Greenfield Demands DOT Repave Worst Streets, Stop Permitting Repaved Streets to Be Cut Up

The following is a press release from the office of City Councilman David Greenfield:

Greenfield Demands DOT Repave Worst Local Streets and Stop Permitting Repaved Streets to Be Cut Up

Brooklyn – Councilman David G. Greenfield (D-Brooklyn) yesterday questioned New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) officials over the unacceptable conditions of several local streets and urged the DOT to have them repaved immediately. Greenfield’s comments, which came during a City Council oversight hearing of the DOT aimed at examining the state of the city’s roads, focused on several streets in the district that have long been the source of frustration for local drivers. Specifically, Greenfield called on the DOT to ensure that 50th Street between Fort Hamilton Parkway and 20th Avenue, 46th Street between 13th Avenue and 17th Avenue, and Avenue P between McDonald Avenue and Ocean Parkway are immediately repaved so that they are safe and passable for motorists and cyclists.

“City residents deserve streets that are free of potholes and other conditions that can pose safety hazards for drivers. Given how mild this past winter was, the DOT should have ample resources to bring our local streets up to acceptable levels, which currently is not always the case. I’m confident that the Department of Transportation heard my message loud and clear and will look into these valid complaints so that appropriate repairs can take place. Motorists and cyclists should not have to content with unsafe conditions while traversing neighborhood streets,” said Greenfield.

Greenfield also asked the DOT why the city allows newly-paved streets to be cut up by utility companies. In response to Greenfield’s questioning, the DOT admitted that exceptions are regularly made from the 18-month freeze usually applied to all newly repaved streets. Greenfield encouraged the agency to end the practice of allowing exceptions, which often results in the utilities doing a poor job in repaving the section of the newly repaved street that they tear up.

“With our city resources stretched so thin, we can’t afford to allow utility companies to rip up freshly paved streets, especially since they often just patch it up in a haphazard manner. I hope that the DOT will put the needs of residents who use the streets on a daily basis above huge corporations and ensure that our street repair resources are efficiently used,” added Greenfield.

City Councilman David Greenfield represents Council District 44, which includes Borough Park, as well as parts of Midwood and Bensonhurst.