News That Matters

NY Enacts Complete Streets LawPremised on public safety and greener roads and highways, New York now requires all county and local transportation projects undertaken by the State Department of Transportation or for projects that receive both federal and state funding are subject to State DOT oversight, to consider the convenient access and mobility on the road network by all including motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and public transportation users by incorporating complete streets design features. Such considerations are required in the planning, design, construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, but exempted are projects aimed at resurfacing, maintenance, or pavement recycling. The new law explains that complete street design features include: sidewalks, paved shoulders suitable for bicyclists, lane striping, bicycle lanes, share the road signage, crosswalks, road diets, pedestrian control signalization, pull outs, curb cuts, raised crosswalks and ramps, and traffic calming measures. Exceptions are made where it has been set forth in publically available documents that use of the road by bicyclists and pedestrians is prohibited by law, or where the cost would be disproportionate to the need as determined by factors including: land use context, current and projected traffic volumes, demonstrated lack of need, or that the use of [...]