Celebrating Record Of Accomplishment in 2024, Vision Zero For Holiday Travel, Curb Enthusiasm Podcast New Episode: NYC DOT

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NYC DOT CELEBRATES RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT IN 2024, IMPROVING STREET SAFETY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND BUILDING PEOPLE-CENTRIC PUBLIC SPACES 

 

 

 

Traffic Fatalities Reach Lowest Level Since 2020  

Editor’s note: Staten Islander previously covered the DUI/DWI warnings from DOT over Memorial Day weekend, as well as last December’s announcement.  DOT participated in a bicycle giveaway at the Staten Island Ferry Hawks stadium over the summer to give low income New Yorkers and migrant workers a way to get around the city. We also attended the transportation priorities community round table event earlier this year. Regarding the legislation to allow law enforcement officers to arrest and prosecute motorists based on observation of certain characteristics: this has been discussed previously, and you can learn about the high inaccuracy rates of Drug Detection Officers in many high profile cases over the last several years.   

 

NEW YORK – New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today celebrated a record of accomplishment at NYC DOT in 2024. NYC DOT properties, including streets, account for roughly 25 percent of all land in New York City and the Adams administration has prioritized its use for greater safety, growing the city’s economy, and better accommodating all road users. This year, NYC DOT completed transformative street safety projects, expanded bike and bus infrastructure, invested in projects to build people-centric public spaces, invested in infrastructure, and took major steps to better manage how deliveries are made.

 

 

 

“From day one, our administration has focused on creating a safer, more affordable New York City. In 2024, we continued to deliver on that vision and ‘Get Stuff Done’ for working-class New Yorkers,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Thanks to our extraordinary public servants, America’s safest big city got even safer this year, with overall crime down and thousands of illegal guns, mopeds, and ghost cars taken off city streets. We passed historic legislation to turn New York into a ‘City of Yes,’ shattered affordable housing records once again, and put billions of dollars back into New Yorkers’ pockets. We broke records for the most jobs and small businesses in city history and moved millions of trash bags off our sidewalks and into containers. But we know that there is even more we can do to continue to uplift working-class families. As we look to the future, our administration remains committed to keeping New Yorkers safe and making our city more affordable for the millions of New Yorkers who call our city home.”

 

 

 

“It has been another incredible year of accomplishment for the New York City Department of Transportation, and I am grateful for the hard work of our nearly 6,000 dedicated employees who serve their fellow New Yorkers each and every day,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Thanks to the work of our employees, we achieved incredible milestones this year and reimagined how our streets can better serve all New Yorkers. Under the leadership of Mayor Adams, we are also taking major steps to adapt our streets to modern realities.”

 

 


 

 

STREET SAFETY

 

 

 

This year marked the 10th anniversary of Vision Zero and, while one traffic death is too many, traffic fatalities have reached the lowest level since 2020, down five percent since the start of the Adams administration. Senior pedestrian fatalities are at their lowest number in recorded history, down 17 percent from 2023. Fatalities for riders of motorized two-wheelers are down 24 percent from 2023, following the launch of our education efforts.

 

 

Thanks to the hard work of advocates, state, and city partners, New York City achieved significant legislative milestones, including quadrupling the number of Red Light Cameras and enacting Sammy’s Law, which allows NYC DOT to lower speed limits in select locations.

 

 

NYC DOT is on pace to install a substantial number of protected bike lane miles in 2024, including new wider lanes on the busiest routes. Notably, the agency completed the final phase of the Queens Boulevard redesign adding protected bike lanes in Sunnyside and Long Island City, helping to reduce injuries and fatalities on what was formerly known as the ‘Boulevard of Death’.

 

 

NYC DOT is also on track to add daylighting at a record 1,000 locations. Daylighting is the process of limiting parking nearest the intersection to improve visibility between pedestrians and drivers.

 

 

Through public education events across the five boroughs, the agency distributed over 23,000 bicycle helmets and 96,000 bicycle lights. The agency hosted 45 delivery worker outreach events, interacting with 5,700 delivery workers and distributing over 50,000 materials.

 

 

The city saw tremendous success with its public e-bike charging pilot and trade-in program, reaching hundreds of delivery cyclists to safely use e-bikes.

