NYC eyes lower speed limits, more pedestrian zones in Vision Zero overhaul
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani is set to unveil a sweeping overhaul of New York City's Vision Zero program, introducing 100 policy goals over the next decade aimed at reducing traffic deaths and making streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
The plan, called "Vision Zero Reimagined," comes as city officials contend with the growing mix of cars, bicycles, e-bikes and other mobility devices on city streets.
Among the proposals expected to be rolled out are 15 mph speed limits near hundreds of additional schools, new barriers and safety infrastructure at 1,000 intersections annually, and expanded safety technology on thousands of city-owned vehicles, including audible truck alerts and enhanced automatic braking systems.
The plan also calls for higher tolls on oversized passenger vehicles, speed-capping devices for drivers repeatedly caught speeding in school zones, expanded pedestrian-only zones and increased efforts to remove vehicles with "ghost plates" and other reckless drivers from city streets. The administration is also proposing funding to help low-income New Yorkers cover public transit and Citi Bike costs.
Some of the initiatives can be implemented through city agencies, while others will require approval from state lawmakers.
The proposal builds on the city's Vision Zero program, launched in 2014, which city officials say helped drive traffic fatalities to historic lows through a combination of street redesigns, public education campaigns and traffic enforcement efforts. The new blueprint seeks to adapt that strategy to an evolving transportation landscape and set safety goals for the next decade.
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