Thurs., Feb. 13 – Wed., Feb. 19
ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING RULES ARE SUSPENDED THURS- SAT. FOR SNOW REMOVAL AND MONDAY FOR PRESIDENT’S DAY.
Happy Valentine’s Day! Despite the snow predictions, expect an uptick in Friday night travel as couples hit Lower Manhattan for romantic outings.
Fashion Week wraps up Thursday, when a few final shows run Downtown. At Spring Studios on Varick between Laight and Beach Sts. (right at the Holland Tunnel exit), a big show starts 2 p.m. Thursday. Another location to watch is Washington and Houston Sts. (near West St.) on Thursday morning.
Monday is a Summons Alert Day. Although Presidents’ Day is a recognized national holiday, only alternate side parking rules are suspended. Many people don’t know this and are surprised to find tickets for meter violations and No Parking rules. The best way to find out what’s in effect when is to order my parking calendar: Transit Sam’s 2014 Parking Calendar is on sale! The calendar is available as a free download and a hard copy. Visit gridlocksam.com for both.
Public schools are on mid-winter break beginning Monday and running through Friday, February 21. That means morning traffic will be a bit easier for commuters.
The Chinese Lunar Festival will close Market St. between East Broadway and Henry St. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
All Manhattan-bound lanes of the Brooklyn Bridge will close 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights, as well as midnight Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday, and midnight Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday.
On West St./Route 9A between West Thames and Vesey Sts., one lane will close in each direction 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
Rector St. will close between Greenwich and Washington Sts. 7 a.m. to noon Monday.
Nassau St. will close between Ann and Beekman Sts. 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays. Theater Alley will close 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily between Ann and Beekman Sts.
Leonard St. is fully closed between Hudson and Varick Sts. through late March.
Washington St. will close between Laight and Hubert Sts. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays through late February. Northbound traffic will be detoured to Hudson St.
From the mailbag:
Dear Transit Sam,
I love those new digital clocks they have at traffic lights so you can tell how long it takes you to cross. I can cross Houston St. in 13-14 seconds. The clock sometimes starts at 25 seconds. But, I see a flashing hand start at the same time. Would I be jaywalking if I cross when there are say 20 seconds left even though I can easily make it across the street?
DK, Noho
Dear DK,
Technically, yes. But as long as you stay away from the Upper West Side it’s unlikely you’ll get a ticket. Rule 4-03 (c) (2) of New York City’s Traffic Rules and Regulations states that “pedestrians facing [a flashing DON’T WALK, red hand symbol or red standing figure] are warned that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway and no pedestrian shall enter or cross the roadway.” Since the countdown clock is accompanied by the flashing red hand, entering the crosswalk during the countdown is jaywalking.
Transit Sam