 

 

INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE

 

 

 

NYC DOT repaved more than 1,100 lane miles of streets in 2024, enough to stretch from New York City to Des Moines, Iowa. Thanks to sustained investments in better and more frequent repaving, across the first three years of the Adams administration, the number of potholes has been cut in half, from over one million in the first three years of the previous administration to 500,000 during the first three years of this administration.

 

The agency oversaw a very special and precise historic restoration of the Brooklyn Bridge Arch Blocks in both Manhattan and Brooklyn with cleaning and pointing the masonry towers highlighted by dramatic new lighting with 56 LED efficient lights. This capped over 10 years of continuing structural preservation and rehabilitation.

 

 

NYC DOT successfully completed interim repairs to three spans of the city-owned portion of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway between Atlantic Avenue and Sands Street. The city also completed its BQE Corridor vision, unveiling the BQE North and South: Safe, Sustainable, Connected report that details the city’s vision to equitably reimagine the BQE North and South Corridors in Brooklyn, as well as a summary report of the BQE Central Vision. NYC DOT and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYS DOT) won a $5.6 million federal Reconnecting Communities grant to fund planning work to improve quality of life for residents living near the BQE, particularly those from disadvantaged communities.

 

 

The agency worked with NYS DOT, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and NYC DCP to reimagine the Cross Bronx Expressway, unveiling concepts to reconnect communities at public workshops this fall and in a draft vision document funded through a US DOT RAISE grant.

 

 

DOT’s Prior Notice Sidewalk Repair Contracts performed sidewalk repairs adjacent to 15 NYCHA developments with a total cost of approximately $4 Million thus far. This includes the construction of over 120,000 Square Feet of sidewalk and 7,500 Linear Feet of curb.

 

 

NYC DOT secured over $181 million in grant funding this year, advancing critical infrastructure and safety initiatives. This includes NYC’s largest bike infrastructure grant to date for the expansion of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway network to Inwood. NYC DOT was also awarded funding to expand NYC’s Electric Vehicle charging network, provide micromobility charging options to low-income New Yorkers, improve data analysis of crashes, address roadway safety issues, and innovate roadway inspection processes. NYC was also awarded funds to deploy innovative ITS technologies to improve traffic signals to prioritize transit and multimodal safety and upgrade NYC DOT’s traffic management center. These investments and more will continue to foster our commitment to a sustainable and safe transportation network that enhances the lives of all New Yorkers.

 

 

REIMAGINING PUBLIC SPACE

 

 

 

NYC DOT expects to finish the year with a record amount of newly pedestrianized space. This includes new pedestrian plazas, curb and sidewalk extensions, pedestrian safety islands, and traffic triangles. NYC DOT complemented and beautified this work and more with the installation of over 72,000 square feet of asphalt art murals across all five boroughs. The Adam’s administration has converted more than 486,000 square feet of roadway into pedestrian space.

 

 

The agency also continued to grow its programs to deliver more welcoming streets for people, expanding the hours of Summer Streets in all five boroughs for the first time in the program’s 16 years and continued to grow Open Streets, with a total of 249 locations across the five boroughs. Open Streets included a record high 71 locations outside of schools, creating safe spaces for kids to play during recess and for parents to pick up and drop off their children from class. Open Streets programs have shown to be a vital piece of the city’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic; the Department of City Planning (DCP) published a storefront vacancy report showing that storefronts located along Open Streets experienced a lower vacancy rate than the citywide average and experienced significantly less vacancy than their surrounding neighborhoods as a whole. The NYC DOT Art program worked with almost 20 partner organizations to permit over 40 temporary art installations this year.

 

 

NYC DOT made outdoor dining a permanent part of our streetscapes by launching Dining Out NYC, the nation’s largest permanent outdoor dining program. Under legislation passed by the New York City Council, the program allows for year-round sidewalk dining and seasonal roadway dining setups. The program preserved what New Yorkers came to enjoy about outdoor dining while addressing sanitation and quality of life issues.

 

 

As of late November, NYC DOT received 3,670 license applications from 2,995 restaurants. This is more than double the size of the pre-pandemic program. Dining Out NYC also retained a higher percentage of restaurants that participated in the emergency outdoor dining program launched in 2020 than a similar seasonal outdoor dining program that launched in Paris, which has a long tradition of outdoor dining.

 

 

This year, the city also opened more public space on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge, adding nearly 15,000 square feet of public space ‘’to ‘The Arches.’ These enhancements to the Brooklyn Bridge build on this administration’s investment in vibrant, new public spaces in all five boroughs to improve New Yorkers’ quality of life.

