NYS Safe Streets Coalition, of which GObike Buffalo is a part, is looking for answers as to why a bill – to significantly increase state funding when municipalities implement Complete Streets changes to their streets and roadways, making it easier for municipalities to do so – has not been signed into law. The bill was successfully passed by both houses, but has been sitting on the Governor Kathy Hochul’s desk since June, with nary a word from her office.
Previously, two bills were passed by the house and signed into law. These (now) laws:
Require more education at the DMV about how to yield to pedestrians and cyclists in the roadGrant municipalities the ability to lower their speed limits down from 30mph to 25mph
All three bills are part of the Crash Victims Rights and Safety Act.
Now, NYS Safe Streets Coalition is anticipating the governor to do what’s best for NYS pedestrians and cyclists – the increased funding would allow for much safer streets all around, by providing the resources required to implement widespread traffic calming measures.
To date, the NY Assembly and Senate have been onboard with these measures, which is why the coalition of advocates recently reconvened (at the behest of Assemblymember Jon Rivera), to speak to the Assembly’s Transportation Committee. The assemblage of bike safety advocates reiterated the need for stronger Complete Streets policies, by pointing out a trend of rising traffic deaths throughout the state. Advocacy groups are anticipating that the Assembly’s Transportation Committee will work with the governor to ensure that the third bill is not lost in the shuffle.
As a way to demonstrate the importance of the bill, and its ultimate passing into law, the coalition was joined by Families for Safe Streets Members, whose base have lost family members to car crashes. The families also represented over 100 groups statewide that back the bill’s importance, as it awaits to be signed by the governor.
“More than 12,000 New Yorkers have been killed since New York State passed its existing Complete Streets legislation in 2011,” said Amy Cohen, co-founder of Families for Safe Streets and mother of Sammy, killed in 2013 at 12 years old. “The three reform measures backed by Families for Safe Streets will help bring the state’s policies up to the latest best practices and ensure people nobody has to bury their own children, like so many of us who testified today have. Crosswalks, sidewalks, and curb ramps aren’t extras, they are critical safety infrastructure.”
The three proposed reforms look like this:
–“Complete Streets Maintenance:” S5130 (Kennedy)/A7782 (Rivera): Would require inclusion, when possible, of Complete Street design features in resurfacing, maintenance and pavement recycling projects and further enable safe access to public roads for all users.
–“Complete Streets Application:” S8394 (Ryan)/A08624 (Barrett): Would expand the state’s current Complete Street design principles policy to include all state, county and local transportation projects that are undertaken by the DOT or receive federal, state or both federal and state funding.
–“Complete Streets Funding:” S3897 (Kennedy)/A8936 (Fahy): Increases state funding where the municipality agrees to fund a Complete Street design feature. (This bill has passed the State Assembly and Senate and awaiting Gov. Hochul’s signature.)
A broad range of elected officials and groups expressed support for the measures:
“As elected officials, our primary responsibility is to protect our constituents and to provide safeguards where possible that can tangibly reduce hazards within our community,” said Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera (D-Buffalo). “This package of bills that represent more stringent standards in building New York’s street infrastructure will continue and expand our state’s efforts in improving street safety for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.”
“New Yorkers are at serious risk of injury or death due to rising traffic violence – according to the Governors Highway Safety Association, crashes killing pedestrians increased 46% from 2010 to 2020, compared to just a 5% increase for all other crash fatalities,” said Assemblymember Pat Fahy (D-Albany). “Not only will implementing Complete Street design in more communities across New York save lives, but empowering municipalities and local governments to construct more of these features by reducing their cost burden is commonsense and badly-needed. By developing our communities into more walkable, multi-modal transportation-friendly places to be – we are driving economic development, foot traffic, and reducing emissions by taking cars off our streets. I urge Governor Kathy Hochul to sign this legislation into law as soon as possible to save more New Yorkers from the threat of traffic violence and empower local governments to undertake more of Complete Street projects.”
“New York Bicycling Coalition is pushing for the passage of this set of Complete Streets bills to increase the roads covered by the Complete Streets Law, expand the types of projects undertaken by the New York State Department of Transportation that could include Complete Streets design, and most importantly, to increase the funding necessary for local municipalities to implement Complete Streets design for the safety of their communities,” said Rossana Coto-Batres, New York Bicycling Coalition, Board Member.
“Passing this package of Complete Streets bills is a commonsense way to strengthen and transform our communities for the better,” said Mike Lydon, Principal, Street Plans. “Together, the bills will leverage and improve routine maintenance practices as well as ensure communities have the funds they need to address longstanding local and regional safety, equity, and climate goals.”
“It is urgent that we get this Complete Streets bill signed – but more broadly, we really want Governor Hochul to be a strong ally here,” said Sara Lind, Chief Strategy Officer at OpenPlans. “It should be easy and straightforward for municipalities to make these life-saving design changes. And doing so will help New York State meet Hochul’s stated safety and climate goals. There’s not a moment to lose; Complete Streets needs to be a priority.”
Read more about the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act.
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