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Stripe Hog: NYC's New Weapon Against Traffic Chaos
15 Sep
Summary
- A new water truck called the Stripe Hog is being used to remove old bus lanes.
- The Stripe Hog costs $605,000 and operates with high-pressure water jets.
- This technology aims to speed up street safety projects for New York City.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration has introduced the Stripe Hog, a high-pressure water truck, as a key tool for redesigning traffic-choked avenues and improving bus service. This new equipment, operated by a crew of six city transportation workers, efficiently erases old curbside bus lanes, replacing them with new, centrally located ones. The Stripe Hog, costing $605,000, uses a spinning disc with 15 tiny nozzles to blast away paint before sucking up water and debris. This method is significantly faster and cleaner than the previous scarification process.
The Department of Transportation deployed the Stripe Hog last month as part of broader efforts to enhance street safety. Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn noted that the truck, despite its "funny name," will enable the department to "work smarter, move faster and deliver for New Yorkers." The city has seen a rise in e-bike and e-scooter fatalities this year, making such safety initiatives crucial. The Stripe Hog is expected to help the department complete projects like new bus and bike lanes more efficiently, with plans to repaint dozens of streets soon.