 

 

Mayor Adams also announced a major investment in the city and the Future of Fifth Partnership’s plan to transform Fifth Avenue between Bryant Park and Central Park into a world-class, pedestrian-centered boulevard – bolstering the iconic corridor’s status as a catalyst for economic growth and job creator for New York City.

 

 

 

 

IMPROVING HOW PEOPLE MOVE ACROSS THE CITY

 

 

 

New York City continues to lead the nation in accessibility for blind and low-vision pedestrians, having installed Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) at more than 790 intersections in 2024. There are now more than 3,000 accessible signals in NYC making it safer and more convenient than ever for blind and low vision pedestrians to navigate the city.

 

 

New York City installed new traffic signals at more than 100 intersections this year, helping pedestrians, cyclists and motorists safely navigate and providing clear direction on right of way.

 

 

NYC DOT, through in-house crews and capital contracts, successfully completed the construction of over 7,700 installed or upgraded pedestrian ramps, further enhancing accessibility and inclusivity throughout the city.

 

 

With the rollout of new cycling infrastructure, NYC DOT has recorded record-high bike ridership in the city. For the first time ever, more than 620,000 cycling trips are made in the five boroughs each day. The agency documented record ridership in and out of midtown Manhattan and over the East River Bridges. More than 28,000 trips were recorded over East River bridges during an average in-season weekday, representing an 8.4 percent increase from the nearly 26,000 average daily riders recorded over the spans at the same time last year and, remarkably, 17 times greater than the ridership recorded in 1980, when the city first began recording bridge cycling levels. NYC DOT also recorded record cycling ridership through midtown; new data shows more than 43,800 cycling trips were recorded during an average 12-hour window across Manhattan avenues at 50th Street, a 12.5 percent increase compared to 2023.

 

 

This year, the agency delivered high-impact protected bike lane projects across the city, including on Bedford Avenue and McGuinness Boulevard in Brooklyn, Second Avenue in Manhattan, and Hunts Point Avenue in the Bronx. The city also took a major step to launch a network of 500 secure bike parking locations beginning next year.

 

 

To further encourage safe bike riding, NYC DOT launched a new e-bike public education campaign ‘Get Smart Before You Start’ to promote the safe use of e-bikes. The agency also launched “my bike, my city” a new public campaign geared toward promoting biking among women, girls, transgender, and gender-nonconforming New Yorkers.

 

 

In addition to cycling, NYC DOT also took on projects and enforcement programs to make bus commutes faster and more reliable for thousands of New Yorkers, most notably through the dramatic expansion of bus-mounted camera enforcement on 34 routes in partnership with the MTA and through new bus priority projects on Manhattan’s 96th Street, Second Avenue, Allen and Pike Streets, Flatbush Avenue at Utica Avenue/Avenue S in Brooklyn, as well as additional pedestrian and bus boarding island infrastructure on University Avenue and Gun Hill Road in the Bronx.

 

 

NYC DOT also made ADA improvements to over 25 bus stops, making them accessible to everyone, and installed shelters at 50 bus stops.

 

 

NYC DOT continued to transform New York City’s streets to be safer and more welcoming for pedestrians. This year, the agency completed a new phase of Broadway Vision and delivered permanent redesigns to existing Open Streets, including Jennings Street in the Bronx.

 

 

NYC DOT organized the first Interagency Transportation Taskforce Committee on Staten Island this year. The agency held four quarterly meetings that addressed several cross-jurisdictional issues through partnership with all Staten Island elected officials and seven city agencies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRANSPORTATION EQUITY

 

 

 

Equity is central to every project NYC DOT accomplishes and this year the agency delivered a number of critical projects in communities that have been historically underserved. The Washington Bridge redesign brought safer bike and bus connections between Washington Heights and the Bronx, while the redesign of Corson Avenue and Victory Boulevard on Staten Island’s North Shore brought an expanded pedestrian space, safer crossing, and vibrant asphalt art mural in an area with high foot traffic. NYC DOT also completed a transformative, multi-year redesign of University Avenue in the Bronx, where the agency added 3.58 miles of bus-only lanes and 2.2 miles of protected bicycle lanes, improving bus service for 23,911 daily riders on a critical north-south corridor, from the Washington Bridge to Kingsbridge Road.

