New York
Basics
NYC’s Next Transportation Commissioner Is Polly Trottenberg
Bill de Blasio has appointed U.S. DOT Under Secretary for Policy Polly Trottenberg to lead the New York City Department of Transportation. Trottenberg is a veteran federal policy maker, whose resume includes stints working for New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan on the 1998 federal transportation bill and for Senator Chuck Schumer.
January 2, 2014
New Layer of Red Tape From FHWA Threatens to Delay NYC Bike Projects
The Federal Highway Administration is seeking to impose a new layer of bureaucratic review on New York City bike projects, which could significantly delay the implementation of street redesigns that have proven to reduce traffic injuries and deaths.
December 20, 2013
NYC DOT Shares Its Five Principles for Designing Safer Streets
Earlier this month, NYC DOT put out a major new report, Making Safer Streets [PDF], that collects before-and-after data from dozens of street redesigns and distills five key principles to reduce traffic injuries. The excitement of election week overshadowed the release, but this is an important document that livable streets supporters will want to bookmark. It's an accessible guide to how DOT approaches the task of re-engineering streets for greater safety.
November 22, 2013
“If/Then”: A Review of the Broadway-Bound Musical About City Planning
What rhymes with “waterfront redevelopment plan”?
November 11, 2013
Setbacks and Victories For Urbanism in Yesterday’s Mayoral Races
Mayoral elections broke both ways for livability in American cities yesterday: The results of some may slow progress on transit and street safety, while one-midsized city elected an executive who campaigned strongly on light rail expansion and bikeability.
November 6, 2013
How StreetsPAC Emerged as a Political Force in NYC
"Livable Streets has arrived as a political force," tweeted NYC Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson the morning after last week's all-important primary election. StreetsPAC -- a political action committee formed earlier this year to strengthen local candidates who support policies that improve walking, biking and transit -- endorsed the winner in 13 of the 18 City Council races in which it was active, and might pick up another victory pending the results of a recount.
September 16, 2013
After the Addition of Bike Lanes and Plazas, Manhattan Traffic Moves Faster
After several blocks in the heart of Times Square were pedestrianized and protected bike lanes were added to five avenues in the middle of Manhattan, motor vehicle traffic is actually moving more smoothly than before, according to the latest release of NYC DOT's annual Sustainable Streets Index [PDF].
September 9, 2013
Freight Panel Chair Says House Will “Balance Out” Transportation Modes
This article was adapted from an earlier report on Streetsblog NYC.
July 31, 2013
Niagara Falls, New York, Gets Go-Ahead for Highway Teardown
Beginning at Niagara Falls State Park, you can hike around the great gorge carved out of the base of the falls over thousands of years. But you'd best arrive in a car.
February 26, 2013