DOT still too slow to replacing aging street signs: Stringer
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | AUG. 21-27, 2020 17
flect changes in a timely
manner.
DOT should develop
a comprehensive plan for
conducting surveys to
identify street name signs
that need to be repaired
or replaced throughout
the City, and regularly
monitor its implementation
of that plan.
DOT should establish
procedures to ensure that
311 complaints regarding
street name signs are investigated
and addressed
in a reasonable time
frame.
DOT should develop a
system to track intersections
that it surveys using
its web-based system
where it finds that no
work is needed.
DOT should establish
time standards for addressing
street name sign
repairs and replacements
once the need for them
has been identified, and
regularly monitor how
well it is meeting those
standards.
DOT should strengthen
its controls over the
mapping process to ensure
that the GIS database
is regularly updated to include
all complaints the
agency receives through
the 311 system and ensure
that the GIS database is
regularly reviewed for
completeness and accuracy
in reflecting the status
of all such complaints and
the corresponding surveys
and work orders.
DOT should ensure
that service request numbers
are appropriately exported
to the GIS map so
that it can track and report
complaint dispositions.
Reach reporter Mark
Hallum by e-mail at mhallum@
schnepsmedia.com
or by phone at (718) 260–
4564.
BY MARK HALLUM
City Comptroller Scott
Stringer is telling the
Department of Transportation
that it is time upgrade
street signs across
the city for readability so
commercial vehicles and
other cars can navigate
the streets more easily.
Stringer says the DOT
is three years behind on
the commitment to replace
aging and vague
signage throughout the
city and despite budget
cuts incurred from the
pandemic, needs to prioritize
these improvements
for not only efficiency but
safety.
Following an audit
in 2017, Stringer issued
six recommendations for
DOT to accomplish this,
but claims they have only
pursued two them in that
time.
DOT. however, strongly
denied that it had not
taken the recommendations
into account even
launched a program
called the Sign Information
Management System
and was prioritizing the
most dangerous locations
for signs to be replaced.
“DOT takes the maintenance
and tracking of
its massive street name
sign inventory very seriously,
and strongly
disagrees with the substance
of the report. DOT
maintains street name
signs by working in areas
at a time rather than just
responding to requests.
This process is both efficient,
and promotes equity
by not only responding
to 311 requests, which
tend to come from better
off neighborhoods,” a
DOT spokesperson said.
” The audit’s 311 section
simplifies the agency’s
handling and prioritization
of 311 complaints and
we disagree wholeheartedly
with the Comptroller’s
findings on 311 complaints,
as we log each one
and prioritize dangerous
conditions and replace
missing signage.”
According to DOT, a
unit evaluates sign replacement
projects based
on resources and contract
capacity as well as internal
time standards which
they claim is always under
review for improvement.
“Our streets form the
physical foundation and
framework of our city, and
move millions of people
and goods throughout the
five boroughs every day.
If we want New Yorkers to
get around efficiently, we
need reliable corridors
that are clearly marked,”
Stringer said. “Structurally
sound street signs
are imperative for maximizing
safety and efficiency
in our streets, and
keeping New York City
functioning and running
smoothly. The DOT is
dragging its feet on making
necessary upgrades
to its system for installing
and maintaining
street name signs. Consequently,
its program
remains riddled with deficiencies,
as progress on
recommendations I made
three years ago lags far
behind.”
One of the recommendations
taken up by DOT
was that work orders were
approved before being
sent to a contractor as well
as the partial implementation
of a tracking and
documenting program of
intersections where street
name sign surveys have
been done. Among the
four remaining recommendations
remaining
are an effort to collect data
on all street name signs in
the city; develop a plan
to identify all signs that
need to be replaced; instate
protocols to ensure
311 complaints of street
signs are dealt with in a
timely manner; finally, he
recommended that there
should be a standardized
time frame for replacing
street name signs.
Stringer’s audit found
that that on average, 125
business days elapsed between
a work order being
submitted and approved,
ranging between 70 to
765 weekdays. On average,
about 213 days could
elapse between approval
and work order being fulfilled,
Stringer claims.
As part of the followup
audit, Stringer recommended
the following:
DOT should take steps
to (1) identify and document
its complete inventory
of standard street
name signs throughout
the City and (2) develop
protocols to periodically
update its records to re-
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