New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio will sign a law requiring the Department of Transportation to create a citywide transportation plan every five years.
What We Know:
After recently dropping out of the 2020 race, Blasio has gone back to work as NYC mayor. This included removing gifted programs to prevent segregation, creating new jails, and now working towards improving NYC transportation, according to ABC.
When discussing the plan, Blasio stated “We thank Speaker Johnson for his leadership and look forward to continuing our work with elected officials and communities on creating new bus lanes and protected bike lanes in their districts even before this new plan takes effect. Over the next two years, we will continue to lay the critical groundwork that will allow this plan to be put into motion on Day One, and we are confident that this new plan firmly cements New York City’s reputation as the nation’s leader on street safety.”
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson’s said these plans will help NYC become more liveable and safer. Johnson introduced the plan as part of the citys Vision Zero Initiative.
The plan includes eight components:
- 150 miles of protected bus lanes over five years.
- Transit signal priority at 1,000 intersections per year, with 750 of those in the first year.
- 250 miles of protected bike lanes over five years.
- Bus stop upgrades at 500 stops each year.
- Redesigning at least 2,000 signalized intersections.
- Accessible pedestrian signals at no fewer than 2,500 intersections.
- Assessing and amending commercial loading zones and truck routes.
- Developing parking policies to improve safety, mass transit, accessibility, etc.
Within the first two years, 1 million square feet of pedestrian space will be implented.
