Q&A
Timeline and process for addressing systemic road issues
0:33:42
ยท
159 sec
Council Member Brooks-Powers questions the timeline and process for addressing systemic road issues, expressing concern about repeated trips to the same sites. DOT officials discuss their approach to identifying and addressing underlying problems, including the possibility of initiating capital projects for long-term solutions.
- DOT acknowledges the need to minimize repeated trips to the same location
- Challenges in detecting underlying problems can delay permanent solutions
- Capital reconstruction projects may be initiated for long-term fixes, which can take 5-7 years
Selvena Brooks-Powers
0:33:42
But how quickly does that happen.
0:33:44
Right?
0:33:45
Because whether it's 200 and 22nd Street and Merrick Boulevard or if it's Beach 19th by St.
0:33:53
John's Hospital, Either way, those are just 2 of a number of roads that in my district that I've seen it, and I've also heard the same from my colleagues, so that's why I thought it was important to bring up before you kinda bring everyone else in.
0:34:09
Because even with Beach 19 from the very beginning, I asked for it to be interagency, because the way in which it collapsed, and after that first time of repairing it and how quickly it collapsed again, I knew through learning from you all in the past hearings that when it collapses in a certain way, that means something else is happening underground.
0:34:28
But the agency wasn't the one that said, let's bring in DEP now.
0:34:32
Like I said, like, can we have a holistic conversation?
0:34:36
But, again, it's been about 3 years now and that road is still not repaired.
0:34:42
Right now, 2 22nd is repaired, but, like, in the summer months is when I noticed that that that part of the roadway caves by my office.
0:34:53
Mhmm.
0:34:54
And so in terms of having limited resources and manpower, I'm just interested in understanding what that fiscal impact is on the agency and how we can be able to do a better job to have less trips to the same site because we're fixing it the way it needs to be fixed the first time, if at most the second time.
Margaret Forgione
0:35:22
Right.
0:35:23
Okay.
0:35:23
So I will check into both of these locations and find out what has happened.
0:35:28
And I just wanna say we totally agree with you.
0:35:30
Multiple trips back doesn't make sense.
0:35:32
Sometimes there is a challenge in actually detecting what is the underlying problem, but we will find out what has happened at these two locations.
Selvena Brooks-Powers
0:35:40
Okay.
0:35:41
And I'll have more oh, go ahead.
0:35:43
Sorry, commissioner.
Paul Ochoa
0:35:44
And, chair, if if it is something that requires street reconstruction, we can begin a street reconstruction capital project, which, as you know, takes 5 to 7 years, but it is a the long term fix that that may be needed in case the repaving overrepaving is not going to work.
Selvena Brooks-Powers
0:36:00
Spent 3 years waiting, so one would have hoped that we would have been halfway through that timeline.
Paul Ochoa
0:36:05
Well, for example, when we repave, we can't go back and touch that same street within 5 years for the same capital eligibility purposes.
0:36:12
But I think, as first deputy commissioner said, we can really look into initiating a capital project if that's if that's gonna be the permanent solution for you and your constituents.