Traffic Camera Locations

New locations for traffic cameras in New York City.
Watch those *red lights*.

Borough/Location

Bronx Pelham Pkwy (W/B) @ Stillwell Ave
Bronx 149th St. (S/B) @ 3rd Ave.
Bronx Grand Concourse several locations (N and S/B)
Bronx Major Deegan Service Road (N/B) @ Yankee Stadium
Bronx Fordham Rd. @ Sedgwick Ave.
Bronx E. 135th St. (W) @ Alexander Ave. X4-13
Bronx Cross Bronx Exp Service Rd (N/B) @ Rosedale Ave.
Bronx Grand Concourse (E) @ 167th St. X1-12
Bronx 161st St. (E/B) @ Anderson Ave.

Brooklyn Coney Island Ave. (N/B) @ Avenue J
Brooklyn Kings Hwy (S/B) @ Remsen Ave. KI-12
Brooklyn Flatlands Ave. @ Ralph Ave.
Brooklyn Pennsylvania Ave. (E/B) @ Atlantic Ave.
Brooklyn Ocean Pkwy (N/B) @ Church Ave.
Brooklyn Kings Hgwy. (E/B) @ Nostrand Ave. KI-12
Brooklyn Jamaica Ave. (E/B) @ Pennsylvania Ave. KD-13
Brooklyn Hamilton Ave. (N) @ Clinton Ave. K3-23
Brooklyn Fort Hamilton Parkway (W/B) @ 60th Street
Brooklyn Utica Ave. @ Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn Flatbush Ave. @ Toy's-R-Us entrance
Brooklyn East side of Humboldt St. @ Metropolitan Ave.
Brooklyn Boerum Pl. (N/B) @ Atlantic Ave.
Brooklyn Bay Pkwy (N/B) @ 65th St.
Brooklyn Atlantic Ave. (W) @ Bedford Ave. K9-23
Brooklyn 78th St. @ 7th Ave.
Brooklyn 4Th Ave. (S) @ 41st St. K5-23
Brooklyn Flatbush Ave. (N/B) @ Avenue H Kk-12
Brooklyn Eastern Pkwy. (E) @ Utica Ave. K6-13

Manhattan West 72nd St. (N/B) @ Amsterdam Ave.
Manhattan 1st Ave. (N/B) @ E. 125th St. MA-14
Manhattan East 42nd St. (S/B) @ 2nd Ave.
Manhattan East 72nd St. (N/B) @ 3rd Ave.
Manhattan Madison Ave. (N/B) @ E. 96th St. ME-24
Manhattan West End Avenue. (S/B) @ 66th St. M7-12
Manhattan York Ave. (N/B) @ E. 79th St. MC-12
Manhattan Broadway (S/B) @ Sherman Ave. Mf-12
Manhattan Amsterdam Ave. (N/B) @ 96th Street - MJ-23
Manhattan 2nd Ave (S/B) @ 42nd St - M1-24
Manhattan Houston St. (W/B) @ 1st Ave. M5-13
Manhattan Houston St. (S/B) @ West St .

Queens Queens Blvd. (W/B) @ Roosevelt Ave. QK-23
Queens Metropolitan Ave. (W/B)@ Cooper Ave. Qe-12
Queens Queens Blvd. (W/B) @ 71st Ave. Qi-13
Queens Woodhaven Blvd. (S/B) @ 62nd Rd. QA-23
Queens So. Conduit Ave. (E/B) @ 89th St. Q5-23
Queens Queens Blvd. @ Ascan Ave.
Queens Queens Blvd. (E/B) @ 58th St. Q1-13
Queens Northern Blvd. (W/B) @ Douglaston Pkwy.
Queens Northern Blvd. (E/B) @ 114th St.
Queens Metropolitan Ave. (W/B) @ Fresh Pond Rd. Q8-12
Queens L.I.E. N. Svc Road (W/B) @ College Pt. Blvd. QH-12
Queens Frances Lewis Blvd. (S/B) @ Union Tpke QI-22
Queens Crossbay Blvd. (N/A) @ 165th Ave. QC-14
Queens Astoria Blvd. @ 108th St.
Queens Astoria Blvd. (E/B) @ Steinway St. QG-23
Queens Rockaway Blvd. (W/B) @ Brookville Rd.

Staten Island Hylan Blvd. (N/B) @ Burbank Ave.
Staten Island Richmond Ave. (N/B) @ Draper Pl. S5-13
Staten Island Richmond Ave. (N/B) @ Travis Ave.
Staten Island Richmond Ave. (N/B) @ West Caswell Ave.
Staten Island Victory Blvd. (E/B) @ Morani Ave.
Staten Island N/B Hylan Blvd at Tysens Lane (towards New Dorp Lane )

Dell Inspiron XPS Laptop very slow - Solved!

For the last few days, I have been struggling with my normally super fast Dell Inspiron XPS Generation 1 laptop behaving as if it had molasses running through its veins.

I initially of course thought it may have been a virus that somehow made it through Norton AV. Nope!

