COSTA CONSTANTINIDES CHAIR

COUNCILMEMBER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

ND
22 DISTRICT, QUEENS
COMMITTEES
DISTRICT OFFICE
RESILIENCY
31-09 NEWTOWN AVENUE, SUITE 209
ASTORIA, NY 11102 SANITATION
TEL: (718) 274-4500 TECHNOLOGY
THE COUNCIL
CITY HALL OFFICE
250 BROADWAY, SUITE 1778
OF
NEW YORK, NY 10007 THE CITY OF NEW YORK

COUNCIL.NYC.GOV/COSTA

August 30th, 2019

Daniel DeCrescenzo
Acting President
Metropolitan Transit Authority Bridges & Tunnels
Randall’s Island
New York, NY 10035

Re: Robert F. Kennedy (formerly the Triborough) Bridge Bicycle & Pedestrian
Infrastructure

Dear Acting President DeCrescenzo:

I am writing to request the Metropolitan Transit Authority Bridges and Tunnels to

identify actionable measures the Authority could implement to improve the cyclist and
pedestrian experience along the RFK Bridge. With current conditions, only cyclists who
are brave enough would dare to take on this journey. There are long sections of this
bridge’s bike path that are completely exposed, without any protective fencing or
barriers, which deters even the most experienced riders from embarking on the trip.
Along with protective fencing, I request that the MTA study the feasibility of delineating
separate traveling lanes for cyclists and pedestrians. Separating the cycling and pedestrian
paths can help assure that each type of user is as safe as possible. Making this bridge
conducive to other modes of transportation - and not exclusively to cars - is yet another
step our government can take to reduce vehicular traffic and make New York City more
livable and sustainable.

In addition, protective fencing acts as a suicide prevention measure. To the best of

my knowledge, four individuals have taken their life on the RFK Bridge since 2015 and
in 2017 the City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported 21 individuals to
have committed suicide on a city bridge. These are traumatic statistics to recite and they
desperately show the need for physical barriers that can reduce the likelihood of suicide
on public infrastructure.

As I’m sure you know, the RFK Bridge is far more than just a single bridge. It’s
an extensive network of critical transportation roadways that connect Queens, the Bronx,
Manhattan, and Randall’s Island. It connects to other major roadways like the Harlem
River Drive, Major Deegan Expressway, Bruckner Expressway, and more. Moreover,
this bridge connects communities that have long borne the brunt of environmental
injustices. Communities from the South Bronx and Uptown Manhattan, in addition to the
formerly redlined communities in Long Island City to the west of 21st Street.

When the RFK Bridge was designed and built in the early 20th Century the chief
goal was to make car travel easier and faster within New York City. Traffic engineering
rationale at that time did not consider how car use is detrimental to the environment, the
streetscape, and urban livability. What we now know about cars in 2019 is starkly
different than what we understood in the 1920s. For this reason our city has been
methodically implementing new traffic engineering standards that prioritize pedestrians
and cyclists. I believe protective fencing along the RFK Bridge would be a small step
forward in rectifying this legacy. And, in the long-term, creating separate paths for
cycling and walking would be a major improvement and make this bridge safer for all
types of travelers.

I look forward to working with the MTA and my colleagues in government to

further this request. While the City and State continues its large-scale work to curb
carbon emissions and make our urban environment more sustainable, there are low-
hanging fruit that are within grasp now to make our city less dependent on cars. Thank
you for your attention. You may reach me at 718-274-4500 or at costa@council.nyc.gov
for further discussion.

Sincerely,

Costa Constantinides
Council Member, 22nd District