of a stand. And then she has to use the F bomb to show how committed she is. Where was she during the previous three years? Dismissing us when we pointed out this and other dangerous intersections to her. This is such a show of poor leadership and shameless political grandstanding. We deserve better.
Totally agree. Rosenthal..DOT..CB7..couldn’t care less. I have written and called all of them many times about traffic problems and they NEVER seem to take the issues seriously. Rosenthal’s Office is the worst. And I can say that because I have gone there in person and they are rude! She will not get my vote and I will work very hard convincing my apartment neighbors not to vote for her. Enough.
My guess the fact someone has the *nerve* to run against her lit a fire under Helen Rosenthal. Wonder what her plans will be after term limits makes her re-election (assuming she wins), her last on city council.
Any advances on odds Helen Rosenthal will run for Gale Brewer’s seat as Manhattan BP since that will be open by then
I honestly think that any word (particularly one used solely for emphasis) should not offend anyone. Energy used to complain about words might be better used pointing out something that causes true harm; or to critique what is actually being said.
If a person finds the F word offensive, the only effect of that offense is to give the word a power it otherwise shouldn’t have. [See Lenny Bruce and the N word monologue.]
And IMO, there is no other word in the language that conveys as much intense emphasis as fuck.
But why does this even matter? Should it?
Language is a living thing. And I’m certainly old enough to be annoyed by some of the direction that our language’s life has taken. But the concept of a word in and of itself being offensive makes little sense to me.
Want to see some really bad driving on 96th Street and through that intersection? Watch the car chase from the movie The Seven Ups. At the 4:00 mark in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vACWV5sRcY
Give this Rosenthal (Helen) credit she is out there in the community trying.
Her banter is straight forward no bull, no lies.
Truth be told she is hanging out with a diverse group of folks.