 

 

The city began outreach on building a Queens Waterfront Greenway that will better connect residents to the East River and Long Island Sound through new bike paths and pedestrian space.

 

 

NYC DOT expanded resources available to in-need Open Streets, plazas, and other public spaces for the 2024 season through its Public Space Equity Program. Resources included direct funding for public programming, maintenance and horticultural care, technical assistance, and support to pilot new public spaces.

 

 

To further expand access to micromobility, the city expanded its e-scooter program to Eastern Queens. And working with Citi Bike partners at Lyft, NYC DOT will oversee a system expansion deeper into the outer boroughs that will add more than 250 new stations and will bring 2,900 new bikes into service, about half of which will be electric bicycles. There have been more than 44 million Citi Bike rides so far this calendar year — already a new annual record. When this expansion is complete, in combination, Citi Bike and the e-scooter share program will provide more than 75 percent of New York City’s residential population with access to a shared micromobility service.

 

 

The agency hosted its first ever Equity in Motion summit, convening 400 leaders in transportation and urban planning from around the world to exchange best practices, develop strategies, and establish partnerships to advance equity.

 

 

The agency made historic progress contracting with minority and women-owned businesses. The agency’s contractors better reflect the talents and diversity of all New Yorkers, with 32 percent of contract dollars awarded to M/WBE firms, compared to 11 percent when Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez took office.

 

 

 

 

 

 

REIMAGINING HOW GOODS MOVE

 

 

 

This was a historic year for the future of how deliveries are made in New York City. Key initiatives announced this year include:

 

 

 

NYC DOT changed traffic rules to authorize delivery companies to use pedal-assist e-cargo bikes, a more sustainable alternative to large delivery trucks.

 

 

NYC DOT launched and expanded the LockerNYC program. Under the program, New Yorkers have the option of having package deliveries from select carriers delivered to secure on-sidewalk lockers. The lockers will not only help cut down on package thefts but also have safety and environmental benefits through centralized drop-off locations instead of deliveries to individual homes.

 

 

NYC DOT began implementing its Smart Curbs program on the Upper West Side, where it is taking a blank-slate approach to how curb space is managed. This program reimagines how curb lanes are used. This includes using space for more than just private vehicle storage and allowing more space for vehicle loading zones as well as updated regulations that are more reflective of vehicular demand.

 

 

The agency also announced it installed more than 500 new loading zones that address public feedback on where New Yorkers commonly see double parking and blocked bike and bus lanes due to vehicle loading and unloading.

 

 

NYC DOT advanced rules to establish a Microhubs program that will provide centralized locations for larger delivery trucks to unload and transfer packages onto cargo bikes and other smaller and greener delivery methods for the final delivery. This will have significant safety and environmental benefits.

 

 

Secured $5.6M USDOT RAISE Grant to launch first-in-nation city-led urban freight lab dedicated to innovating and improving urban freight logistics to transform the future of freight movement in New York City.

 

 

 

 

UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY

 

 

 

This year NYC DOT launched a first-in-the-nation automated enforcement of truck weight limits program on the city-owned portion of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. The technology, known as weigh-in-motion (WIM), led to a 64 percent reduction in overweight vehicles along the triple cantilever of the BQE, preserving this critical piece of infrastructure.

 

 

NYC began testing the use of renewable diesel fuel on the Staten Island Ferry, a petroleum-free alternative to traditional diesel fuel. Renewable diesel reduces carbon emissions by 60 percent or more and its use in the ferries will help nearly 30 million annual riders navigate the city’s waterways in a more sustainable way.

 

 

The city kicked off the citywide rollout of upgraded, modern parking meters in Upper Manhattan, completing the retrofit of over 1000 meters by the end of 2024. The meters’ new Pay-by-Plate technology is paperless and allows users to enter their license plate number instead of displaying a receipt on their vehicle’s dashboard. The new meters are easier to use, utilize tap to pay technology, cut down on paper receipts, improve enforcement, and allow for greater flexibility with payments.

 

 

Vision Zero: Adams Administration Will Aggressively Enforce DWI During Winter Holiday Season

 

 

NYPD Will Focus Holiday Enforcement and Education Efforts on Speeding and Driving While Intoxicated

 

 

 

City Also Highlights Important State Legislation That Will Target DWI and Other Violations

NEW YORK – The New York City Police Department (NYPD), the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT), NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) stood outside One Police Plaza today to announce major initiatives to crack down on speeding and drunk driving going into the holiday season.

