Mayor de Blasio Signs Safe Streets Bill Into Law

Mayor Bill de Blasio today signed new safe streets legislation into law, the latest step in the Administration’s progress implementing Vison Zero to make New York City’s streets safer. The legislation was introduced by Speaker Corey Johnson.

“I’m proud to sign this new safe streets legislation that will further the ambitious commitments we’ve begun under Vision Zero,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “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.”

“Today we take a giant leap closer to reclaiming our streets and making them safer for our residents,” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. “The Streets Master Plan, now signed into law, will revolutionize the way New Yorkers use our streets, creating more bus and bike lanes, more pedestrian space and safer street infrastructure. This law helps us make alternative transportation options more viable, which is necessary in our fight against climate change.”

The new law requires DOT to implement a master plan for street design every five years, and contains specific targets for protected bike lanes and other targeted spaces. As part of the first master plan, the City will build 50 miles of protected bus lanes and 30 miles of protected bike lanes annually. The city already had 136 miles of bike lanes before these additional lanes were added. In the first two years, one million square feet of pedestrian space will also be constructed.

Since 2014, DOT has made unprecedented improvements in street design, including building nearly three times as many miles of on-street protected bike lanes of all previous mayors combined. This summer the mayor announced his Green Wave plan, with cthe city committing $58.4 million in funding, DOT committed to install over 80 miles of new protected bike lanes by the end of 2021. The focus will be on high-fatality areas and neighborhoods with high ridership that lack adequate bike infrastructure.