Department Of Transportation

NYC’s Open Streets will expand to 70+ schools

School children participate in activities with Street Lab on an Open Street: School. Credit: Street Lab

August 29, 2024

NYC’s Open Streets will expand to 70+ schools

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's Open Streets program is expanding to more than 70 schools this year. The city's Department of Transportation on Thursday announced a record-breaking expansion of the program, with 71 schools across the five boroughs set to gain additional outdoor space for students to learn and play. This initiative will improve safety by simplifying the pick-up and drop-off process. Most of the new open streets will be located outside of schools in underserved communities in the outer boroughs, including 12 in the Bronx, 12 in Brooklyn, and 20 in Queens.
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NYC seeks proposals for redesign of Park Avenue medians

Image by Fabio Fistarol on Unsplash

August 27, 2024

NYC seeks proposals for redesign of Park Avenue medians

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is moving forward with a plan to put the "park" back in Park Avenue. The Department of Transportation released a request for proposals (RFP) on Tuesday seeking designs to transform the traffic medians on Park Avenue between East 46th Street and East 57th Street with more green space and pedestrian-friendly areas.
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Architecture And Design

City moves forward with scaled-back McGuinness Boulevard redesign

McGuinness Boulevard. Courtesy of NYC DOT

August 21, 2024

City moves forward with scaled-back McGuinness Boulevard redesign

By Aaron Ginsburg

A plan to take away lanes of traffic and add protected bike lanes on busy McGuinness Boulevard in Greenpoint will be scaled back. The Department of Transportation shared its plan with elected officials on Tuesday for the street's redesign, which will extend a bike lane to the southern half of McGuinness but not reduce the number of traffic lanes or create a protected bike path as originally proposed, The City reported. According to reports, Mayor Eric Adams' administration pushed for the watered-down redesign, citing community concerns over the plan.
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How hot is your NYC bus stop? A new report reveals the city’s most sweltering stops

A bus shelter on Fulton Street in Brooklyn. Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

August 14, 2024

How hot is your NYC bus stop? A new report reveals the city’s most sweltering stops

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's hottest bus stops are 14.5 degrees hotter than its coolest stops, with most of the sweltering stations found in low-income neighborhoods of color, according to a new report. Transportation Alternatives (TA) collaborated with NASA to analyze summer daytime temperatures at city bus stops using thermal heat imaging satellites. The study found that bus riders in Black, Latino, Asian, and high-poverty communities, particularly in Queens and the Bronx, experienced the warmest waits. The report identified 100 bus stops and three routes in need of intervention and recommended ways to cool them down.
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NYC is selling authentic ‘Cornelia Street’ signs

Image courtesy of NYC DOT

August 13, 2024

NYC is selling authentic ‘Cornelia Street’ signs

By Devin Gannon

Attention Swifties! New York City's Department of Transportation (DOT) is selling a limited number of authentic, commemorative Cornelia Street signs, as part of the agency's monthly "sign drops." Taylor Swift once rented a home on the Greenwich Village street and name-dropped the block in the 2019 song "Cornelia Street."
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NYC announces pedestrian safety upgrades for Brooklyn’s Atlantic Avenue

New vehicle travel lane markings at Atlantic Avenue and Court Street. Image courtesy of the Department of Transportation

July 24, 2024

NYC announces pedestrian safety upgrades for Brooklyn’s Atlantic Avenue

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is kicking off a series of key upgrades to Atlantic Avenue to improve pedestrian safety. Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Tuesday announced the start of pedestrian safety improvements along the western section of Atlantic Avenue that runs between Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill, a corridor infamous for traffic-related incidents. The enhancements include expanded pedestrian space, new mid-block crossings, upgraded traffic signals, vehicle travel lane markings, and more.
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NYC ‘Summer Streets’ to return with longer hours for more car-free fun

Summer Streets 2022. Photo courtesy of the NYC Department of Transportation on Flickr

June 25, 2024

NYC ‘Summer Streets’ to return with longer hours for more car-free fun

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's "Summer Streets" program is returning next month with more time to enjoy car-free streets. The annual event closes several miles of street, allowing for fun outdoor recreation and activities on certain Saturdays. Previously only hosted in Manhattan, in 2023, the program was expanded to every borough. Not only will Summer Streets once again hit all five boroughs, but this year's event will also last longer, with streets closed for an extra two hours, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Free live music coming to 11 plazas and open streets across NYC

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus performing at Make Music NY Day. Image courtesy of NYC DOT

June 17, 2024

Free live music coming to 11 plazas and open streets across NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

Free live music is coming to public squares in all five boroughs starting this weekend. The city's Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Friday announced the return of Make Music New York Day on June 21, featuring performances at 11 different plazas and Open Streets locations across the city. Additionally, DOT is partnering with Mov!ng Culture Projects to host performances in Brooklyn and Manhattan and is activating public spaces for Juneteenth and Caribbean American Heritage Month throughout the month.
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Events & Things To Do

Pickleball is coming next to the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo

Rendering courtesy of NYC Parks

June 12, 2024

Pickleball is coming next to the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo

By Aaron Ginsburg

Closed to the public for 15 years, two parking lots underneath the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo will transform into a pickleball hub. NYC Parks on Wednesday selected CityPickle to revitalize Anchorage Plaza, a space located on Old Fulton and Washington Streets and connected by a ramp known as "Ash Alley." CityPickle, which currently has courts in Central Park, Long Island City, and Industry City, is expected to operate at the plaza seasonally from March through November next year. Amenities like a dog run, food trucks, public art, and seating would be available year-round, under the proposal.
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NYC will sell commemorative street signs every month

Photo (cropped) by DVSROSS on Flickr.