 

 

 

“The NYPD encourages all New Yorkers to fully enjoy their holiday celebrations, and reminds them to do so responsibly by planning ahead,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “This may include using mass transportation or a ride-hailing service, or asking a friend or family member for assistance in navigating the city during this busy season. Our officers, as they do year-round, will be vigilant in monitoring for reckless driving and will be increasing enforcement of driving while intoxicated and speeding. It is crucial for motorists to recognize that traffic safety is a matter of public safety, which is the responsibility of everyone.”

 

 

 

“In this holiday season and all year long, we are grateful to our Vision Zero partners at the NYPD and TLC for helping us keep our streets safe,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “With expanded enforcement, drivers need to know not only that they will get stopped if they have been drinking, but also that getting behind the wheel drunk or impaired now comes with far greater consequences. Driving is a privilege, and we think our actions over the coming weeks will help save lives.”

 

 

 

“I’d like to extend my gratitude to our law enforcement partners for protecting New Yorkers during each and every holiday season,” said TLC Commissioner and Chair David Do. “This is the greatest city in the world when it comes to getting a safe ride home and avoiding impaired driving. If you go out and have a good time, use a TLC-licensed vehicle when the party’s over. Whether it’s a yellow or green taxi, a rideshare or a community car service, you have over 100,000 options to keep yourself and others safe.”

 

 

 

Today’s Vision Zero announcement includes:

 

 

 

NYPD Holiday Enforcement: NYPD will be actively enforcing laws against speeding and DWI throughout the holiday season and into the new year. Enforcement will be conducted by NYPD Highway Patrol and local precinct officers using sight and remote sensing devices on major highways, roads, and secondary streets where excessive speeds have previously been observed, including by DOT speed cameras.

 

 

 

Legislation to Combat Dangerous Driving, including DWI: More than 30 percent of crashes in New York state involve alcohol. Since the pandemic, the share of traffic fatalities in New York City related to DWI has increased, reflecting larger national trends involving alcohol consumption. In 2023, 50 traffic fatalities in New York City were directly tied to DWI, a 24 percent increase over the prior three year average of 40.3 fatalities. More recently, on July 4 of this year, an allegedly intoxicated driver killed four pedestrians in a single crash on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

 

 

 

To address the ongoing problem, the city will also continue to support two important pieces of legislation sponsored in the last Albany session:

 

 

 

Legislation sponsored by State Senator John Mannion and Assemblymember William Magnarelli that would reduce so called ‘drugged-driving.’ New York remains one of the only states where law enforcement officers must provide a toxicology test in order to prosecute a driver for driving while impaired by drugs. This bill would allow Drug Recognition Experts to charge drivers based on their observations — and help deter this dangerous behavior.

 

 

Legislation sponsored by State Senator John Liu and Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon would lower the DWI threshold from .08 percent to .05 percent blood-alcohol concentration (BAC), the level at which impaired drivers are more likely to be involved in a crash. This would align New York with peer countries across the world — including Australia, Argentina, France, South Africa, and Japan.

“Even as we celebrate this holiday season, it’s important for New Yorkers to remember not to drive unsafely, at excessive speeds, or while under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” said State Senator Brian Kavanagh. “I applaud the NYPD, NYC DOT, the TLC, and DOHMH for their efforts to curb impaired driving and for their ongoing mission to keep our streets safe.”

 

 

 

“The holidays are the deadliest time of year when it comes to drinking and driving so the city is right to step up enforcement so that all can enjoy the season without fear of a preventable tragedy striking,” said New York State Senator John Liu. “In the long-term, we need to lower the legal blood alcohol limit from .08 to .05 as over 100 countries around the world have already done if we are to make a lasting impact and save lives. Many thanks to Mayor Adams, DOT, TLC, DOHMH and the NYPD for their combined efforts to make our streets safer this holiday season.”

