Right turn on red in Staten Island: New bill proposes feasibility study

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A new bill could be the first step toward allowing right turns on red for Staten Island drivers.

On Wednesday, all three of Staten Island’s representatives in the City Council — Councilmembers Frank Morano, David Carr and Kamillah Hanks — introduced legislation to have the Department of Transportation study if a right on red program is feasible for Staten Island.

In a social media post about the bill, Morano argued that right on red is allowed in many other parts of the country and state, and that the bill recognizes Staten Island’s unique transportation situation.

“Staten Islanders spend far too much time waiting at empty intersections where a safe right turn could be made,” said Morano, a Republican representing the Island’s South Shore.

But according to the lawmaker, the bill would not be about a blanket right on red policy for the borough. Instead, the study would see if a targeted program could reduce congestion, emissions, and commute times without affecting safety for pedestrians.

As part of the study, the DOT would consider visibility conditions, traffic congestion, and the impact on nearby schools and older adult centers.

In addition, the agency would look at the crash history of prospective locations and the likelihood that motorists won’t make a complete stop before turning, according to the text of the bill.

“This is about data and common sense — not guesswork. If there are intersections where right turns on red can be done safely, then Staten Islanders deserve that efficiency. If there are places where it can’t be done safely, then we leave those alone. It’s that simple,” Morano continued.

If passed, the DOT would have one year after the bill is enacted to study and submit its findings. The agency would also have to provide an update on the study after six months.

“Staten Islanders have dealt with a slew of unnecessary restriction on their primary mode of transportation for decades,” Carr said in a statement. “It’s time we take a step in the right direction and free up the roadways on the Island.”

This wouldn’t be the first attempt at a right on red mandate for Staten Island.

In 2015, then-Assemblymember Joe Borelli introduced legislation in Albany to make right on red the default for Staten Island unless otherwise posted.

At the time, Borelli also argued that drivers in most of New York State are permitted to make a right turn on a red light at all intersections where it isn’t specifically prohibited.

Borelli also pointed out at the time that a similar bill passed both the Assembly and State Senate in the early 2000s, but was vetoed by then-Gov. George Pataki.

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