Policy

Penn Station proposal moves Madison Square Garden, calls for classical train hall

Renderings courtesy of the Grand Penn Community Alliance, unless noted otherwise

March 11, 2025

Penn Station proposal moves Madison Square Garden, calls for classical train hall

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A new proposal for the long-stalled redesign of Penn Station would move Madison Square Garden across the street and replace the existing station with a new train hall reminiscent of the its original grandeur. Spearheaded by architect and former chief urban designer for New York City Alexandros Washburn, the "Grand Penn" plan would create a public space the size of Bryant Park and a commuter train hall inspired by the original station, while relocating the famous arena across the street. The plan now joins two stalled proposals, including one from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and another from a private developer.
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Redesign of Central Park drives will add space for pedestrians and cyclists

Photo by Dietmar Rabich on Wikimedia

March 10, 2025

Redesign of Central Park drives will add space for pedestrians and cyclists

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The redesign of Central Park's six-mile loop road is moving forward, with repaving set to begin next week. On Thursday, city officials announced milling and repaving work will begin on Monday, March 17, to improve the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and e-vehicle users along the route by clearly separating their spaces. The project will begin by revamping the middle and southern sections of the Central Park loop, from 96th Street on the West Drive to 90th Street on the East Drive, with repaving of the northern section scheduled for next year.
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NYC launches task force to improve public safety around Washington Square Park

Photo by Simi Iluyomade on Unsplash

March 10, 2025

NYC launches task force to improve public safety around Washington Square Park

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New York City is deploying a multi-agency initiative to tackle quality of life and public safety concerns in Greenwich Village, the West Village, and near Washington Square Park. Mayor Eric Adams and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. on Thursday launched the "Village Interagency Task Force" to address issues like open drug use and sales, retail theft, and other quality of life concerns from West 3rd to West 9th Street, between Washington Square Park and 6th Avenue, including the area around the West 4th Street Washington Square subway station.
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NYC proposes wider bike lanes along 12 blocks of Sixth Avenue

A new, wider-bike lane segment installed in 2024 along Manhattan’s Sixth Avenue. Credit: DOT

March 5, 2025

NYC proposes wider bike lanes along 12 blocks of Sixth Avenue

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With vehicle traffic down since the start of congestion pricing, New York City is moving forward with plans to widen bike lanes along a roughly 12-block stretch of Sixth Avenue in Manhattan. During a presentation to Manhattan Community Board 5's transportation committee last week, the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled plans to upgrade the protected bike lane along Sixth Avenue from 14th Street to 35th Street. The proposal includes removing one lane of traffic to make space for a 10-foot-wide cycling lane, building on a project from last summer that widened the bike lanes from West 9th Street to West 13th Street.
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Open gangway subway cars debut on the G line

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

March 5, 2025

Open gangway subway cars debut on the G line

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G train riders will now have a more pleasant commute, at least 15 percent of the time. On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority debuted two open-gangway cars on the crosstown subway line, marking just the second line in the system to use the new R211T cars. Last February, the C line became the first open gangway train to operate in the United States.
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New York lawmaker proposes cameras to fine drivers who double park

Currently, the city has automated camera enforcement for bus lane blocking, running red lights, and speeding. Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

March 4, 2025

New York lawmaker proposes cameras to fine drivers who double park

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A state lawmaker wants to crack down on double parking in New York City. Assembly Member Steven Raga, who represents parts of Queens, has proposed installing 150 cameras citywide that would automatically ticket drivers who double park or park illegally as part of a $35 million pilot program. As first reported by Gothamist, the cameras, which would be similar to those that catch drivers running red lights, speeding, and parking in bus lanes, would be placed in high-traffic areas where drivers frequently park in bike lanes, commercial loading zones, and no standing areas.
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NYC launches project to make historical records of enslaved people more accessible

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1902). “New York slave market about 1730.” Via New York Public Library Digital Collections.

February 28, 2025

NYC launches project to make historical records of enslaved people more accessible

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The historical records of thousands of enslaved New Yorkers will be more easily accessible to the public through a new city project. Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday announced a plan led by the Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS) to transcribe digitized historical records from 1660 to 1827, helping historians and New Yorkers locate records of enslaved people and potentially trace familial roots. The Adams administration is calling on volunteers to help transcribe the records and build the project's searchable database.
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Fair Fare riders can now tap-and-go on public transit with OMNY

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

February 27, 2025

Fair Fare riders can now tap-and-go on public transit with OMNY

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New Yorkers enrolled in the city's half-priced transit fare program can now ditch their MetroCards and tap-and-go with ease. City officials on Wednesday announced that Fair Fares program participants can now order tap-and-go OMNY cards, offering half-off fare rates without the need to swipe. Enrollees will automatically be issued a discounted OMNY card, and those that are already in the program can request one through the city's website.
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North America’s first battery- and electric-powered passenger trains to debut on Metro-North

