Safer Streets for New York City

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Josephine Benson
8 years ago
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1 Towards Zero Conference Gothenburg, Sweden June 9,

2 New York City Department of Transportation NYCDOT Assets: 6,000 miles (9,700 km) of roadway 12,000 miles (19,300 km) of sidewalks 789 bridges 13,000 signalized intersections 315,000 street lights 8 Staten Island Ferry Boats 1 million street signs Agency Size: 4,800 employees $900 m (SEK 7.7 b) operating budget $12.6 b (SEK 107 b) 10-year capital plan 2

intersections 315,000 street lights 8 Staten Island Ferry Boats 1 million street signs

3 New York City: Continued Growth 8.4 million people as of 2014: highest population in history - 31% under 18-12% over 65 New York metro area has almost 20 million residents; additional 1.7 million by 2040 High density: 27,000 people per square mile Stockholm: 12,000 people per square mile 1.6 million commuters enter Manhattan each day 3

65 New York metro area has almost 20 million residents; additional 1.

4 New York City: Transportation Trends Highest transit ridership in over 45 years with ~ 6 million daily riders in 2014 Continued growth of cycling: 87,000 Citi Bike annual members and more than 16 million trips to date; expansion of cycling infrastructure in all five boroughs 4

of cycling: 87,000 Citi Bike annual members and more than 16 million

5 New York City: Transportation Challenges Infrastructure at capacity and aging Federal transportation funding flat since 2009 U.S. infrastructure investment at 20 year low of 1.7% of GDP China invests 9% Europe invests 5% State investment accounts for only ~10% of NYCDOT capital funding 5

infrastructure investment at 20 year low of 1.

6 Why Vision Zero? 6

7 A City Ready for Vision Zero In the past ten years over 1,500 pedestrians and 190 cyclists have been killed in traffic crashes in NYC. Almost 15,000 have been severely injured. NYC s homicide rate has dropped almost 80% since 1990, nearly converging on the traffic fatality rate in 2014 there were 328 homicides and 255 traffic fatalities. Leadership from Mayor de Blasio, supported by a strong coalition of victims families and safety advocates, created strong momentum. 7

NYC s homicide rate has dropped almost 80% since 1990, nearly converging on the traffic fatality rate in 2014 there

8 Why Vision Zero? Last 10 years in the US: Commercial Aviation Deaths: 140 Motor Vehicle Traffic Deaths: 380,000 Traffic Fatality Rate in 2013 (per 100,000 people) - USA: 10.3 fatalities (14 percent pedestrian) - European Union: 5.5 fatalities - Sweden: 2.7 fatalities - New York City: 3.5 fatalities (61 percent pedestrian) - Stockholm, Sweden: 0.7 fatalities 8

380,000 Traffic Fatality Rate in 2013 (per 100,000 people) - USA: 10.

9 NYC Traffic Fatalities 2014: lowest number of pedestrian traffic fatalities in a century Pedestrian fatalities declined 65 percent in the last 50 years Year NYC Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities # Ped Fatalities % of Total Fatalities Year # Ped Fatalities % of Total Fatalities % % % % % % % % 9

Fatalities # Ped Fatalities % of Total Fatalities Year # Ped Fatalities % of Total Fatalities

10 Vision Zero: Safer Streets for NYC Led by City Hall Prominent, funded multi-agency initiative Comprehensive Engineering, Education, Enforcement Key Partners City Agencies: DOT, NYPD, Taxi & Limousine Commission Community groups and Community Boards Advocacy and industry groups Commercial fleet operators 10

Key Partners City Agencies: DOT, NYPD, Taxi & Limousine Commission Community

11 Vision Zero: Year 1 11

12 Engineering NYCDOT s Street Improvement Project Program significantly alters the way our streets perform, increasing safety and accessibility. Since 2005, fatalities have decreased by 34% at locations where NYCDOT has made major engineering changes. These include: signal changes, street geometry and markings, regulations governing turning or parking. Approximately 50 Vision Zero projects each year. Typical projects cost from $20,000 $150,000 (SEK 170,000-1,275,000) - more complicated projects cost under $500,000 (SEK 4,250,000). 12

These include: signal changes, street geometry and markings, regulations governing turning or parking.

