Overview
- Justice Chereé Buggs ordered NYC DOT to stop the 31st Street redesign and restore the roadway within 30 days, covering the mile-long stretch between 36th Avenue and Newtown Avenue.
- The court found DOT failed to meet mandatory consultation and certification requirements with the Department of Small Business Services and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities.
- FDNY warnings about impeded emergency operations under the elevated tracks, including ladder truck access, were not meaningfully rebutted by DOT, according to the decision.
- Plaintiffs included local businesses and St. Demetrios School, who argued the plan harmed commerce, student drop-offs, and emergency access; supporters held a celebratory press event, invoking Local Law 6 on firehouse consultation.
- Street-safety advocates condemned the ruling, rallied in Astoria, and urged an appeal as the city reviews next steps, noting DOT data that identified nearly 200 injuries on the corridor in recent years as part of its Vision Zero priorities.