Traffic Calming
Streetsblog Basics
WNYC: Most City Streets Are Currently Eligible for 20 MPH Speed Limit
WNYC has put together a map showing that the majority of streets in New York City are close to a school -- meaning that, according to state law, the speed limit on those streets can be lowered to 20 miles per hour without Albany's approval:
November 13, 2013
After a Packed Meeting, CB 7 Punts on Amsterdam Ave Complete Street Study
Few people have ever accused Manhattan Community Board 7 of expiditiously resolving to do something about dangerous streets. After devoting two hours last night to discussing a resolution asking DOT for a complete street study of Amsterdam Avenue (which the board's transportation committee passed last month), CB 7's reputation for inaction and delay remained intact: The board voted 28-11 to put off the issue until its next meeting on December 3.
November 7, 2013
Trade Group Representing Yellow Cab Owners Endorses 20 MPH Bill [Updated]
A major taxi medallion owners' group has come out in favor of the bill to lower speed limits to 20 miles per hour on residential streets citywide.
November 1, 2013
At City Council Hearing, Impassioned Appeals for Lower Speed Limits
City Council reps and members of the public spoke unanimously today in support of a bill to lower speed limits to a life-saving 20 miles per hour in neighborhoods citywide. But if the council adopts the measure, it will do so over the objection of DOT, which said the proposal would create conflicts with state law.
October 31, 2013
Flint’s Ingenious Plan to “Right-Size” Its Streets With Road Diets
Flint, Michigan, is probably best known as the poster child for population loss and de-industrialization, as captured in the Michael Moore movie, "Roger and Me."
October 29, 2013
Prompted By Jimmy Van Bramer, CBS 2 Files a Decent Street Safety Story
We wrote last week how Lou Young of CBS 2 blew an opportunity to educate viewers on the merits of potential safe street improvements on the Upper West Side. In covering a press conference in Queens convened by Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, Young's colleague Andrea Grymes filed a story that does a much better job reflecting the perils posed by reckless drivers.
October 28, 2013
Harlem CBs Mull Morningside Traffic Calming, Open Door to Bike Lane Plans
On Wednesday evening, Manhattan Community Boards 9 and 10 jointly hosted a public forum on traffic calming for Morningside Avenue, including a presentation by NYC DOT about its safety proposals. Board members were generally receptive to DOT's plan, which is expected to go back to each board for resolutions of support, while offering their own suggestions -- some reasonable, some not so much. DOT said at the meeting it would like positive votes before moving ahead with the plan.
October 25, 2013
Tonight: Tell Manhattan CBs That Harlem Needs a Safer Morningside Avenue
Community Boards 9 and 10 in Harlem will again hear from DOT tonight on a plan to calm traffic on Morningside Avenue [PDF]. The proposal was developed in response to a request from the North Star Neighborhood Association, and though there is general agreement that speeding drivers are a major problem on Morningside, the community boards have so far failed to endorse the city's plan to make the street safer.
October 23, 2013
CB 10 Votes Against Centerpiece of Bay Ridge’s Fourth Avenue Safety Plan
Last night, Brooklyn Community Board 10 voted on a slate of pedestrian safety improvements for Fourth Avenue in Bay Ridge. While a number of smaller changes, such as wider crosswalks and curb extensions, received the board's support, the board rejected the centerpiece of the plan -- trimming traffic lanes to slow speeding drivers [PDF].
October 22, 2013
CB 7 Committee Asks DOT, 7-0, for Amsterdam Avenue Complete Street Study
After a three-and-a-half-hour meeting that itself followed a nearly three-hour deliberation last month, the Manhattan Community Board 7 transportation committee voted 7-0, with three abstentions, for a resolution asking DOT to study safety improvements for Amsterdam Avenue. The resolution asks DOT to consider a protected bike lane, pedestrian islands, removing one of the avenue's four car lanes, and retiming signals. It now moves to the full board for a vote on November 6.
October 16, 2013