STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — After the recent snowstorm and prolonged cleanup of city infrastructure, one Staten Island politician is calling for a map outlining snow-removal responsibilities across agencies.
In a recent letter to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Councilmember Frank Morano asked the city to establish a snow map for all five boroughs.
“Too often, agencies were spending time figuring out who was responsible instead of fixing the condition on the ground,” Morano said in a statement.
“I’m asking the Mayor to create a clear, citywide responsibility map so the next storm response is faster, smoother, and less frustrating for residents,” the South Shore Republican continued.
In the letter, Morano praised the work that city agencies did in responding to the storm, but still asked the mayor to develop a map noting who is responsible for clearing sidewalks, bus stops, bus shelters, park-and-ride facilities and other areas.
Morano also argued that clarifying these responsibilities could reduce response times, as there is a difference between who owns and maintains some city infrastructure.
At a Community Board 3 committee meeting on Wednesday, staff from Morano’s office provided an example of this jurisdictional confusion.
When asked about the park-and-ride lots near the Huguenot Staten Island Railway station, Frank Rapacciuolo — Morano’s chief of staff — explained that the councilmember’s office eventually learned that one lot was owned by the New York State Department of Transportation while another, smaller lot was owned by the New York Police Department.
When it came to snow removal after the storm, the city Department of Transportation ultimately cleared both lots.
“My goal here isn’t finger-pointing, it’s preparation,” Morano said in a statement. “Clear lines of responsibility mean faster cleanups, safer streets, and fewer frustrated residents.”
The Advance/SILive.com contacted the mayor’s office about Morano’s letter. A spokesperson from the Sanitation Department responded to issue the following statement:
“We are reviewing the Council Member’s letter. In the meantime, residents should know that information on 311 about responsibility for snow and ice clearance is up to date and accurate. We encourage people to report any icy or unsafe conditions to 311. We follow up on all 311 service requests.”
In the aftermath of the storm, snow remaining at bus stops caused ongoing problems for commuters.
While some bus shelters and stops were clear enough for passengers to board, others still featured mounds of snow near the street and surrounding sidewalk space.
In response, a spokesperson from the Department of Transportation stressed that some of the conditions described were not the responsibility of the agency.
The DOT is responsible for the approximately 3,400 bus stops with shelters, the spokesperson explained.
For the vast majority of bus stops — such as those that only feature a pole in the sidewalk — the adjacent property owner is responsible for clearing any snow, the transportation agency representative continued.