3/16/22, 12:43 PM Gmail - RELEASE: ‘Fund the Streets Plan, Stop the Cuts’: Before Transportation Budget Hearing,

aring, Advocates Release Open Letter From More …

Alva-Amoin FRENCH-N'GUESSAN <alvaamoin@gmail.com>

RELEASE: ‘Fund the Streets Plan, Stop the Cuts’: Before Transportation Budget Hearing, Advocates Release
Open Letter From More Than 60 Orgs, Urging New York City to Include $170 Million To Fund First Year of NYC
Streets Plan And Begin Transforming Dangerous, Inequitable Streets

1 message

Danny Pearlstein <danny@ridersalliance.org> Wed, Mar 16, 2022 at 9:53 AM

To: Cory Epstein <cory@transalt.org>
Bcc: alvaamoin@gmail.com

For immediate release

Mar 16, 2022
Contact Danny Pearlstein 917 862 0211

Open letter available here

‘Fund the Streets Plan, Stop the Cuts’: Before Transportation Budget Hearing, Advocates Release Open
Letter From More Than 60 Orgs, Urging New York City to Include $170 Million To Fund First Year of NYC
Streets Plan And Begin Transforming Dangerous, Inequitable Streets
With the mayor proposing $67 million in cuts to transportation spending, more than 60 of New York’s leading transportation,
public space, climate, accessibility, and community advocates urge $170 million in funding so NYC DOT can meet the legal
mandate of NYC Streets Plan and deliver on requirements to build bus lanes, bike lanes, safe intersections, and more — especially
as reckless driving surges and bus service deteriorates

New York, NY–On the morning of the New York City Council Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s hearing on the mayor’s
preliminary budget, more than 60 advocacy groups released an open letter demanding that Mayor Adams and City legislative leaders fully
fund the implementation of the NYC Streets Plan. 

Approved overwhelmingly in 2019 with the intent of faster bus trips and safe sidewalks, intersections, and roadways, the law mandates the
completion of 250 miles of bike lanes, 150 miles of bus lanes, and other improvements within five years. It has an estimated price tag of
$170 million annually beyond the existing Department of Transportation budget and assumes full staffing of an agency that has reportedly
suffered significant staff losses during the pandemic.

Mayor Adams has repeatedly promised to exceed the requirements of the Streets Plan, notably by building 300 miles of bike lanes and 150
miles of bus lanes within four years. However his vision for our streets cannot be achieved if NYC DOT and the NYC Streets Plan are not
fully funded.

As hearings get underway and with three more months in the City’s budget cycle, advocates for safe and equitable streets urge Mayor
Adams and City Council leaders to adopt a budget that fully funds the mandates of the plan. With millions of riders subject to bus service that
is the slowest in the United States amid a post-pandemic traffic surge and traffic violence claiming a record number of lives on city streets,
bringing Streets Plan investments – especially to under-resourced neighborhoods – is more important than ever. 

“New York needs fair and safe streets for an equitable recovery and a bright future,” said Riders Alliance Senior Organizer Jolyse Race.
“Millions of City bus riders are counting on Mayor Adams to deliver on his solemn promise of 150 new bus lane miles in four years. Full
funding for the NYC Streets Plan, starting with $170 million in this year’s City budget, is essential if the mayor is going to keep his promise to
riders.”

“The NYC Streets Plan is an ambitious blueprint to improve the accessibility, equity, and sustainability of our city’s greatest asset — our
streets — through expanded protected bike and bus lanes, new car-free open spaces and pedestrian plazas, and so much more,” said
Danny Harris, Transportation Alternatives Executive Director. “As we’ve outlined in NYC 25x25, putting our streets to higher use by
building streets for people is a pathway to recovery from COVID-19 and key to improving the health and environment for all New Yorkers. To
meet our climate goals, achieve Vision Zero, and reduce car dependency, New York City must dedicate all the necessary funding to make
the Streets Plan happen.”

Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters said: "There is no question that New York City cannot reduce
emissions and pollution without making serious investments in public transit and micromobility that get people out of cars and reduce freight

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3/16/22, 12:43 PM Gmail - RELEASE: ‘Fund the Streets Plan, Stop the Cuts’: Before Transportation Budget Hearing, Advocates Release Open Letter From More …
traffic while we modernize our grid and fleets. The Mayor has presented many potentially exciting ideas for bikes and buses across the city.
Now is the time to put that funding back into place for the Streets Plan and ensure that the stuff in this case does get done." 
 
