A plan to improve safety conditions on Kingsbridge Road could result in the loss of 46 parking spots on Bailey Avenue.

The Department of Transportation is planning to redesign a portion of the roadway on Bailey avenue from West 225th and West Kingsbridge Road to Van Cortlandt Park South. The proposal includes the removing a lane of vehicle traffic in both directions, installing turn bays and turn signals, a two-way bike lane that connects to Van Cortlandt Park, as well as added pedestrian islands and curb expansions to reduce crossing distance.

As a result, the DOT says 46 parking spaces could be eliminated and repurposed in non-commercial areas.

"We cannot lose the parking here, a lot of people park on the sidewalk simply because they don't find parking, unless they want cars to park on the sidewalk then by all means but I don't think it's the right thing to do," said Yesenia, who lives on Bailey Avenue.

Joselito Severino is the general manager of Tilila Casa Publica on Bailey Avenue.

"There is issues with double parking, people double park all the time, me as a business manager I have an issue with my customers trying to find parking, I have valet parking on the weekends, but people don't respect it," said Severino.

Severino, who has owned his restaurant on Bailey avenue for 10 years, does agree that the road is dangerous and needs improvements but not at the expense of losing parking.

"They (cars) were doing a lot of racing...hope they find a way to fix the issue," said Severino.

This strip of roadway is considered to be in the top 10% of most dangerous roads in the Bronx. A total of 179 people have been injured on this strip between 2020 and 2024, including two deaths and 18 severe injuries, according to DOT Data.

"The repurposed parking will become life saving measures such as turn calming that slows down vehicles, pedestrian islands and curb extensions that create shorter and safer crossing distances for pedestrians while protecting their visibility, and turn bays that allow for safer turns and reduce conflicts between vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists," said a spokesperson for the city's Department of Transportation.

The DOT and Community Board 8 will be hosting a public input meeting on June 4 at 7p.m. at the MMCC Fort Independence Houses at 3350 Bailey Ave. before a final design plan is released.