Governor and Mayor Launch Highway Emergency Local Patrol Program, Will Operate on Staten Island Expressway

YS Gold 

On Wednesday, Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams announced that, effective immediately, HELP trucks will be operating on the Staten Island Expressway, assisting stranded motorists for free. The vehicles will be manned by professionals contracted civilian employees of the NYPD. 

Trucks will patrol both directions of the expressway between Lily Pond Avenue and the Goethals Bridge from 6 a.m.to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. through 8 p.m., on Mondays through Fridays, to assist motorists who have mechanical difficulties or have been involved in minor crashes. 

"The expansion of this crucial service to Staten Island means further assistance for motorists on the Staten Island Expressway, offering them free roadside assistance during peak travel times," Governor Hochul said. "I thank Mayor Adams and the NYPD for their partnership in this endeavor, which means that even more help is on the way for Staten Island motorists."

In addition to assisting those in need, it is hoped that this expansion will help keep traffic moving, as one councilmember said, "Nothing snarls traffic and ruins a commute more than a stalled car or a fender bender. These HELP trucks will help get traffic moving again while also making the roads safer for everyone."