New York City announces major expansion of street reclaiming projects

New York City is set to get a major expansion to the country’s largest cycling network in 2023 following an announcement at the Car-Free Megacities Conference.

At the conference, NYC Department Of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today joined leaders from London and Paris, as well as transit advocates for a discussion on what the future holds for the world’s “megacities.” She also reaffirmed Mayor Eric Adam’s commitment to sustainable transportation and reducing personal car ownership in New York City by reclaiming streets and making them easier and safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Commissioner also announced a number of major projects the DOT is excited to begin working with its community partners on in 2023.

“We are so pleased to meet with world leaders today to share our ideas and plans to make our respective cities safer and greener. Through Mayor Adams’ renewed focus this past year, the DOT is proud to have delivered life-saving initiatives — including its most recent victory in surpassing the city’s commitment to improve the safety of 1,000 intersections across the city and to harden 20 miles of bike lanes,” said Commissioner Rodriguez. “As the DOT continues to build, we are also excited to unveil some of the agency’s plans to continue expanding protections for all New Yorkers in the next year. Where safer and more sustainable streets are concerned, the best is yet to come.”

The news comes on the heels of yet another death of a vulnerable road user in New York City. On Nov. 22, according to advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, the driver of a Ford van hit and killed 73-year-old Yingqui Liu in a Staten Island crosswalk. There have been 223 such fatalities in the city this year.

“We are heartbroken and outraged that yet another senior pedestrian was killed by a driver. Crossing the street should not be a death sentence,” read a statement by Transportation Alternatives. “Yingqui Liu should be alive today. We need city officials to build safe pedestrian and bike access between the Bayonne and Goethals Bridges to slow down drivers and protect everybody on our roads. Traffic violence is preventable — we need our leaders to take action now to keep all New Yorkers, especially the most vulnerable, safe.”

At the conference, the DOT announced it would begin developing plans to expand New York City bike lanes and public spaces in 2023. Among some of the major projects the DOT has identified for next year are:

1. Washington Bridge (Manhattan/Bronx, over Harlem River) bicycle and pedestrian access improvements
2. 10th Ave (Manhattan) protected bike lane
3. Westchester Ave (Bronx) protected bike lanes
4. Berry Street (Brooklyn) Open Street upgrade with two-way bike boulevard
5. Ashland/Navy/Hanson (Brooklyn) protected bike lanes and public space enhancements
6. Broadway (Manhattan, between Madison Square and Herald Square) two-way bike boulevard, plazas, and shared streets.

In a press release, NYC-DOT also announced another notable project to transform Grand Army Plaza. And raised awareness regarding its Open Streets program, which is designed to act as a public engagement portal to enable change at the neighbourhood level through a range of activities in addition to developing permanent infrastructure prioritizing bikes and pedestrians.

New York City is also considering the potential for a bike lane blocker bounty program that would allow local residents to report vehicles blocking bike lanes and receive a commission if a fine is levied. Read more about it here.