June 4, 2024

NYC will sell commemorative street signs every month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Here's a chance to hang an authentic piece of New York City on your wall. On Monday, the city's Department of Transportation launched the first monthly "sign drops," selling limited-edition, hand-made street signs from iconic corridors across the five boroughs. To celebrate the start of Pride Month, the first batch of signs featured Christopher Street/Stonewall Place and hit the NYC CityStore for $75 each. The signs sold out in under three hours, according to Gothamist.
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Transit

Popular Articles

NYC looks to install 500 secure bike parking facilities

All images courtesy of NYC DOT

May 10, 2024

NYC looks to install 500 secure bike parking facilities

By Aaron Ginsburg

The city is looking to build hundreds of free, secure bike parking locations across the five boroughs to prevent theft and encourage more New Yorkers to bike. The Department of Transportation on Thursday issued a request for proposals seeking operators for a network of 500 secure biking parking facilities to be built starting next year. The new storage spaces would accommodate the continued growth in bike ridership across the city, which is seeing more than 600,000 trips daily.
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NYC to expand car-free access in Manhattan ahead of congestion pricing

Image courtesy of Pranay Pareek on Unsplash

May 2, 2024

NYC to expand car-free access in Manhattan ahead of congestion pricing

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is stepping up its effort to improve car-free access to Midtown and Lower Manhattan to prepare for the start of congestion pricing, scheduled in just a few weeks. The city's Department of Transportation (DOT) on Thursday released a report detailing 37 new projects and 47 existing projects that enhance car-free access to and around Manhattan's Central Business District (CBD) as the city's congestion pricing program goes into effect on June 30.
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NYC unveils secure sidewalk locker program to prevent package theft

Image courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

April 11, 2024

NYC unveils secure sidewalk locker program to prevent package theft

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is installing secure package lockers across the five boroughs to prevent theft and reduce delivery truck traffic. Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday announced "LockerNYC," a pilot program to install seven package lockers with 25 safe compartments and security cameras to combat theft. The lockers will be installed on sidewalks at select locations and available for free through a variety of delivery carriers. New Yorkers can sign up and manage orders here.
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NYC opens applications for new outdoor dining program, unveils modular sheds

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

March 7, 2024

NYC opens applications for new outdoor dining program, unveils modular sheds

By Aaron Ginsburg

Say hello to the future of outdoor dining in New York City. Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday launched the application process for restaurants to take part in Dining Out NYC, the city’s permanent outdoor dining program, and unveiled prototypes of the allowable roadway dining sheds. Designed by WXY architecture + urban design and fabricated by SITU, the customizable prototypes are made of materials from a standard kit, which makes it easier for restaurants to abide by the program’s new guidelines.
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NYC proposes revamped Second Avenue with ‘offset’ bus lane and wider bike lane

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

March 6, 2024

NYC proposes revamped Second Avenue with ‘offset’ bus lane and wider bike lane

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City wants to redesign a three-mile portion of Second Avenue to improve bus service and make it safer for cyclists. During a presentation to Manhattan Community Board 6 on Monday, the city’s Department of Transportation revealed a proposal to revamp the avenue from East 59th Street to Houston Street with a new "offset" bus lane in the center of the street, to allow for buses to maneuver around commercial curbside loading and unloading. The plan also includes widening bike lanes from six to eight feet, and even 10 feet at some sections.
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First public e-bike charging station opens in the East Village

All photos courtesy of NYC DOT

March 4, 2024

First public e-bike charging station opens in the East Village

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's first public, outdoor e-bike battery charging station opened last week as part of a six-month pilot program to test safer technologies for delivery workers and provide an alternative to charging bikes inside. The first of five to open in the coming weeks, the new station is located at Cooper Square in the East Village. The infrastructure includes a battery-swapping cabinet to swap out dead batteries for fully charged ones and a secure charging rack where workers can lock up their bikes and charge them while parked. The city said 100 delivery workers will initially participate in the pilot program and provide feedback on the charging hubs.
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Staten Island Ferry to offer food and drinks for the first time since Covid

Photo by Scarlet Sappho on Flickr

January 30, 2024

Staten Island Ferry to offer food and drinks for the first time since Covid

By Aaron Ginsburg

Staten Island Ferry riders will be able to enjoy food and drinks on board for the first time since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Tuesday announced a request for proposals (RFP) for vendors interested in selling food and drinks, including alcoholic beverages, on the Staten Island Ferry. Proposals are due by March 7, with the new concessions expected to be in operation by the fall.
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Brooklyn Bridge towers illuminated with new LED lights

