2013-dot-sustainable-streets-lowres

Introduction44acres red paintedbus lanes since 2007141acres of bikelanes since 200739acres of roadrepurposed for plazas,public seating, refugeislands, paintedextensions, medians,and bulb outs since2007NYCDOT’s 2008 Sustainable Streets Strategic Planpromised an innovative transportation policy that woulddeliver more varied and safer streets, improved mobility,more travel choices and progress on environmentalsustainability. DOT’s plan elaborated on Mayor Bloomberg’scall in PlaNYC 2030 for a thriving, world–class 21stCentury city based in part on more efficient transportationand a revitalized public realm.DOT has not only delivered on this promise, it has createda new template for transportation policy that is beingdiscussed and emulated across the world. During the pastsix years, NYC DOT has undertaken and implemented themost thorough rethinking and implementation of urbantransportation priorities and streetscape design in a largeAmerican city in several generations.Major achievements of this effort have been thereduction of annual traffic fatalities to the lowest levelsever seen in New York City, repurposing of extensiveroadway area into public space, traffic calming featuresand additional room for pedestrians, creation of a newmodel of city bus service and large–scale expansion ofbicycle transportation, as well as unprecedented levels ofinvestment in the city’s basic roadway, bridge and ferryinfrastructure.NYCDOT’s initiatives have generated a heightenedpublic conversation about street design and transportationpolicy. Ultimately, New Yorkers have embraced them withSustainable Streets: 2013 and Beyond7