Dear New Yorker,
The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) is once again accepting applications for its Neighborhood Slow Zone program.
First implemented in the Bronx in 2011, this community-based program lowers the speed limit from 30 to 20 miles per hour in designated "slow zones" around the City. Doing so can help save lives and prevent injury by making traffic accidents less frequent and severe. The program also seeks to improve the quality of life in neighborhoods by reducing cut-through traffic and traffic noise.
Since speeding is a major concern in many of our communities, we wanted to help get the word out and encourage communities to apply.
Applications can be submitted by local community boards, civic associations, business improvement districts (BIDs), elected officials, or other community-based institutions such as schools or churches. Additional information about applying, including a list of the dozen or so neighborhoods already participating in the program, can be found on the DOT's website at http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/about/slowzones.shtml.
The department will be accepting applications until May 31st.
Also, as you might have heard, the New York City Council recently passed two resolutions in support of legislation in Albany that would help make roads across the five boroughs safer for everyone.
The first one, Reso. 916, calls for the passage of a bill sponsored by Assembly Member Glick and championed by Senator Andrew Lanza that would permit the City to implement a speed camera program.
The second one, Reso. 1332, calls for the passage of a bill sponsored by Senator Squadron and Assembly Member Kavanagh that would give the New York Police Department the authority to charge drivers for failing to exercise due care while operating a motor vehicle and causing physical injury or death even if the police officer was not present at the time of the crash, as long as the officer has reasonable cause to believe the violation was committed by the driver.
Although we're disappointed that speed camera legislation hasn't been included in the State's final budget, we remain hopeful that speed camera legislation will be adopted before the close of the legislative session.
A big thank you to everyone who wrote and weighed in on these important topics.
Special thanks as well to Council Members Jimmy Van Bramer and Peter Vallone, Jr. for their work on these two very important resolutions.
Thanks, as always, for your help and involvement addressing these and other important issues on behalf of the City.
Hope all is well!
Sincerely,
Christine C. Quinn
Speaker
NYC Council
James Vacca
Chair, Transportation Committee
NYC Council