🚦Horns, Helicopters & Holiday Gridlock: Welcome to Edition #10 of the BOMA-NY Transportation Report 🗞️
November 2023 | BOMA-NY Codes & Regs Committee
We’ve hit double digits — and just in time for another season of Midtown mayhem, Fifth Avenue foot traffic, and lawsuits flying faster than drones over the Hudson.
This tenth edition of the BOMA-NY Transportation Report lands right as NYC enters peak congestion mode. From congestion pricing lawsuits to sidewalk battery fires, we’re covering the transit twists and civic quirks that every commercial property manager should be tracking as we head into year-end.
In this issue:
🚧 Congestion pricing lawsuits, settlements, and million-dollar PR campaigns (yes, Fort Lee is mad)
🔥 E-bike battery fires take a tragic turn — with FDNY calling out Amazon, again
🎄 Fifth Ave goes car-free on Sundays — just in time for peak retail season
🚇 Subways hit 1 billion rides, but MTA’s newest trains are off the rails — literally
🛠️ Hudson Tunnel funding advances, while Penn Station’s landlord digs in
🍽️ No more dining sheds — seasonal-only rules finalized for 2024
🚁 Drone-like electric helicopters land in NYC’s future plans
🚲 Citi Bike complaints, license plate crackdowns, AI bus enforcement, and the enduring wisdom of Far Side cartoons
Whether you’re managing a tower near Penn, navigating holiday deliveries, or just trying to keep battery-charged chaos out of your lobby, this roundup gives you the insights (and the eye-rolls) you need to stay informed and ahead.
📍Time to unwrap the latest transit intel — just don’t park near a bus lane. Philly’s AI is watching.
— Glenn Waldorf
Transportation Subcommittee Chair
Bell Environmental Services
📞 973-575-7800
✉️ info @ bellenv.com
🗞️ BOMA-NY Transportation Report – November 2023 Summary
Prepared by Glenn Waldorf, Bell Environmental Services
🚘 Congestion Pricing: Legal Jockeying Continues
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NJ towns like Fort Lee are suing the MTA to block the 2024 rollout.
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The MTA is in talks to settle with New Jersey.
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Environmental Defense Fund launched a $1M pro-congestion pricing ad campaign in NYC subways.
🔋 E-Bike Fire Crisis Escalates
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FDNY Commissioner blames Amazon and e-commerce platforms for selling unsafe batteries.
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Recent fire killed 3 more people in Brooklyn.
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Licensing proposals for e-bikes spark debate: data shows e-bikes cause <3% of pedestrian injuries, cars remain the top hazard.
🎄 Holiday Season Traffic Alerts
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Fifth Avenue car-free Sundays return: Dec 3, 10, 17 (noon–6 PM, from 48th to 59th St).
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Movable barriers and sidewalk extensions throughout holiday season.
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Rockefeller Tree Lighting: Nov 29.
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Expect major Midtown congestion and DOT “Gridlock Alert Days” in Nov–Dec.
🚇 Transit & Infrastructure Updates
Penn Station
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A 95-year-old landlord is appealing redevelopment plans.
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The Las Vegas Sphere’s financial losses may impact Dolan’s willingness to negotiate on MSG relocation.
Hudson Tunnel
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Gateway Project secures $3.8B in new federal funds as next phase begins.
Subways
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1 billion subway rides achieved in 2023—6 weeks earlier than in 2022.
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Subway crime index is down, but platform shoving and attacks still spark concern.
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MTA still expects MetroCards to be valid for 18+ more months.
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Nearly all new R211 subway cars are offline due to faulty gearboxes.
Interborough Express
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MTA Town Hall set for Nov 30.
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Connects Brooklyn to Queens with 17 subway/LIRR links, aimed at underserved areas.
🚁 Helicopters & the Horizon
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Mayor Adams previewed electric drone-like helicopters as a potential part of NYC’s mobility future.
🍽️ Outdoor Dining Rules Finalized
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Sheds will be gone: Seasonal-only roadway dining starts 2024.
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Sidewalk dining stays year-round.
🚲 Bike Equity & Safety
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Citi Bike service is worse in low-income areas, says NYC Comptroller.
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Service declined since Lyft took over in 2018.
🅿️ Parking, Enforcement & AI
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License plate cover enforcement bill passed in NYC Council.
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Parking meter rates increased citywide in October.
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In Philadelphia, AI cameras on buses now ticket cars blocking lanes—sparking interest in NYC.
🎭 Transit Humor & Headlines
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✈️ A horse broke loose on a plane, forcing an emergency return to JFK.
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🎺 A NJ Transit worker stole 32 train horns, each worth $2K.
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🎶 And so much more!
