Open Plans’ Ambitious 2024 Legislative Agenda Outlines City, State, Agency Goals
Legislative priorities take broad approach to achieving people-first streetscape
NEW YORK - Today Open Plans released their 2024 legislative and policy agenda detailing a broad range of policies calling for reduced car dependence, improved pedestrian experience, and strategic reimagining of the city’s curb lane. The agenda highlights specific opportunities for the City Council, Borough President, Agency, and State levels. Spanning sectors and departments, the agenda targets a full scope of policies that impact New Yorkers’ experience of streets and public spaces.
This holistic view is a hallmark of Open Plans. “No single agency or elected official can solve our livability crisis,” said Sara Lind, Co-Executive Director at Open Plans. "New York City operates in a complex system of policy choices that must, with collaboration and vision, be reexamined for our modern era. We saw some gratifying progress in the past year; the City has made some exciting commitments to streets and public spaces. But there is much to be done. This holistic approach builds toward real change by tackling New York’s problematic policies from every angle.”
The policy goals build from prior victories, also highlighted in the agenda. Celebrating the appointment of the first ever Chief Public Realm Officer, Open Plans commits to advocating to make this position permanent by law and to expand the role to include public space managers. Recognizing the expanded automated bus lane enforcement program, the agenda highlights opportunities for additional automated enforcement of bike lanes and the curb lane.
The legislative agenda is organized into four priority areas:
Joyful and equitable public spaces
Codify the Chief Public Realm Officer and hire public space managers in communities
Create a year-round option and rules that work for open dining
Expand the accessibility and size of Open Streets, School Streets, and Summer Streets programs through increased city investment and streamlined guidelines
Reframe DOT’s Sidewalk Unit to prioritize sidewalks as public space
Parking reform
Fully lift parking mandates citywide and statewide
Eliminate city parking placards
Transition a majority of free parking spaces to metered spaces and explore dynamic pricing
Explore the potential benefits of a Parking Benefit District through a pilot program
Reforming the curb
Reimagine the parking lane as the curb lane to facilitate strategic diversity of use
Codify community use of curb space
Authorize and expand automated enforcement of the curb lane (including bike lanes, bus lanes, commercial loading zones, metered parking, etc.)
Require DOT to create a publicly accessible digital curb inventory
Daylight every intersection in New York City
Iterate and expand on containerized trash pilots
Livable streets
Pursue people-focused street and sidewalk design; reform Community Board processes to streamline installation
Shift DOT’s priority from level of service (LOS) to vehicle miles traveled (VMT) to prioritize safety over vehicular movement in street design
Invest in safe e-micromobility use through rebates and accessible charging infrastructure
Create safer streets by lowering NYC speed limits, creating new vehicle safety and size standards, and a revising city truck route
Create new avenues for effective enforcement of alternate side parking, red light infractions, and chronic speeding
See the full legislative agenda here.