FW: AMAZING E MAIL STRINGs and PICS-- Dangerous Condition on the GWB Footpath NYC Side -- B. Harris

[Brian Harris]

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Brian Harris [mailto:bharr...@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 7:03 PM
To: 'GWBr...@googlegroups.com'
Subject: AMAZING E MAIL STRINGs and PICS-- Dangerous Condition on the GWB Footpath NYC Side -- B. Harris

 

Hello-

 

I saw your flyer on the bridge today and I wanted to forward you two e mail strings. Margaret to whom the immediate note below is the NYC DOT Commissioner. I wrote to her complaining of the NYC entrance ramp to the GWB on May 2. She did reply but as we know, nothing has been done. I also wrote to the Port Authority and they DID reply in the note below. Their pics say it all.

 

The e mail string to Margaret is pasted below. I myself have fallen on one steel plate.

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Brian Harris [mailto:bharr...@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 9:11 PM
To: 'Forgione, Margaret'
Subject: PLEASE SEE THESE PHOTOS : Port Authority of NY & NJ -- Internet Reply -- Dangerous Condition on the GWB Footpath NYC Side -- B. Harris

 

Margaret, PA of NY was very helpful as you can see from their reply & photos to my parallel note. I saw yet another spill this weekend very close to the road. Again a fatality will occur Commissioner.

 

 You and I first communicated May 2

 

(From: Forgione, Margaret [mailto:mfor...@dot.nyc.gov]
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 1:02 PM
To: bharr...@gmail.com) as per below

 

so it is really time that something GETS DONE.

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Eugui, Hector [mailto:heu...@panynj.gov]
Sent: Friday, June 06, 2008 11:40 AM
To: bharr...@gmail.com
Cc: Sagrestano, Kenneth; Durando, Robert; Allen, Charlene; Shuffield, Jay; Ramirez, Enrique
Subject: RE: Port Authority of NY & NJ -- Internet Reply -- Dangerous Condition on the GWB Footpath NYC Side -- B. Harris

 

Mr. Harris,

 

Just to follow up as promised, we have reached out to Mr. Keith Howard, Assistant Commissioner of the NYCDOT Sidewalk Unit, and have forwarded to him your original emails along with some photos that our Engineers have taken of the area of your concern (see attached).  He should follow up with us soon and hopefully effectuate some repairs of the sidewalk area to better the traveling experience of both yourself and your fellow cyclists.

 

Sometimes, to be a good neighbor, the Port Authority of NY & NJ will ignore rigid property lines and effectuate such sidewalk repairs ourselves.  However, in this case, as you see in the photos, there are NYC electrical boxes embedded into the sidewalk, and it is generally good practice to NOT touch the electrical boxes of another agency.

 

Feel free to call or write with any further questions.  Also, if you still see nothing done by NYCDOT after a few weeks, then I would suggest to contact Commissioner Howard's office directly.  His address is as follows:  Keith Howard, NYCDOT Sidewalk Unit, 30-30 Thomson Avenue, 5th Floor, Long Island City, NY 11101.  

 

Respectfully,

 

Hector Eugui

Supervisor of Maintenance Planning & Admin.
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
George Washington Bridge & Bus Station
220 Bruce Reynolds Boulevard
Fort Lee, NY 07024

-----Original Message-----
From: Brian Harris [mailto:bharr...@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 12:09 PM
To: Eugui, Hector
Subject: RE: Port Authority of NY & NJ -- Internet Reply -- Dangerous Condition on the GWB Footpath NYC Side -- B. Harris

Thank you for your responsiveness Mr. Eugui.

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Eugui, Hector [mailto:heu...@panynj.gov]
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 11:32 AM
To: bharr...@gmail.com
Cc: Allen, Charlene
Subject: RE: Port Authority of NY & NJ -- Internet Reply -- Dangerous Condition on the GWB Footpath NYC Side -- B. Harris

 

Mr. Harris,

Good morning sir.  My name is Hector Eugui, I'm the Supervisor of Maintenance Planning at the George Washington Bridge.  Your emails have been forwarded to me by Ms. Charlene Allen of Customer Relations.

