City Council
Streetsblog Basics
Life-Saving Truck Design Fix Sidelined By Federal Inaction
This is the second post in a series about safety features for large vehicles. Part one examined the case for truck side guards and New York City's attempt to require them for its fleet.
December 22, 2014
Trottenberg: DOT Will Make It Safer to Bike Across the Harlem River
This afternoon, officials from DOT and Citi Bike testified before the City Council transportation committee on the state of bicycling in New York. How will NYC DOT make it safer to bike in the city and design streets where more New Yorkers feel comfortable biking? Today's hearing featured a glimpse into the bike policy initiatives the de Blasio administration is developing.
November 20, 2014
Treyger’s Texting-and-Biking Bill — a Big Distraction From Vision Zero
City Council Member Mark Treyger insists his bill to penalize cyclists for texting is well-intentioned, but there is no evidence to suggest that the behavior targeted by his proposal is a source of significant danger. Instead of focusing on the real deadly threats on NYC streets, Treyger has triggered a news cycle devoted to a minor transgression that doesn't register in any serious accounting of traffic deaths and injuries.
November 12, 2014
Highlights From Today’s City Council Transportation Infrastructure Hearing
Today, the City Council transportation and economic development committees held a marathon joint hearing on New York's transportation investment needs. Top staff from the MTA and NYC DOT, including Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, fielded questions from council members for the better part of the day.
November 3, 2014
City Council Overwhelmingly Passes Bill to Lower Default Speed Limit to 25
The City Council passed legislation today to lower the citywide default speed limit to 25 miles per hour.
October 7, 2014
MTA: We’re Not Counting on Albany to Help Pay for Capital Program
The City Council transportation committee today passed bills to lower the city's speed limit and give hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers a transit-related tax benefit. But most of this afternoon's hearing was dedicated to the next MTA capital plan.
October 6, 2014
City Will Need More Than Signs to Get Drivers to Follow 25 MPH Speed Limit
DOT will conduct a weeks-long publicity campaign and post thousands of signs to alert motorists to the city's new 25 mph speed limit, Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg told City Council members today.
October 1, 2014
City Council Creates Fines for Hit-and-Run Drivers, Calls on Albany to Act
Minutes ago, the City Council unanimously passed a bill that would levy civil penalties against hit-and-run drivers. Fines start at $500, increasing to $2,000 for drivers who leave injured victims and $10,000 for drivers who cause serious injury or death. The bill now goes to Mayor Bill de Blasio, who is expected to sign it.
September 23, 2014
Proposed Hit-and-Run Fines Doubled, But Law Could Hinge on Drivers’ Word
Ahead of a scheduled Tuesday vote by the full City Council, transportation committee members voted today to increase proposed civil penalties for hit-and-run drivers. However, the bill in question still contains language that could make it difficult to apply the new fines.
September 22, 2014
One City, By Bike: Getting It Done, or Why the Bikelash Is Behind Us
This is the final piece in a five-part series by former NYC DOT policy director Jon Orcutt about the de Blasio administration’s opportunities to expand and improve cycling in New York. Read part one, part two, part three, and part four.
September 5, 2014