MTR 307, NYC Traffic Calming: an Agenda for 2001

Issue 307

March 5, 2001

NYC Traffic Calming: an Agenda for 2001

Points compiled from articles in the Winter, 2001 Transportation Alternatives magazine:

Put the NYC traffic calming law to use
In Sept., 1999, Governor Pataki signed a law permitting NYC to set speed limits as low as 15mph on streets with traffic calming treatments. The city has not yet made use of its new authority. The city should implement a series of slow street pilot projects in neighborhoods in each borough.

Get moving on Grand Concourse redesign
The Grand Concourse is one of the most dangerous streets for pedestrians in the city. The NYC DOT has a pot of $9 million in federal funds earmarked for the street. But the city has not been able to develop a satisfactory plan to use the money - the project continues to languish.

Build the Bronx safe routes to school projects
Being hit by a car is the #1 cause of death for kids aged 5-14 in New York City. The Bronx is leading all boroughs in percentage of children hit. Transportation Alternatives, in conjunction with the Bronx Borough President's office, has developed plans for safe routes to school for nearly 40 Bronx elementary schools. But to date, only one of the plans has been fully implemented.

Develop clear guidelines for installing speed humps and other traffic calming devices
The city needs a uniform process for deciding where traffic calming is needed. Presently requests in different boroughs are subjected to different agency and community board procedures, and many requests are taking years to fill.