UWS West End Avenue Open Streets Removed From Program: DOT

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The saga of the Open Streets on West End Avenue on the Upper West Side is officially over.

The West End section of blocks from West 87th to 96th Streets have been removed from the Open Streets program, according to the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT).

West End Ave has been removed from the Open Streets program. If your community group wants to partner with us on a new Open Street on the Upper West Side, email us here: https://t.co/YlxhwR590a
— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) November 12, 2020

The now-closed West End Open Streets was a source of controversy as residents consistently got upset about the steady stream of cars that would ignore the barriers and drive down the closed streets.

The Department of Transportation did not immediately explain why the Open Streets section was removed from the program.

Upper West Side Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal critiqued the DOT's abrupt decision to close the West End section of Open Streets.

Taking the path of least resistance by shuttering WEA’s Open Streets program instead of working w/ the community to address concerns is unacceptable @NYCMayor @NYC_DOT @BaronVonJessica @CityRiseNYC @chabot_jackson @StreetopiaUWS @CB7Manhattan

See my letter pic.twitter.com/BUwVRegbxi
— Linda B. Rosenthal “the #OriginalRosenthal” (@LindaBRosenthal) November 13, 2020

This article will be updated when an explanation is provided to Patch.