Left Turns Banned at Dangerous Upper East Side Intersection

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The city Department of Transportation has taken measures to help pedestrians cross of of the Upper East Side's most dangerous streets. Drivers are now banned from making left turns off York Avenue at East 79th Street.

The street provided a challenge for pedestrians because it was one of a few in the city where northbound traffic on the avenue would have a green light when southbound traffic would be forced to stop, according to a press release from City Councilman Ben Kallos. Pedestrians would see traffic stop and assume they had a safe crossing, but would often be forced to dodge traffic at the last second.

Kallos was joined by Community Board 8 and the East 79th Neighborhood Association to lobby DOT to remove the left turn at the intersection.

"Every day I saw pedestrians crossing York Avenue getting caught by surprise as they dodged northbound cars that barreled through the intersection at 79th Street,” said Kallos in a statement. “Thank you to the East 79th Street Neighborhood Association and Community Board 8 Manhattan for working with me to identify a dangerous intersection and for Department of Transportation for making our streets safer for pedestrians.”

In a 2014 report from Kallos' office the intersection was labeled as dangerous and cited for improper turning, speeding, cross light problems, failure to yield to pedestrians, poor markings and traffic light problems.

Since 2012 there have been 74 collisions at the intersection and 20 injuries, according to the press release.

"We're so relieved. It's been much better," said Betty Cooper Wallerstein, president of the East 79th Street Neighborhood Association, in a statement. "Blind people would hear the traffic stop on one side would start crossing and end up dodging cars. It should not have taken years, but we're happy with it."

Photo: Google Maps street view circa January 2013