The NYC DOT program will build on pandemic-era initiatives to promote safe and comfortable streets that enhance community and expand uses beyond just moving cars.
In an article in Next City, Maylin Tu describes the New York City Department of Transportation’s new Office of Livable Streets, which calls itself the first of its kind in the nation. Sean Quinn, associate deputy commissioner for the new office, told Next City that “the rebrand was born from the pandemic and the ways that New Yorkers started using streets as places to connect and build community — for example, through the Open Streets program — rather than as places to drive or park a car.”
The initiative seeks to prioritize non-auto modes and redesign city streets to accommodate a variety of users safely. “The new office rebrands what was previously known as the Office of Street Improvements. It consists of different sub-units, including the Public Realm, Bike, Policy and Innovation, Street Furniture, Street Improvement Projects Central and Administration units.”
The office says it will focus on improving safety for micromobility — particularly as e-bikes and cargo bikes grow in popularity among delivery companies — and use a range of flexible interventions to redesign each block as appropriate.
FULL STORY: NYC’s New Office of Livable Streets Aims To Make Streets Safer, Greener and More Habitable
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Journal of the American Planning Association