All photos courtesy of NYC DOT

January 12, 2024

Brooklyn Bridge towers illuminated with new LED lights

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Brooklyn Bridge is starting the New Year with a major "glow up." The city's Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled on Thursday a new lighting system on the iconic landmark that includes 56 new energy-efficient LED lights illuminating its famous towers. The new lights are part of a four-year, $300 million restoration project to remove dirt and restore the mortar between every stone on the bridge, returning the towers to their original light gray color.
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Architecture And Design

City seeks proposals for sports center at Brooklyn Bridge plaza in Dumbo

Photo courtesy of NYC Parks

January 5, 2024

City seeks proposals for sports center at Brooklyn Bridge plaza in Dumbo

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is looking to reopen nearly 100,000 square feet of open space at the Brooklyn Bridge for the first time in 15 years. As first reported by Streetsblog, NYC Parks this week released a request for proposals (RFP) seeking contractors to operate a seasonal outdoor activity center for up to six years at the two-lot Anchorage Plaza, located on Old Fulton Street and Washington Street and connected by a ramp known as "Ash Alley" underneath the bridge. According to the RFP, the Parks Department seeks proposals for "parks appropriate" activities, including paddle ball, public art or performances, a dog run, and food and drink vendors.
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NYC bans street vendors from all city bridges

Photo courtesy of Gedalya AKA David Gott on Flickr

January 2, 2024

NYC bans street vendors from all city bridges

By Aaron Ginsburg

Starting Wednesday, vendors selling New York City-themed souvenirs and cheap eats will be banned from all 789 of the city's bridges. Mayor Eric Adams last week announced new rules prohibiting vending on pedestrian walkways and bike lanes of bridges, as well as their approaches, will go into effect on January 3. Proposed this fall by the mayor, the vending ban specifically targets the overcrowded Brooklyn Bridge, which has seen a surge in both illegal vendors and pedestrians in recent years, creating safety issues on the jam-packed crossing.
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NYC unveils new protected bike lane on 10th Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen

The new, extra-wide bike lane on 10th Avenue. Image courtesy of NYC DOT

December 14, 2023

NYC unveils new protected bike lane on 10th Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen

By Aaron Ginsburg

The city on Wednesday unveiled the first phase of safety upgrades to a stretch of 10th Avenue in Hell's Kitchen. Installed between West 38th Street and West 52nd Street, a new 10-foot wide northbound bike lane will more safely accommodate the growing number of cyclists, e-bike riders, and micro-mobility device users. Additional improvements include new concrete pedestrian islands, new bike corrals, and redesigned intersections to slow down drivers when turning.
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NYC to launch public e-bike charging stations for delivery workers

Photo by Thomas Loizeau on Unsplash

December 5, 2023

NYC to launch public e-bike charging stations for delivery workers

By Aaron Ginsburg

Just a few days after New York City saw its 18th death caused by an electric bike battery this year, Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced a new pilot program that will let some delivery workers charge their bikes outside. As part of the program, launching early next year, a variety of technologies to charge lithium-ion batteries will be tested at public docks across the city. Technologies include battery-swapping networks and secure e-bike parking docks with fast charging to docked e-bikes.
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NYC to improve safety conditions at 2,000 intersections per year

All photos courtesy of the NYC Department of Transportation

December 1, 2023

NYC to improve safety conditions at 2,000 intersections per year

By Aaron Ginsburg

Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday launched an initiative that will boost New York City's ongoing efforts to improve traffic safety by doubling the number of intersections that receive safety enhancements to at least 2,000 per year. Visibility improvements will be made to a minimum of 1,000 intersections per year using an effective method known as daylighting. The initiative comes after a tow truck driver killed a 7-year-old at an "undaylighted" intersection in Brooklyn last month.
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Drivers will likely pay $15 to enter certain parts of Manhattan as part of congestion pricing plan

Photo by Raidarmax on Wikimedia Commons

November 30, 2023

Drivers will likely pay $15 to enter certain parts of Manhattan as part of congestion pricing plan

By Aaron Ginsburg

Drivers entering certain parts of Manhattan could be charged a $15 toll as part of New York City's congestion pricing program, the first of its kind in the nation. As first reported by the New York Times, the Traffic Mobility Review Board released a report on Thursday detailing the pricing structure for the tolls for the Central Business District Tolling Program, which covers an area of Manhattan from 60th Street to the Battery. The program aims to alleviate traffic, encourage the use of public transit, and reduce pollution, all while generating $1 billion in annual revenue for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
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City unveils new bike boulevard on Berry Street in Williamsburg

All images courtesy of NYC DOT

November 22, 2023

City unveils new bike boulevard on Berry Street in Williamsburg

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City has transformed Brooklyn's Berry Street into a permanent two-way bike boulevard. Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Tuesday unveiled the new street design, which includes the reconfiguration of every intersection, new loading zones, and a series of one-way vehicle traffic reversals from Broadway to North 12th Street in Williamsburg. The street design builds upon the corridor's success as a pedestrian-focused open street and better connects to Domino and McCarren Parks and the Williamsburg Bridge.
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