e-Jackhammers! New City Website Helps Cut Down on Road Work

While she may not have won the full embrace of New York City’s driving masses, Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan has

Dig in! Wait, uh, don't. (NY Post)

While she may not have won the full embrace of New York City’s driving masses, Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan has still done more for drivers than anyone in a generation. Adding to her record infrastructure investments and safer streets, the city launched a new web-based program today help coordinate road maintenance among public and private entities. Known as the Street Works Manual, the system aims to have city and state agencies and private contractors share their projects so roads can be excavated less frequently, saving time and money and cutting down on congestion.

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“Many New Yorkers have experienced the frustration of watching work crews tear up a street that’s just been repaved,” said Commissioner Sadik-Khan in a statement. “The streets are the foundation for the city’s infrastructure and this landmark agreement will help reduce the toll of construction on our streets and keep them open for business.” The website will be the city’s most far-reaching effort to extend the life of street resurfacing projects.

The city will now be posting information about projects underway on www.nyc.gov, allowing the public and private sectors the opportunity to collaborate on a citywide basis. It also helps clue the public into potential upcoming roadwork. Thanks to the visual aid NYCityMap, utility and private companies can now see what’s in the works for city construction. The map will display streets that are scheduled for upcoming work, as well as “protected streets”—roads that are more costly for utility companies to cover because they have recently been resurfaced. Heavy fines of up to $1800 can be incurred if utility companies choose to dig up such streets.

“For too long, New Yorkers have been plagued with excessive roadwork, congestion and noise due to a lack of coordination between utilities, city agencies and construction companies,” said Senator Michael Gianaris. “This new process will improve quality of life by streamlining work so that several projects are completed at once, reducing the many aggravations resulting from redundant and seemingly endless street construction.”

Because with all the new asphalt Ms. Sadik-Khan has laid, it would be shame to have to tear it all up.

realestate@observer.com

e-Jackhammers! New City Website Helps Cut Down on Road Work