Bay Ridge residents divided over Marine Avenue redesign after fatal hit-and-run
Felicía Roccosalvo has lived in the Bay Ridge neighborhood for more than a decade. She says crossing Marine Avenue has always been risky.
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Neighbors are divided over a new street redesign on Marine Avenue. The city’s Department of Transportation removed several parking spots and added crosswalks following a deadly hit-and-run. Some residents say the changes will save lives. Others say they just make parking worse.
Felicía Roccosalvo has lived in the Bay Ridge neighborhood for more than a decade. She says crossing Marine Avenue has always been risky.
“Everybody always crosses with trepidation because it’s dark and there’s no lights,” Roccosalvo said.
Last month, crews painted new crosswalks and installed curb extensions along Marine Avenue. The changes followed the death of 72-year-old Anne-Marie Wiesner, who was killed in a hit-and-run in November 2023.
“I was home when the woman who was struck by a car was killed. I saw her body on the street covered in a sheet. It was 6:30 p.m., it was a hit-and-run driver,” one neighbor said.
The DOT removed at least seven parking spots to make room for the safety measures, which officials say are designed to slow traffic and give pedestrians a better chance to cross safely.
Richie Sabbagh, who crosses Marine Avenue regularly, said the changes are noticeable.
“They put this crosswalk here and they put these barriers up and it does make a difference because I noticed when I’m crossing the street… if cars are coming, they’ll stop and they’ll let me cross,” Sabbagh said.
The curb extensions push the sidewalk into the street, giving pedestrians and drivers a clearer view and shortening the crossing distance. But it also means fewer parking spots — and for many people in Bay Ridge, that’s a big deal.
“Parking spaces is definitely something we need more of around here," says Laura Marin.
“It takes away a lot of our parking spots that are hard to get in the first place. I see people circling the block numerous times…it seems to be a problem. I mean if you don’t have a driveway I don’t even know if it pays to have a car," says Jimmy Kain.
Others say safety comes first.
“I am a driver, and I have to do alternate side parking all the time… however, lives are more important than parking spaces,” one neighbor said.
Councilman Justin Brannan’s office said the redesign was long overdue.
“While losing spots is tough, life-and-death safety comes first,” a spokesperson said.
“Drivers in this city are pretty entitled and I think they can suck it up," said Mary Steffenhagen.
Brannan’s office says it is open to hearing feedback from neighbors and bringing concerns back to DOT.
Joshua Joshi, of Staten Island, is the driver accused in the deadly hit-and-run. He has been charged, but his case is still moving through the courts.
