www.BXTimes.com BRONX WEEKLY June 16, 2019 6
Morris Park Road Diet delayed again, no court date set
The proposed road diet would convert Morris Park Avenue’s four lanes to two, one in each direction with a turn lane. Schneps
Media/ Alex Mitchell
Please join us for the
BRONX YMCA
SUMMER BBQ & TWILIGHT GOLF
FUNDRAISER
Thursday, July 11, 2019
Pelham Bay & Split Rock Golf Courses
Golfers can play 9 holes – Start @ 4:00 pm
OR play 5 holes – Start @ 5:00
Golfers will enjoy snacks on the course and BBQ afterwards – beer and wine included.
SUMMER BBQ FOR NON-GOLFERS
Come to the BBQ and enjoy
Good Food, Fun & Friendship
BBQ begins at 6:30 pm
For more information or sponsorship opportunities,
please contact Sharlene Brown at sbrown@ymcanyc.org
Sponsored By
GOLF
$125
BBQ ONLY
RAFFLE
PRIZES
THE BRONX TIMES REPORTER V.I.M.
TOP $ PAID
FOR JUDAICA
COLLECTIBLES
BY ALEX MITCHELL
The Morris Park Avenue road
diet lawsuit against Mayor de Blasio
and the NYC Department of
Transportation hit another speed
bump in court on Monday, June
10.
After four Bronx judges, Robert
Johnson, Wilma Guzman, Elizabeth
Taylor and Allison Tuitt all
recused themselves from the case,
the hearing has been postponed
without a specifi c return to court
date scheduled.
Judge Lucindo Suarez will
eventually hear this ‘people vs.
the city’ groundbreaking lawsuit
when it does eventually return to
court.
DOT plans to convert the fourlane
roadway into two single lanes
traveling east and west, with turn
bays and bicycle lanes. Opponents
of the plan are convinced the plan
would have a devestating impact
on the ‘mom and pop’ stores that
line the commercial corridor, as
well as force impatient drivers
onto the residential side streets.
Morris Park Avenue has been
spared for now. The relining is on
hold due to the temporary restraining
order issued by Judge John
Higgitt on Thursday, May 2.
HOUSE
CALLS
SAME SAME DAY
DAY
SERVICE
SERVICE
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
HOUSE
CALLS
SERVING BRONX
AND THE ENTIRE
TRI-STATE AREA
ANTIQUES AND ESTATE BUYERS
WE PAY $ CASH $ FOR
ALL GOLD, GOLD & STERLING SILVER
COSTUME JEWELRY, ALL COINS, PAPER
MONEY & STAMP COLLECTIONS
ALL GOLD...BROKEN OR NOT
PRE- 1960 FURNITURE, CLOCKS & WATCHES
(WORKING OR NOT) TIFFANY,
BACCARAT, LALIQUE
The List is Endless
YERS
SEE OUR AD IN THE SUNDAY POST
ASK FOR CHRISTOPHER
www.AntiqueAndEstateBuyers.com
for Antique
Q
ES
MILITARY
Collections Wanted
Swords, Knives,
Helmets, etc.
ANTIQUES AND ESTATE BUYERS
We buy anything old. One piece or house full.
WILL TRAVEL. WE MAKE HOUSE CALLS.
FREE
Estimate
WILL TRAVEL
ENTIRE TRI-STATE
However, the temporary impasse
is leaving drivers in harm’s
way. Portions of the roadway have
been left without any road markings
in the wake of the legal stall;
specifi cally Adam Street to White
Plains Road and Bronxdale Avenue
to White Plains Road.
The DOT was preparing to reline
the avenue when it got hit
by the lawsuit. On Friday, May 3
DOT agreed to put back the original
road lines on Morris Park Avenue
while the case winds its way
through the court .
By Tuesday, June 11 the promised
work had still not been
started, according to John Parker,
the lawyer representing the Morris
Park community. He recently
notifi ed DOT that they are endangering
the community.
“It is very alarming that (DOT)
has not replaced the lines on the
road yet, why are they dragging
their feet on this?” questioned
Councilman Mark Gjonaj, who’s
also signed onto the lawsuit. He
explained that pedestrian safety
is not only his priority but also the
priority of all those that oppose the
road diet.
Another lawsuit complainant,
Al D’Angelo, who chairs the Morris
Park Community Association
and Community Board 11, is suspicious
as to why the DOT is moving
so slowly in correcting the road’s
lining.
“We have presented alternative
ways to DOT that would make the
road safer,” Gjonaj said noting that
D’Angelo’s idea of staggering the
traffi c lights on Morris Park Avenue
had fallen on deaf ears.
Gjonaj also expressed frustration
with the court proceedings.
“I want to see this matter come
to a resolution, not just keep being
stalled,” he said.
D’Angelo sees the stall tactic as
a small victory for the community,
though. “If they want to keep stalling
and stalling that means that
our corridor doesn’t change and
our businesses won’t be hurt by
the road diet,” he said
Parker also said that DOT is
withholding safety data regarding
the commercial corridor, which
is part of the current hold up. He
explained that Judge Suarez sided
with the plaintiffs, ruling that they
should have access to DOT safety
data on Morris Park Avenue.
“We want a fair chance,” Parker
said.
The lawyer explained that this
case is one of the fi rst examples of
a community pushing back against
a ‘Vision Zero’ proposal on the east
coast of the United States.
“This lawsuit will encourage
other communities to challenge
the government on their own
plane,” he said.
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.AntiqueAndEstateBuyers.com
link