As Ms. Allen had stated, members of the Port Authority of NY & NJ Traffic Engineering Group had traveled to the site in question and recognized a need for additional signing on the bicycle/pedestrian ramp to advise bicyclists and pedestrians to come to a full stop at the bottom of the ramp.  The priority work order to install this new signing is in the hands of the Port Authority of NY & NJ sign shop and the signs are expected to be installed very soon.

Per your latest concern about your observed "3 falls at this bottleneck", Port Authority of NY & NJ Traffic Engineering has pledged to return to the site this week for further study to see if anything (in addition to enhancing the signing) can be done at this location.  Any possible changes (again, other than signing) at the intersection between the bicycle/pedestrian ramp and the 178th Street sidewalk will likely require us to reach out to the New York City Department of Transportation.  This is because the Port Authority of NY & NJ owns the physical bicycle/pedestrian ramp to/from the GWB, but, the City of New York owns the 178th Street sidewalk once the ramp reaches street level.

Either myself or Ms. Allen will update you on this week's findings by the  Port Authority of NY & NJ Traffic Engineering Group.  Certainly, if you have any additional questions, then feel free to call me at 201-346-4077 or email me at heu...@panynj.gov.

Very Respectfully,

Hector Eugui
Supervisor of Maintenance Planning & Admin.
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
George Washington Bridge & Bus Station
220 Bruce Reynolds Boulevard
Fort Lee, NY 07024

 

From: Brian Harris [mailto:bharr...@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 11:41 AM
To: Allen, Charlene
Subject: RE: Port Authority of NY & NJ -- Internet Reply -- Dangerous Condition on the GWB Footpath NYC Side -- B. Harris

 

Sorry to say that it appears that nothing has been addressed. The bike traffic flow over the holiday weekend was voluminous. I witnessed 3 falls at his bottleneck in my 4 crossings. Is this unreasonable to ask to have it fixed? Or does one need to go to the media for visibility, before a grave accident occurs.

-----Original Message-----
From: Allen, Charlene [mailto:cal...@panynj.gov]
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2008 3:29 PM
To: bharr...@gmail.com
Subject: Port Authority of NY & NJ -- Internet Reply -- Dangerous Condition on the GWB Footpath NYC Side -- B. Harris

Dear Mr. Harris:

Thank you for your E-mail regarding the dangerous condition of the sidewalk approach to footpath at the George Washington Bridge.

Please be assured that the Port Authority is very cognizant of the importance of the conditions of our roadways/sidewalks of our facilities.  The roadway/sidewalk conditions that you have described have been shared with George Washington Bridge management for investigation and handling. 

Also, our traffic engineers are already reviewing this location and are in the process of adding additional signage at the bottom of the bike ramp to emphasize the need to come to a stop at the bottom of the ramp before proceeding with the right turn onto the 178th Street sidewalk.

If you have any additional questions, please contact Jay Shuffield at 212-435-4845.

Thank you for writing.

Sincerely,

Charlene Allen

Customer Service Representative

Customer Relations

Tunnels, Bridges & Terminals Department

NOTICE: THIS E-MAIL AND ANY ATTACHMENTS CONTAIN INFORMATION FROM THE PORT  

AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY AND AFFILIATES. IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE  

RECEIVED THIS E-MAIL IN ERROR, PLEASE NOTIFY THE SENDER IMMEDIATELY,  

PERMANENTLY DELETE THIS E-MAIL (ALONG WITH ANY ATTACHMENTS), AND DESTROY ANY  

PRINTOUTS.

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NYC DOT String below:

 

 

 

 I can appreciate procedures and policies but I as I wrote originally, “This is a grave situation and it is just a matter of time for a serious injury or worse will occur unless this ‘prior’condition is rectified.”

 

Or in direct terms there is a good chance a fatality will occur, and 7 weeks is untenable.

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Forgione, Margaret [mailto:mfor...@dot.nyc.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 1:05 PM
To: bharr...@gmail.com
Subject: RE: Dangerous Condition on the GWB footpath NYC side

 

This was routed to the appropriate division when you first sent it to me perhaps one month ago.  Due to the volume of requests, it generally takes us 7 weeks to respond.  Thanks for your patience.

