Following the fatal accident in Chinatown, significant safety enhancements are implemented on Canal Street in New York City.
In the heart of Manhattan's Chinatown, a tragic incident at the intersection of Bowery and Canal Street has prompted city transportation officials to take immediate action. On July 19, a speeding driver, Autumn Romero, allegedly drove a Chevy Malibu at 109 miles per hour, resulting in the deaths of two pedestrians.
Following this devastating incident, the transportation department has announced changes aimed at improving safety for pedestrians and discouraging speeding at the intersection. The speed limit for drivers coming off the Manhattan Bridge into Manhattan is being lowered from 35 mph to 20 mph. Additionally, the department is installing new physical barriers at the intersection to protect pedestrians from runaway drivers.
Police officers were parked near the crash site on Thursday, using a radar gun to monitor vehicles coming off the Manhattan Bridge. City transportation officials believe these measures will help prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
However, Ben Furnas, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, has expressed welcome for the announced changes but called for additional measures to prevent deadly crashes in the area. Furnas stated that even after the changes, the majority of the Canal Street corridor will remain dangerous.
In response to the announced changes, Furnas made this statement: "While these steps are a positive move, they do not address the majority of the Canal Street corridor's safety issues."
In light of this incident, the transportation department was planning to hold community feedback sessions about redesigns to Canal Street in the fall. However, these sessions have been moved up to later this month due to the crash. The department's current plans include holding community feedback sessions about redesigns to Canal Street and narrowing some Manhattan-bound lanes on the bridge to discourage speeding.
Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez stated that immediate steps are being taken to fortify the intersection and develop a long-term safety redesign for the entire Canal Street corridor. However, there are no direct search results about specific long-term safety improvement plans for Canal Street by the city's traffic authority.
Seven fatal crashes have occurred on Canal Street between the West Side Highway and Manhattan Bridge exit since 2011, according to city data. The crash on Bowery and Canal Street has brought attention to the need for additional safety measures on Canal Street beyond the current plans.
Romero has been charged with vehicular homicide in connection with the deaths. The community hopes that these changes will help prevent such tragedies from happening again in the future.
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