“Ensuring that the New York City Streets Plan is fully funded is absolutely essential to making our streets safer, our commutes faster and
more reliable, and our city greener and healthier––and it’s the law,” said Eric McClure, Executive Director of StreetsPAC. “It’s also
fundamental to improving transportation equity for so many New Yorkers who’ve gotten the short end of the stick for far too long. We urge
Mayor Adams and the Council in the strongest possible terms to make certain that the Department of Transportation has the funding and
staffing required to implement the Streets Plan on time and to spec."
 
"Since taking office, Mayor Adams has taken some bold and positive steps to make our streets safer, greener, and more equitable, including
promoting biking, supporting MTA bus service, and transforming dangerous intersections," said Kate Slevin, Executive Vice President,
Regional Plan Association. "Yet to make these, and other important improvements from the NYC Streets Plan a reality, they must be fully
funded and implemented. RPA strongly supports allocating NYC DOT the resources it needs to hit their essential goals for safety, emissions
reductions, and improving our transit and cycling infrastructure, which will pay dividends for years to come."

"New York is a city of ambition and possibility. The NYC Streets Plan will improve safety for bicyclists, speed up bus service, create more
public green space, and reimagine streetscapes throughout the city," said Darwin Keung, Climate & Health Policy Manager for Tri-State
Transportation Campaign. "Mayor Adams and the City Council must fully fund this initiative–the health and wellbeing of millions of New
Yorkers depends on it."

"For the sake of all New Yorkers stuck waiting for the bus, in traffic, or without adequate public transportation options, the NYC Streets Plan
must be fully funded as outlined by the law. We're calling on Mayor Adams to follow through on his promise of better buses and safer streets.
Mayor Adams and City Council leaders must include at least $170 million in the NYC budget if NYC has a shot to meet and exceed the
Streets Plan improvement benchmarks," said Cecilia Ellis, NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign Coordinator. 

“This legislation is what New York City needs if it is to meet its climate goals, achieve Vision Zero, reduce car dependency, and bring reliable
transit service to transit deserts and historically underserved neighborhoods. Two areas of our city, the South Bronx and Northern
Manhattan, have the highest rates of asthma in the country, with African-Americans and Latinos accounting for more than 80% of the cases.
These communities also lack the infrastructure to support alternative methods of transportation. 25x25 would improve the lives of all New
York City residents, but will be particularly game changing for many of our most vulnerable and underserved communities," said Phil Jones,
Senior Director, Lime. 

"With the climate, equity and road safety crisis, now is the time to fully fund and turbo-charge street improvements in NYC, especially in
neighborhoods that are suffering most. An inclusive economic recovery and climate-resilient future requires investment. NYC can regain its
leadership and inspire other cities around the world looking for sustainable transport solutions by showcasing how budget priorities match
the city's values," said Michael Kodransky, the US Director at the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy. 

“Twelve years ago, a speeding bus driver killed my 22-year-old son Seth on a dangerously-designed street. It’s a loss no family should ever
have to endure. On behalf of Families for Safe Streets, we urge our elected officials to prevent future tragedies by fully funding the NYC
Streets Plan with $170 million this year,” said Debbie Marks Kahn, Founding Member of Families for Safe Streets. “Over the next five
years, the Streets Plan requires the City of New York to confront our traffic violence through intersection safety upgrades, road redesigns,
and more car-free spaces. We cannot afford to leave these benchmarks unfunded. The safety of our city depends on it.”

“Fully funding the New York City Streets Plan is essential for building a just recovery from the pandemic while continuing to prepare for the
climate crisis. Implementing the Streets Plan will ensure a safer, greener, and more accessible public realm for all, creating a more equitable
and healthier city. We strongly urge the Mayor and the Council to provide the DOT the resources needed to realize the Streets Plan so that
New Yorkers have transportation options that are reliable, convenient, and dignified,” said Sam Frommer, AICP of Buro Happold. 

“350NYC strongly supports safer streets for walkers and bike riders, quick, reliable clean bus transportation alternatives, and fewer trucks
and large ride-share vehicles clogging up the traffic. This along with electrification of bus transport and delivery motor bikes, will greatly
improve the air quality for everyone walking and riding in the city, but most importantly cleaner air helps our most vulnerable,” said Leslie
Stevens, 350NYC Steering Committee. “The Mayor has a vision and ideas, and there are many advocates supporting the Streets Plan.
Now is the time to make major changes supported by full funding.”

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Danny Pearlstein  he/him

Policy and Communications Director | Riders Alliance

(917) 862-0211 | @DannyPearlstein
www.ridersalliance.org

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