šŸš§ From Rats to Rail Tunnels: Welcome to Edition #2 of the BOMA-NY Transportation Report šŸ—žļø

Weā€™re back for Round Two!

The November 2022 Transportation Report is packed with exactly the kind of updates that NYC commercial property managers didnā€™t know they neededā€”but definitely do. Weā€™re talking about the big-ticket infrastructure projects, transit shifts, and policy changes that are shaping how people, goods, and even garbage flow through the five boroughs.

In this issue:

  • šŸš† The Gateway Tunnel gets long-awaited momentum (and a few billion more in costs)

  • šŸ¢ Vornado slams the brakes on Penn Station-area office towers

  • šŸ½ļø Outdoor dining sheds: charming to customers, but a nightmare for sanitation and fire trucks

  • šŸ”„ E-bike battery fires have doubledā€”yes, doubledā€”and weā€™re not just talking minor sparks

  • šŸš“ More cops in the subways, more arrests, but still too many headlines for the wrong reasons

  • šŸ›„ļø Plus: a new Staten Island Ferry (spoilerā€”itā€™s not the one bought by Colin Jost and Pete Davidson)

Whether you’re managing high-rises, navigating curbside loading chaos, or just trying to keep pests and problems out of your building, this report gives you the heads-up you need to stay compliant, prepared, and in the loop.

As always, this is built for BOMA-NY members who care about practical takeaways, real-world building impacts, and the occasional well-placed dad joke.

šŸ“ Stay alert. Stay ahead. And donā€™t name your ferry Titanic 2.

šŸšØ Topline Headlines

  • Thanksgiving travel warning: Leave earlyā€”expect delays.

  • Holiday Construction Embargo in NYC: No non-emergency street work allowed 11/15/22ā€“1/2/23.

šŸš„ Gateway Tunnel Project

  • NY & NJ agree to fund 25% each of the now-$16.1B project.

  • Federal funding decision expected by end of 2022.

  • Completion delayed: new tubes done by 2035, rehab of old ones pushed to 2038.

šŸ¢ Penn Station

  • Vornado is pausing new office towers near Penn amid economic uncertainty, putting Gov. Hochulā€™s redevelopment vision in limbo.

  • Meanwhile, Moynihan Station features NYCā€™s ā€œhottestā€ new bar. Yes, seriously.

šŸš— Congestion Pricing

  • Gov. Hochulā€™s re-election keeps the plan alive.

  • Opposition: NY/NJ lawmakers and NJ Gov. Murphy want a COVID recovery delay.

  • Concerns: Potential harm to taxi industry and NJ infrastructure funding.

šŸ½ļøšŸ€ Outdoor Dining = More Rats?

  • Critics say street sheds invite rodents, block fire trucks, and stir up sanitation and parking issues.

  • Fire response times are slower due to bike lanes, barriers, and shed congestion.

šŸ”„ E-Bike Fire Crisis

  • FDNY reports 200+ fires tied to lithium-ion batteriesā€”up from 104 in 2021.

  • Notable incidents:

    • Nov 5: 3-alarm Manhattan apartment fire, 43 injured.

    • Oct 20: Queens bike shop blaze destroys 60+ e-bikes.

  • City Council hearing on 11/14/22 to push new regulations and education.

  • CPSC recalled 22,000 Ancheer bikes due to fire risks.

šŸšŒ Electric School Buses

  • NYC gets $18.5M federal grant for 51 electric busesā€”more sought.

šŸš‡ Subway System Updates

  • More police = More fare-beating tickets and 95% jump in arrests.

  • Public safety still an issue: random stabbings, muggings, and violent incidents on platforms.

  • Some subway bathrooms to reopen in Jan 2023 (only 8 of 69 with bathrooms).

  • Public sentiment: ā€œYou all run BETTER than the MTAā€ sign seen at NYC Marathon.

ā›“ļø Ferry News

  • New Staten Island ferry named Dorothy Day joins fleetā€”first new vessel since 2005.

  • Comedy side plot: Colin Jost & Pete Davidsonā€™s roach- and asbestos-filled ferry (ā€œTitanic 2ā€) still lacks a dockā€”and common sense.

  • Bonus: LEGO released a build-your-own Staten Island Ferry set.

Download the Full Report Here: November 2022 BOMA NY TransportationReport