Credit: Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Flickr

February 26, 2025

North America’s first battery- and electric-powered passenger trains to debut on Metro-North

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The first battery- and electric-powered train cars will debut on Metro-North Railroad, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced this week. On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board is expected to approve 13 new train cars that will run on both battery power and power from overhead electrical wires and provide New Haven line service to Penn Station and four stations in the Bronx, as part of the Penn Station Access project.
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Hoboken’s PATH station reopens after $54M renovation and 25-day closure

Credit: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Flickr

February 25, 2025

Hoboken’s PATH station reopens after $54M renovation and 25-day closure

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Hoboken’s PATH station has reopened on schedule after a 25-day closure and a $54 million renovation that brought vital repairs and upgrades to the 117-year-old transit hub. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) on Tuesday announced the station has reopened with new stairs, signage, fresh paint, and critical track improvements designed to enhance speed and reliability for riders. Officials chose a full shutdown to complete the work in under a month, avoiding major service interruptions that could've lasted for at least a year.
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NYC to close Roosevelt Hotel migrant shelter

Mayor Eric Adams at a press conference outside the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan in May 2024. Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

February 25, 2025

NYC to close Roosevelt Hotel migrant shelter

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A historic Manhattan hotel that became a symbol of New York City's migrant crisis when it opened as a shelter two years ago is closing its doors. Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday the closure of the Roosevelt Hotel, which has served as an intake and support center and temporary housing for more than 173,000 asylum seekers since May 2023. At its peak, the hotel at 45 East 45th Street processed roughly 4,000 migrants weekly; recently, that number has dropped to 350 per week, according to the city. The facility will close by the end of June.
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Congestion pricing raised $48.6M in first month, MTA says

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

February 24, 2025

Congestion pricing raised $48.6M in first month, MTA says

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Even as President Donald Trump fights to kill congestion pricing in New York City, the program raised $48.6 million in revenue during its first month, meeting revenue goals set by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. During an MTA meeting on Monday, the agency released the first financial results for the program for January 5 to January 31, showing the toll is on track to bring in a projected $500 million per year, or about $40 million per month.
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Adams sues Trump over $80M seized from NYC

Photo courtesy of Michael Appleton/ Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

February 24, 2025

Adams sues Trump over $80M seized from NYC

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New York City sued the Trump administration last week over the $80 million in federal funding the White House took back without consent. The city's Law Department said it was challenging the president's decision to revoke Federal Emergency Management Agency funding approved to reimburse the city for migrant housing expenses. The lawsuit seeks to recover the funds and prevent the federal government from improperly revoking or withholding future funding that the city is entitled to receive.
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Coney Island West plan calls for 1,500 new homes, boardwalk upgrades

Renderings courtesy of ONE Architecture & Urbanism

February 20, 2025

Coney Island West plan calls for 1,500 new homes, boardwalk upgrades

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The city is moving ahead with a plan to bring thousands of mixed-income homes, new retail, and boardwalk and street improvements to Coney Island. Mayor Eric Adams and the city's Economic Development Corporation on Thursday released their vision for "Coney Island West," a waterfront development area west of the Amusement District. On Thursday the city issued a request for proposals for the first city-owned parcel, kicking off the development of 1,500 new homes.
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See the $700M climate research hub coming to Governors Island

Illustrative renderings courtesy of The New York Climate Exchange and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

February 20, 2025

See the $700M climate research hub coming to Governors Island

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A state-of-the-art hub dedicated to climate change research is moving forward on Governors Island. Led by Stony Brook University, the New York Climate Exchange is a cross-sector, nonprofit group dedicated to research and developing solutions to the global climate crisis. The Exchange on Thursday released new renderings of the 400,000-square-foot campus designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) to include classrooms, laboratories, student and facility housing, new open space, and more. The Exchange also announced the selection of Skanska USA as the construction manager for the climate center, which is scheduled to break ground next year.
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Trump moves to reverse approval for NYC’s congestion pricing program, Hochul fights back

Photo courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office on Flickr

February 19, 2025

Trump moves to reverse approval for NYC’s congestion pricing program, Hochul fights back

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President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday officially announced plans to reverse federal approval for New York City's congestion pricing program. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent Gov. Kathy Hochul a letter rescinding the Federal Highway Administration's approval of the tolling program, which began charging drivers $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street on January 5. Early data released by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority following the toll's launch revealed less congestion and faster commute times. Shortly after Trump's announcement, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority filed a lawsuit to protect the program and Hochul, who said the move from the White House was an attack on the state's sovereignty, said the "cameras are staying on," referring to the toll cameras.
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National Park Service removes transgender references from Stonewall website

