CM Banks on HPD street jurisdiction transfer delays

Thank you, Chair.

Good to see you, Commissioner, and to your team.

Several streets within the Gateway area of my district, within the 42nd Council District, remains under ownership and jurisdiction of HPD.

Now, I'm frustrated as well because I've been in office for close to three years.

three and a half years or two and a half years.

And we've been getting the same thing, the same response from DOT that the transition is going to take place.

And we're still waiting.

We're still waiting.

So when are we going to finally get something done?

And I believe this even dates back going five, six, seven, eight, ten years.

To my predecessor, we need some solid answers as to when you're going to transfer the streets over the DOT.

Because currently, you know, the streets, there's no alternate side parking, there's sanitation concerns, there's abandonment of cars back there.

Our office is constantly getting calls and complaints to deal with those situations.

What we need, DOT, we need you to act.

We need DOT, HPD, start talking.

If you're not talking, figure it out.

But we need something done.

We can't, I can't leave this meeting today and get the same response we got the last time we spoke.

We need some type of action.

I hear you loud and clear, Council Member.

I can give an update.

Yes, so the good news is that something is actually happening right now because the Department of Design and Construction funded.

What's the something?

What's the something?

What's the acceptance date?

What's the something?

You said something is happening now?

Right, something good is happening in that they're fixing the streets to comply with DOT standards.

So as you probably know, the streets were built in a way that we were.

not going to be able to accept those streets into our ownership unless they were kind of brought up to the proper standards.

They're being fixed by DDC.

We're talking about it a lot internally.

If you like, we can get on a call and understand when that work will be done and exactly the steps for us to then take the streets into our ownership.

But we've been working closely to make sure that they're built in the way that we need them to be built.

And so I think it's finally moving in the right direction.

So is there more work to be done?

I believe the work is happening.

Because I believe it has been completed.

Okay, I'd have to double check if it's been fully.

Yeah, because a portion of the work was actually in front of my office.

Okay.

And it was badly needed.

And also, when it comes to the actual...

The signs, the lot of no standing signs that are placed throughout the entire, that particular area, residents are getting ticketed, and construction is done back there.

Okay.

And that's another concern, another issue, because, you know, those are signs that shouldn't be there, you know.

Right, we want to centralize it.

Folks should be able to park there without those type of barriers that are there now.

So, again, we're looking forward to working with you on this because the residents, every time I get screamed at, I'm going to scream at you.

Fair enough.

Thank you.

No problem.

Thank you.

Deputy Speaker?