NYC Council to vote on bike lanes master plan
MANHATTAN (WABC) -- The New York City Council will vote this week on a transportation master plan to essentially change the NYC from a car culture to a pedestrian and mass transit city.
NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Transportation Committee Chair Ydanis Rodriguez joined other council members plus transportation, accessibility, environmental, and safe streets advocates for a rally Tuesday in advance of City Council's vote on Johnson's "Streets Master Plan" legislation.
The legislation was voted on in committee on Tuesday and will go to the full Council for a vote on Wednesday.
The $1.7 billion bill would require the city to build 250 miles of protected bike lanes over five years.
The DOT would also have to release a plan every five years to make streets safer and to prioritize public transit, starting in December 2021.
"The piecemeal way we plan our streets has made no sense for far too long, and New Yorkers have paid the price every day stuck on slow buses or as pedestrians or cyclists on dangerous streets. We need faster buses, safe streets infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, and more pedestrian space. We need to do everything we can to encourage sustainable modes of transportation, especially with the realities of climate change growing more dire every day. This plan will make New York City a much more livable and enjoyable place to call home," Johnson said.
The bill is expected to get Mayor Bill de Blasio's support.
The city currently has about 1,250 miles of bike lanes, including 480 miles that are protected.
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