Then I figured it may have been fragmentation. I defragged the drive (which had been neglected for some time) and for a moment it seemed to have helped a bit... Nope!

Okay, deeper we go. I started to figure out a pattern. ALL GRAPHICS ops were severely affected. However, it was only 2D and video (Flash, QuickTime, WMV, MPG, etc.) and no matter what was playing... Windows Media Player (I upgraded to 11 Beta, Nada) QuickTime, IE Embedded video, Video LAN, etc. etc.

I uninstalled codecs, cleaned up registry settings, ran a media cleaner... Nope!

Next up, Video Drivers. My lappy has an ATI Mobility Radeon 9800 with 256MB RAM. Interestingly, all 3D graphics were fine... which pointed to a main CPU issue, not a GPU problem.

Upgraded the video drivers to the latest ATI Catalyst set.. No fix.

Reverted back to the Dell native drivers (they have not been updated for some time by Dell) and still no fix. I then used a little tool called

DH Driver Cleaner Professional Edition
http://www.drivercleaner.net

which helps get a clean start if you feel one of the 10,000 files installed with a modern video card is corrupt or something.

STILL NO FIX! ( I promise there is a solution at the end )

Now it was time to uninstall stuff. I started with Add and Remove Programs... tool and got rid of stuff I wasn't using. I got rid of a lot of add on toys and little tools and some major HD hogs that I wasn't using (like 3DSMax, AutoCad, Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0, After Effects Pro 7) Nothing Fixed!

Man, I was frustrated. I ran a complete Norton AV scan... nothing

I ran a complete Spyware scan (Adware, Microsoft antispyware beta, etc.) nothing...

Time to hit Google. This yielded one answer after another, one idea after another, none of which made any sense to my because they all had different solutions to different slowdowns. Mine was consistently slow under anything that stressed the video especially. The purely CPU apps did not show much of a problem other than being slower. Video was plain and simple : UNUSABLE.

But, I got to thinking about overheating. My older Dell Inspirons all had overheating problems. I didn't think my new XPS had a problem because I had the latest BIOS which specifically fixed an overheating problem and a fan speed issue.

Further digging in the Dell Inspiron forums revealed a possible problem with clogged radiators (the heating pipes for the CPU and GPU end up on large radiators that sit in front of blowers that force air though them from below the machine and through the radiators and out the back of the machine)




Once I cracked open the fans and pulled them, I was AMAZED at how badly (and totally) blocked the radiators were... no wonder the fans were ALWAYS ON. I quickly vacuumed the dust screen off, blew compressed air throughout to remove any leftover residue. Made sure the path was completely clear through the radiators.



Replaced the fans, closed up and started the beast once again. I reset the BIOS, and went into Windows. I was quickly reminded how quiet it can be in my office when the fans are OFF :-) I quickly logged in and ran through some tests... ALL WAS BACK IN NORMAL RANGES. My CPU and GPU and HD and Chipset temperatures were almost shaved in half... AMAZING!

The video was back up to FULL SPEED. If your Inspiron XPS is acting funny, check the vents, the fans, any radiators, etc. Likely, it is a temp problem.

The Pentium 4 HT has a built in self protection mechanism which will gracefully slow down the chip as the temperature rises instead of just shutting itself off (as in the past). However, it is tough to accept because all the CPU speed reporting tools (including windows 'My Computer... | Properties" itself) do NOT report that the CPU has throttled down.

Here are some helpful links

Inspiron XPS and 9100 User Guide
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/insxps/sm/index.htm

All overheating related articles
http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?s=gen&c=us&l=en&cs=&cat=sup&k=XPS+overheating&x=6&y=5

WiKipedia article on the Inspiron XPS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_Inspiron

Wayfinding Is Not Signage

Signage plays an important part of wayfinding -- but there's more

By John Muhlhausen, Signs of the Times magazine

Even though signage plays an important role in wayfinding, the
process doesn't rely exclusively on signs.

The term "wayfinding" was first used in 1960 by architect Kevin
Lynch in The Image of the City, where he referred to maps,
street numbers, directional signs and other elements as "way-finding"
devices. This narrow description may explain the current
misunderstanding that wayfinding is essentially the same as
"signage."

The two terms are not synonymous. Signmakers deal with designing,
fabricating and installing signs. However, wayfinding used to
navigate unfamiliar environments, doesn't rely exclusively on signs.

This distinction gained acceptance in the early '70s when
researchers discovered that, to understand how people find their way,
they first need to understand the underlying process. Architect and
environmental psychologist Romedi Passini articulated spatial
problem-solving in his books, Wayfinding in Architecture and
Wayfinding, People, Signs and Architecture, which he
co-authored with wayfinding planner Paul Arthur.

Passini and Arthur described wayfinding as a two-stage process
during which people must solve a wide variety of problems in
architectural and urban spaces that involve both "decision making"
(formulating an action plan) and "decision executing" (implementing
the plan).