Credit: Mitch Altman on Flickr

February 14, 2025

National Park Service removes transgender references from Stonewall website

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References to transgender people have vanished from the National Park Service's Stonewall National Monument web pages, reflecting the Trump administration's policy that the country recognizes only two genders. On Thursday, the words "transgender" and "queer" were removed from the LGBTQ+ acronym on the website, which now reads "LGB" for lesbian, gay, and bisexual. The change follows a series of executive actions by President Donald Trump rolling back transgender rights, including banning trans people from women's sports, the military, and minors from receiving gender-affirming care.
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Trump takes back $80M in funding intended for NYC migrant shelters

The Roosevelt Hotel shuttered during the pandemic and became a relief center for asylum seekers. Photo by Billy Hathorn via Wikimedia Commons

February 13, 2025

Trump takes back $80M in funding intended for NYC migrant shelters

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President Donald Trump took back $80 million in federal funding from New York City that was intended to cover some of the costs related to housing migrants. On Tuesday, City Comptroller Brad Lander's office noticed that $80 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding, awarded by the Biden administration and received last week, had gone missing from city bank accounts. Lander, who called the action "highway robbery," claims the revocation may be illegal, depending on the terms of the city's grant with FEMA.
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City plans $57M redesign of 42nd Street to prevent terror attacks

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Transportation

February 12, 2025

City plans $57M redesign of 42nd Street to prevent terror attacks

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New York City is investing $57 million to redesign part of West 42nd Street to prevent vehicle-based terror attacks, like the recent truck incident on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Starting next summer, the city's Department of Transportation will revamp the street between 7th and 8th avenues in the Theater District with wider sidewalks, new security bollards, and planters. As first reported by Crain's, the project also includes much-needed upgrades to aging water and sewer lines beneath the street.
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MTA launches pilot program to connect deaf riders with ASL interpreters

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

February 11, 2025

MTA launches pilot program to connect deaf riders with ASL interpreters

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Navigating the New York City subway system got a little easier for riders with hearing difficulties. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday announced a pilot program that instantly connects commuters who are deaf or hard of hearing with American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters while using the transit system. Through the Convo Access app, riders can connect with a live interpreter to communicate with MTA employees about service changes, payments, or any transit-related questions.
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Trump threatens to ‘kill’ NYC’s congestion pricing law

Photo by Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

February 10, 2025

Trump threatens to ‘kill’ NYC’s congestion pricing law

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President Donald Trump has renewed his attacks on New York City's congestion pricing, claiming he can use the U.S. Department of Transportation to "kill" the program. In an interview with the New York Post, Trump suggested he could withhold federal transportation funds or reopen the environmental review process that authorized the toll program. He also claimed to be in discussions with Gov. Kathy Hochul about the program's future, but declined to disclose details of at least two prior phone conversations "out of respect."
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Bird flu likely behind bird deaths at NYC zoos

Photo via WikiCommons

February 10, 2025

Bird flu likely behind bird deaths at NYC zoos

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Bird flu has hit New York City zoos, with three ducks at the Queens Zoo and 12 more birds at the Bronx Zoo dying after probable exposure to the highly contagious virus. As first reported by the New York Times, the Wildlife Conservation Society, which manages the zoos, has moved vulnerable bird species to protected areas and limited exposure of other animals to wild birds. The deaths come as Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered all live bird markets in the five boroughs to temporarily close to curb the outbreak of the virus, which has affected roughly 156 million commercial, backyard, and wild birds nationwide since January 2022.
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New York designates part of Washington Heights as ‘Dominican Historic District’ despite local pushback

Credit: JJBers on Flickr

February 7, 2025

New York designates part of Washington Heights as ‘Dominican Historic District’ despite local pushback

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New York officially designated a large part of Washington Heights the Dominican Historic District, sparking controversy among some local residents. As first reported by The City, the 40-block district aims to honor the neighborhood's Dominican heritage. However, some residents argue the state kept them out of the designation process, failing to recognize other ethnic groups with ties to important sites in the area. The designation was approved by a slim margin during a New York State Board for Historic Preservation meeting in September, where several community members showed up to oppose it.
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More New Yorkers will qualify for $100K down-payment assistance after program expansion

Credit: Michael Moloney on Unsplash

January 31, 2025

More New Yorkers will qualify for $100K down-payment assistance after program expansion

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Mayor Eric Adams and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Adolfo Carrion Jr. on Thursday announced the expansion of the HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program, which gives first-time homebuyers up to $100,000 to put towards the down payment or closing costs on homes within the five boroughs. The additional $82 million will fund the program for the next five years, expand income eligibility, and introduce a new nonprofit partnership to streamline the process.
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