-----Original Message-----
From: Brian Harris [mailto:bharr...@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 11:42 AM
To: Forgione, Margaret
Subject: RE: Dangerous Condition on the GWB footpath NYC side

Sorry to say that it appears that nothing has been addressed. The bike traffic flow over the holiday weekend was voluminous. I witnessed 3 falls at his bottleneck in my 4 crossings. Is this unreasonable to ask to have it fixed? Or does one need to go to the media for visibility, before a grave accident occurs.

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Forgione, Margaret [mailto:mfor...@dot.nyc.gov]
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 1:02 PM
To: bharr...@gmail.com
Subject: RE: Dangerous Condition on the GWB footpath NYC side

 

thanks, we will look into this and get back to you.

-----Original Message-----
From: Brian Harris [mailto:bharr...@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 1:00 PM
To: Forgione, Margaret
Subject: Dangerous Condition on the GWB footpath NYC side

 

 

Margaret,

 

On the NY side of the GWB the NYC property/sidewalk approach to the footpath is now extremely dangerous for bicyclists. The 90 degree left turn to go onto the path/ramp is a hazard due to a raised metal plate and severely cracked pavement.

 

Even a greater hazard is the fact that there is a roadway (West Side H’way exit) right beneath the sidewalk/path that has cars going 45mph without a guard rail/hand rail to protect a cyclist from falling into the roadway, after hitting the dangerous sidewalk condition.

 

I witnessed an accident yesterday where the woman almost did fall off the sidewalk into the roadway.

 

This is a grave situation and it is just a matter of time for a serious injury or worse will occur unless this ‘prior’condition is rectified.

 

            Please reply with a response or suggestion to resolve this enormous problem.

 

Thank you.

 

Brian Harris

320 East 18th Street

New York, NY 10003

646-456-4297 cell

bharr...@gmail.com

212-475-7063

 

 

 

NOTICE: THIS E-MAIL AND ANY ATTACHMENTS CONTAIN INFORMATION FROM THE PORT  
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[piermontcyclist]

YES! I've always hated this part of the on-ramp to the bridge. I'll
admit that it's better than having to haul my bike up all those stairs
on the North side entrance to the bridge though--man, I hated that!
Everyday when I ride to and from work I have to pass over that
electrical box and I used to just make the turn easily and keep going
without having to get off of my bike, but after nearly falling a few
times because the metal box was wet and slippery I take a foot out of
my pedals and sort of walk-coast over it so I don't fall into the
road. I'm sure I annoy other cyclists if they're behind me because I'm
slowing them down but I can't help it, that plate freaks me out!

Thank you for pointing it out and getting on the DOT and PA about it!
-K

> (From: Forgione, Margaret [mailto:mforgi...@dot.nyc.gov]

> Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 1:02 PM

> To: bharris...@gmail.com) as per below

> bharris...@gmail.com

>
> 212-475-7063
>
> NOTICE: THIS E-MAIL AND ANY ATTACHMENTS CONTAIN INFORMATION FROM THE PORT  
>
> AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY AND AFFILIATES. IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE
>
> RECEIVED THIS E-MAIL IN ERROR, PLEASE NOTIFY THE SENDER IMMEDIATELY,  
>
> PERMANENTLY DELETE THIS E-MAIL (ALONG WITH ANY ATTACHMENTS), AND DESTROY ANY
>
> PRINTOUTS.
>
>
>

>  178th 1.JPG
> 76KViewDownload
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>  178th 2.JPG
> 60KViewDownload
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>  178th 3.JPG
> 70KViewDownload

[Andrew Burrows]

Brian, I think you really have pointed out one of the most dangerous and difficult parts of the GWB commute. I think it is excellent that you are directing these public officials to the problem. Perhaps the group can petition with you toward this end. But what ideal solution should we recommend? The ramp was poorly planned, as it seems to direct the pedestrian/biker right off the sidewalk, off a high curb,  into the highway exit ramp. And of course, the electrical boxes are part of the problem on that narrow, cracked sidewalk. What fixes should we recommend?

--
________________________
Andrew Burrows M.D., Ph.D.
216.536.9236
ava...@gmail.com