People who find themselves in unfamiliar environments need to know
where they actually are in the complex, the layout of the complex,
and the location of their destination in order to formulate their
action plans. En route to their chosen destinations, people are
helped or hindered prior to their visit, the building's architecture
and signage. The physical environment, including positive effect in
how users perceive the wayfinding system--if it seems easy to use or
not.

Faulty sign design can cause navigation problems in unfamiliar
environments. Some signs lack "conspicuity," or visibility, because
lettering lacks legibility when viewed from a distance. Others
contain inaccurate, ambiguous or unfamiliar messages; many are
obscured by obstructions or contain reflective surfaces, which hinder
comprehension. Consequently, many people don't read signs--often it's
easier to ask for directions.

Because wayfinding problems aren't confined to signs alone, they
typically can't be solved by adding more signs. Instead, such
problems can be unraveled by designing an environment that identifies
logical traffic patterns that enable people to move easily from one
spot to another without confusion. Signs cannot be a panacea for poor
architecture and illogical space planning.

Four elements

Wayfinding needs are best resolved during initial planning stages
through a collaborative effort by all design
professionals--architects, designers and signmakers--to address a
project's total environmental communication. The primary generator of
environmental communication, architecture delineates spatial
organization, destination zones and information sequencing--factors
that spell wayfinding's success or failure. Effective architectural
wayfinding clues, provided by roads, building layouts, corridors and
lighting, furnish cognitive maps that allow people to quickly grasp
the environment. To furnish architectural clues:

• Clearly identify arrival points.
• Provide convenient parking and accessible walkways located
  adjacent to each public entry.
• Locate information desks within each public entry visible from
  the front door.
• Place elevator lobbies so they can be seen upon entering the
  building.
• Use consistent lighting, floor coverings and architectural
  finishes in primary public corridor systems.
• Situate memorable landmarks along corridors and at key
  decision points.
• Design public waiting areas that are visually open to
  corridors.
• Distinguish public from non-public corridors by using varied
  finishes, colors and lighting
• Harmonize floor numbers between connecting buildings.

Graphic communication

Graphics, such as signs, color coding, maps, banners, brochures
and Websites, provide orientation, direction, identification and
regulatory information. To achieve effective graphic communication:

• Standardize names for all buildings, services and
  destinations, and display them consistently on all graphics
  applications.
• Use easily understood "plain" language.
• Size messages and signs appropriately for viewing
  distances.
• Select letterforms and color combinations that comply with
  Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines
  (see New Face to ADA).
• Furnish generous spacing between letters, words and message
  lines.
• Provide standardized "you are here" maps of the project that
  include an overall map of the complex and more detailed maps of
  specific areas.
• Train attendants to mark individualized paths on hand-held
  maps for lost or disoriented visitors.
• Place maps at all parking exits, building entrances and major
  interior decision points.
• Orient maps with building layouts, such as denoting on maps
  that "up is ahead."
• Establish consistency in sign placements and graphics
  layouts.
• Code areas by using color and memorable graphics.
• Use established pictographs with words to facilitate
  comprehension of written messages.
• Establish a floor numbering system that relates to a
  building's main entry and indicate on directories which floors are
  above and below grade.

Audible communication

Audible communication, as interpreted through verbal instructions,
PA systems, elevator chimes and water fountains, plays an important
role in wayfinding. Recognizing that 50% of the American population
is functionally illiterate (according to a recent study published by
the U.S. Department of Education) and that another 15% possess other
perceptual or cognitive impairments, audible communication fills an
important role in any wayfinding solution. To establish effective
audible communication:

• Install audible sounds at signaled intersections to indicate
  safe times to cross the street.
• At all public entries and information desks, provide
  attendants trained as professional greeters who are thoroughly
  familiar with the facility.
• Furnish self-help telephones at all information desks.
• Provide patient-transport personnel whose purpose is to guide
  visitors to their destinations.
• Standardize names for all buildings, services and
  destinations, and use them consistently in verbal
  communication.
• Equip elevators with audible chimes.
• Position audible landmarks, such as water fountains, at
  waiting areas.
• Employ audible signs to help locate information desks,
  elevators, rest rooms and other key destinations.
  

Tactile communication

Tactile communication, achieved by raised letters, Braille,
knurled door knobs and textured floor coverings assists all
visitors, not only the disabled. To incorporate tactual devices into
a wayfinding system:

• Establish "shorelines" and "trails" between major destinations
  and information areas using materials having differing
  resiliency's, such as concrete and carpet.
• Install "rumble strips" at the landings of stairs and
  escalators.
• Furnish knurled door knobs at all non-public doors.
• Provide a raised star symbol on elevator control panels to
  indicated the ground floor.
• Supply raised letters and Grade 2 Braille at elevators and on
  signs identifying permanent destinations.
• Install interactive audio-tactile maps at public entrance
  lobbies.

Consistent clues

Architects, designers and signmakers must work together from the
beginning of a project to create a total environmental statement that
provides consistent clues. So, the next time a client asks for
wayfinding signage. tell them that wayfinding is not signage--it's
more.