13 Speed Cameras NYC successfully had 20 speed cameras authorized in 2013 by the New York State Legislature and 120 more authorized in cameras currently in place Many restrictions: must be placed within ¼ mile (.4 km) from school buildings and operate during school hours NYCDOT siting policy focuses on locations with high KSI (killed/severely injured) and speeding statistics Over 440,000 summonses issued in 2014; number issued at fixed site cameras has declined dramatically from Sept. 1 Jan. 1 13

4 km) from school buildings and operate during school hours NYCDOT siting policy focuses on locations with high KSI

Challenges of Speed Camera Restrictions Cannot be used on nights and weekends, when most speeding crashes occur Most school buildings are not located on the

14 Challenges of Speed Camera Restrictions Cannot be used on nights and weekends, when most speeding crashes occur Most school buildings are not located on the City s most dangerous streets Lowest speed camera penalty in the country $50 (SEK 425) No points No insurance consequences No escalation with multiple violations 14

City s most dangerous streets Lowest speed camera penalty in the country $50

15 25 mph (40 km/h) Default Speed Limit 1964: New York State Legislature raises statewide speed limit from 25 to 30 mph (40-48 km/h). 2014: New York State Legislature passes bill restoring 25 mph (40 km/h) speed limit to NYC only. November 7, 2014: new speed limit takes effect on all NYC streets, unless otherwise posted 15

2014: New York State Legislature passes bill restoring 25 mph (40 km/h) speed

16 Getting to 25 mph (40 km/h) Citywide Education & Engagement: 25 Days to 25 Press & Social Media saturation campaign DOT/NYPD Street Teams distributed 750,000 fliers, 350,000 on Day of 25 MPH Awareness Also spreading the word: advocates, elected officials, civic organizations, professional driver associations, large fleet operators, parking lot operators, insurance companies and more Results per DOT Polling: Before media campaign: 30% of drivers know the 30 mph (48 km/h) speed limit After media campaign: 62% of drivers know the 25 mph (40 km/h) speed limit 16

professional driver associations, large fleet operators, parking lot operators, insurance companies and more Results per DOT Polling: Before

17 Planning for Vision Zero Borough Pedestrian Safety Action Plans 17

18 Public Engagement Public engagement in all five boroughs Elected Official Town Halls Public workshops Table sessions Mapping dangerous intersections and areas 18

across Brooklyn Residents also engaged with each

19 Public Input Interactive Website Users shared 4,764 pedestrian safety issues at 1,984 unique locations across Brooklyn Residents also engaged with each other: users commented on others issues more than 1,000 times 19

20 Borough Pedestrian Safety Action Plans Borough Pedestrian Safety Action Plans released in February, 2015 Data-driven, transparent, indepth, and leading edge Provide a blueprint for how DOT will conduct street safety work in coming years Guide collaborative efforts with NYPD by identifying key enforcement areas Give the public an inside look at they why and how of our playbook 20

DOT will conduct street safety work in coming years Guide collaborative efforts with NYPD by

21 Borough Pedestrian Safety Action Plans 21

22 Progress and Challenges 22

23 Progress and Challenges Progress Declining traffic fatalities and lowest pedestrian fatality rate in a century: in 2014 there were 255 traffic fatalities and 138 pedestrian fatalities Deep engagement from New Yorkers Legislation (25 MPH (40 km/h), speed cameras, other local legislation) New resources: funding, 80 DOT employees $25 million (SEK 213M) Federal TIGER grant for Vision Zero projects Challenges Maintaining focus, momentum, and resources in a fast-paced city with new priorities Change needed in the criminal justice culture Continued engagement with New Yorkers especially with communities that do not typically engage on transportation issues or with city government Additional legislative needs for Vision Zero 2.0: expanded camera programs, other legislation 23

24 Thank you! 24

Bicycle Crash Data 2012

Bicycle Crash Data 2012 Local Law 13 of 2011 requires the NYC Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) to report on the total number of bicycle crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are reported to city