Saturday, September 19, 2009

NEW WARNINGS

ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON I WITNESSED SEVERAL EASTBOUND MOTORISTS ON DELANCEY ST. BEING TICKETED FOR THE $115 BOX BLOCKING VIOLATION UPON ATTEMPTING TO CROSS CHRYSTIE, BUT FALLING SHORT.

A NIGHT DRIVER SHARED HIS SAD STORY WITH ME THIS WEEK. HE WAS ON AMSTERDAM IN THE 80's, WANTING TO MAKE A TURN, BUT A GARBAGE TRUCK SAT DOUBLE PARKED IN THE TURNING LANE. SO HE DROVE AROUND IT AND ANGLED HIS CAB ABOUT 45 DEGREES TOWARDS THE STREET HE INTENDED TO TURN UNTO, WHICH WAS THE ONLY SPACE AVAILABLE BEFORE THE CROSSWALK. THIS WOULD SERVE AS A WARNING TO THE SANITATION GUYS IN CASE THEY DECIDED TO ROLL. HE PUT ON HIS TURN SIGNAL AND SAT THERE AWAITING THE GREEN LIGHT. ALL OF A SUDDEN A COP CAR BEHIND HIM WENT WOOP WOOP AND BLARED 'PULL OVER' ON THE MEGAPHONE. SO HE MADE THE TURN AND SAT TIGHT WHILE THE COP PROCEEDED TO WRITE HIM TWO TICKETS: ONE FOR RUNNING A STEADY RED AND ONE FOR IMPROPER TURN. DOES THIS SOUND LIKE A FISH NET OR WHAT?

WHEN TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ALONG WOODHAVEN BLVD. IN QUEENS, BEWARE OF A SUCCESSION OF RED LIGHT CAMERAS: AT JAMAICA AV, LIBERTY, AND PITKIN.

Friday, September 18, 2009

update- U.N. Assembly-- And this weekend's parades and street fares.

Sorry I've been slacking with the traffic updates. Since Labor Day I decided to just roll with it each weekend, either by finding each street closure in the early hours on Saturday and Sunday, or by stopping into the Apple Store and checking the DOT website during my shift. They have free wifi, and they let you use their computers, plus a bathroom 24 hours a day.
Really I wished that the street fairs and parades would stop after Labor Day, but they continued. And we had the Fashion Show closing down 6th Avenue in the middle of the weekday, two days in a row. Fortunately I wasn't driving those two days, but I could only imagine the torture.
In the coming days:
The U. N. General Assembly
I worry about the United Nations General Assembly. I've had two passengers this week ask me when it begins. They were worried about traffic, remembering that every year around this time, the traffic is a torture for one full week. The DOT website has a listing of specific streets with a construction embargo that begins this Friday at midnight--
This may or may not give a clue, some insight, into what streets will be randomly closed as diplomats enter and leave the U.N. and travel between there and their respective consulates. My guess is everywhere around 42nd street, and all around the U.N. If you're near an international embassy, that may be a problem too. But we don't really know what will hit us until we're out there.
UN General Assembly Construction Embargo - September 18 - October 4, 2009
A special construction embargo is in effect for the UN General Assembly starting 12:01AM Friday, September 18 to 11:59PM Sunday, October 4, 2009, for the locations noted below. Only emergency work may be performed provided an emergency number is received from the New York City Department of Transportation. Any non-emergency permits issued prior to the date of this notice, and manhole openings, are hereby voided for those dates at the locations noted below. There will be strict enforcement of this embargo and violators are subject to be summonsed. The locations in Manhattan affected by the embargo are as follows:
  • Area bound by East 57th Street on the north; 1st Avenue on the east;
  • East 34th Street on the south; and 2nd Avenue on the west (All inclusive)
  • Area bound by East 46th Street on the north; Vanderbilt Avenue on the east;
  • East 45th Street on the south; and Madison Avenue on the west (All inclusive)
  • Area bounded by East 51st Street on the north; Lexington Avenue on the east; East 49th Street on the south; and Madison Avenue on the west (All inclusive)
  • Area bound by East 47th Street on the north; 1st Avenue on the east; East 43rd Street on the south; and 3rd Avenue on the west (All inclusive)
  • East 34th Street from FDR Drive to 7th Avenue
  • 42nd, 50th Streets from FDR Drive to 6th Avenue
  • 48th, 49th, 51st Streets from Madison Avenue to 1st Avenue
  • 52nd, 53rd Streets from 6th Avenue to 7th Avenue
  • Battery Place from West Street to 3rd Place
  • 1st Place from Little West Street to West Circle Cove
  • 2nd Place from Little West Street to Battery Place
  • Little West Street from Battery Place to 2nd Place
  • West Thames Street from Battery Place to South End Avenue
This weekend's street fairs and parades:
These are not all the streets that are listed for closure, but I believe them to be the most important
Friday night and Saturday night:
86th Street transverse road
will be closed from 11pm on Friday night to 8am Saturday morning,
and will close from 11pm on Saturday night to 10am Sunday morning.
Saturday:
Parade
5th Avenue between 67th Street and 86th Street
The parade will begin around 11am, but give an hour or two early, from 67th to 70th streets. 67th-70th streets will probably be closed in those earlier times between 5th Avenue and Lexington Avenue, for the parade formation. The parade disperses at 86th street around 5pm. All transverses should be open, but the 79th street one might get backed up badly, actually all transverses might get backed up badly if you plan on driving east from Central Park West through the park. 79th could be backed up in both directions. I'd warn my passengers in advance, if they're going to the area.
Street fair
7th Avenue between 57th Street and 47th Street
will be closed Saturday between 11am and 6pm- However they can close the street as early as 9am.
Crane operations
West 11th Street between 5th Avenue and University Place: This street will be closed Saturday from 9am to 7pm to facilitate crane operation.
West 37th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue: This street will be closed Saturday from 6am to 4pm to facilitate crane operation.

West 44th Street between 9th Avenue and 8th Avenue: This street will be closed Saturday from 8am to 4pm to facilitate crane operation.
Saturday and Sunday:
The feast of San Gennaro
In Little Italy is continuing through this weekend- these are the streets that are closed-
-Mulberry Street between Canal and Houston--Hester Street between Mott Street and Centre Street--And Grand Street between Centre Street and Mott Street.
If the street carnival (San Gennaro) does get popular, which tends to happen later in the day, avoid crosstown in Little Italy/SoHo and Chinatown. Houston Street is the best way.
Crane operations:
West 51st Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue: This street will be closed from 6am Saturday to 9pm Sunday to facilitate crane operation. (Day/Night)
West 16th Street between 8th Avenue and 9th Avenue: This street will be closed Saturday and/or Sunday from 8am to 6pm to facilitate crane operation.

East 30th Street between Lexington Avenue and Third Avenue: This street will be closed Saturday and/or Sunday from 8am to 6pm to facilitate crane operation.

Sunday:
Parades
Formation: 41st Street between Park Avenue and 5th Avenue Route: Madison Avenue between 27th Street and 41st Street Dispersal: 27th Street between Park Avenue and 5th Avenue The above streets will be closed Sunday from 11am to 4pm for the Mexican Day Parade as permitted by NYPD.
Formation: West 111th Street to West 114th Street between 8th Avenue and Lenox Avenue Route: 7th Avenue between 111th Street and 142nd Streets; 142nd Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenues Dispersal: 142nd Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue The above streets will be closed Sunday from 11am to 5pm for the 39th Annual African American Day Parade as permitted by NYPD.
Street fair
8th Avenue between 42nd Street and 57th Street
will be closed Sunday between 11am and 6pm- However they can close the street as early as 9am.