New York City to install 1,500 barriers to prevent vehicle ramming attacks
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday announced new measures to prevent vehicle ramming terror attacks in New York City.
Starting later this month, the city will begin installing more than 1,500 new permanent bollards in Times Square and other public spaces.
The metal stations are meant to address the threat of vehicle borne terror attacks and keep pedestrians safe.
"These bollards will make sure vehicles can never come into places where pedestrians are," de Blasio said.
The mayor mentioned the Halloween terror attack, in which alleged ISIS sympathizer Sayfullo Saipov allegedly drove a rented truck into pedestrians on the jogging path adjacent to the Hudson River.
"When a vehicle plows into a group of innocent pedestrians, it's disgusting," de Blasio said.
The mayor also mentioned what happened in Times Square in May, when Richard Rojas, a Navy veteran allegedly high on drugs, plowed through a crowded sidewalk, killing an 18-year-old visitor from Michigan.
"These are some of the busiest streets in the world," de Blasio said. "People have to get around, but they also have to be safe."
The city plans to spend $50 million on the new protective bollards. The first ones will be temporary, followed by the permanent installation beginning in March 2018. The complete rollout of these permanent structures will be completed over the next few years.
The city conducted a review of locations, including business corridors, tourist attractions and iconic sites, identifying 10 key locations to be addressed with permanent fixtures. Most of these locations are currently protected with temporary security structures.
The transportation committee voted in support of bill 1658A , and it passed unanimously (50-0) through the full council.
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