Thurs., March 6 – Wed., March 12
ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING RULES ARE IN EFFECT ALL WEEK
The terrorism trial of Abu Ghaith, Obama Bin Laden’s son-in-law, is underway at the Manhattan Federal Court in Foley Square. Expect turbulence on Lafayette and Centre Sts. Anything is possible, meaning streets could close without warning, so be forewarned.
Daylight savings time kicks in 2 a.m. Sunday. This means that Monday morning will be an Accident Alert Day: drivers will battle collective sleep deprivation, making roads more dangerous. Crash and fatality rates are likely to increase by around 8% the week after daylight savings time takes effect, so make sure you’re fully awake before hitting the road.
Armory Arts Week kicks off Thursday, bringing art and tourists from around the world to shows in Soho and on the West Side. In Lower Manhattan, the Volta fair on Mercer St. between Spring and Broome Sts. and the Spring/Break art fair on Mott and Prince Sts. run all day Thursday through Sunday. Traffic on West St. will be heavier than usual, since most of the other shows are near the Hudson River, from Greenwich Village up to Hell’s Kitchen.
In the Holland Tunnel, one inbound lane will close 11 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday. The same night, all inbound lanes of the Brooklyn Bridge will close 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., sending traffic to the Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges. Canal St. will get hit on both sides of the island, as will Delancey St.
No trains at N, Q, or R stations in Manhattan 10 p.m. Thursday through 5 a.m. Friday. N trains run only in Queens and Brooklyn. Q trains run via the D line in Manhattan. R service ends early in Manhattan. Use nearby stations on the Eighth, Seventh, Sixth and Lexington Ave. lines instead.
John St. will close intermittently between Broadway and Nassau St. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. Eastbound traffic will be rerouted to Liberty St.
Rector St. will close between West and Washington Sts. 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday this weekend and the following weekend. Washington St. will close between Albany and Rector Sts. during the same period.
Barclay St. will close between Broadway and Church St. 9 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday.
Leonard St. is 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. daily. Northbound traffic will be rerouted to Hudson St.
From the mailbag:
Dear Transit Sam,
This past Monday, Presidents Day holiday, I received a summons for NO PARKING Monday thru Friday 7 a.m. -7 p.m. on Ninth Avenue between West 29th and 28th Sts. Why did I get this ticket? And where else to park, given all the snow and ice taking half the spots in the area? Should I go to see a judge?
Upset New Yorker
Dear Upset New Yorker,
If you read my column religiously (or downloaded my free calendar) you would’ve known that Presidents Day was a Summons Alert Day (SAD). All parking rules except for Alternate Side Parking (NO PARKING MON-FRI is not ASP) were in effect that day. That’s why you got the ticket. A judge is unlikely to buy your argument that there was snow and ice that day; his answer will likely be “then park in a garage.” Sorry, UNY.
Transit Sam
Readers: Email your questions to transitsam@downtownexpress.com and for a free download of my calendar go to gridlocksam.com.