 

NEW EPISODE OF NYC DOT’S CURB ENTHUSIASM PODCAST FEATURES NACTO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RYAN RUSSO

 

Russo Leads the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), Previously Served as the Former First Permanent Director of Oakland DOT, and Is a Veteran of Major Transportation Agencies in New York City

 

 

Conversation Focuses on Building Bike Networks and Public Support, Equity in Project Distribution, and the Importance Meeting Community Needs

Curb Enthusiasm. Image Credit – NYC DOT

NEW YORK – New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced the release of the fourth episode of the agency’s Curb Enthusiasm podcast. The episode features Ryan Russo, executive director for the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO). Russo’s career in transportation includes serving as the first permanent director of Oakland DOT and nearly 14 years at NYC DOT. The conversation focuses on the role equity plays in planning, how streets serve different road users, the impact of public support and outreach on projects, the process of building bike networks in cities across the country, and much more.

 

 

 

“The Curb Enthusiasm podcast is about having a dialogue on the most consequential transportation and urban planning issues facing cities all over the world,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “As a veteran transportation leader with hands-on experience implementing innovative safety, pedestrian, cycling and transit projects, Ryan Russo brings a wealth of knowledge and insight into how cities throughout the United States can reimagine their streets to serve and build communities.”

 

 

 

The Curb Enthusiasm podcast focuses on issues at the local, national, and international level and features guests who discuss the most consequential transportation work happening all over the globe.

 

 

 

This episode is co-hosted by Emily Weidenhof, assistant commissioner of Public Realm at NYC DOT, and Shawn Macias, director of the Bicycle Unit at NYC DOT.

 

 

 

Curb Enthusiasm is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music, BuzzSprout and other major streaming platforms. More information is available at nyc.gov/CurbEnthusiasm.

 

 

 

About Ryan Russo

 

 

Ryan Russo has 25 years of experience in transportation and city planning, executing some of the most transformative transportation changes in the nation. He served in the administrations of New York City Mayors Michael Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio, leading the agency’s 500-person planning, engineering and operating divisions staff.

 

 

 

Russo worked on the innovative safety, pedestrian, cycling and transit projects including North America’s first on-street parking-protected bike lanes, pedestrianizing Broadway at Times Square and operationalizing the nation’s first Vision Zero action plans. Ryan oversaw the design and implementation of more than 600 miles of bike network enhancements including 70 miles of protected bicycle lanes and projects that reclaimed hundreds of acres of former road space for walking, transit and bike riding—taming some of the city’s most dangerous roads and yielding the fewest fatalities in more than 100 years of record-keeping in New York City.

 

 

 

In 2017, he became the first permanent director of OakDOT, making the city a national model for incorporating equity into transportation planning, policy and programs. OakDOT’s ‘Slow Streets’ initiative to repurpose neighborhood streets during COVID-19 spurred cities around the country to designate roadway streets as shared spaces. OakDOT has been recognized for its community partnerships and creation of values-driven, evidence-based systems for allocating limited resources.

 

 

 

About Emily Weidenhof, Episode Co-Host

 

 

 

Emily Weidenhof is assistant commissioner of Public Realm at New York City DOT. Emily works closely with community organizations throughout the five boroughs to transform their streets as public space. For over a decade, she has focused on strengthening communities through the creation of plazas and shared streets and retooling the curb lane for innovative programming. She’s also played an integral role in NYC DOT’s Broadway Vision Plan, which employs a range of tools to reimagine the famed Manhattan corridor from Union Square to Columbus Circle, which now prioritizes pedestrians and cyclists. Emily has worked as an architect and urban designer in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, including at the NYC Department of City Planning.

 

 

 

Emily received her bachelor’s degree in architecture from Pennsylvania State University and her master’s degree in architecture and urban design from Columbia University.

 

 

 

About Shawn Macias, Episode Co-Host

 

 

Shawn-Paul Macias (He/Him) is currently a director for the Bicycle Unit at NYC DOT. Shawn is an urban planner and designer, focused on transforming cityscapes to be more inclusive, sustainable, and accessible for all residents. He has been at the Department of Transportation for 11 years. Prior to working at NYC DOT, he worked in the private sector developing alternative mode masterplans.

 

 

 

Shawn’s approach to urban planning is deeply rooted in the principle of equity. He believes that every individual, regardless of socioeconomic status, should have equal access to well-designed public spaces and transportation options. Recognizing the vital role that physical activity plays in overall mental and physical well-being, he integrates the philosophy of movement into his work, promoting healthier lifestyles through thoughtful urban design. He is committed to creating safe and efficient mobility options that foster active transportation.

Banner Image: Drunk Driving graphic. Image Credit – NYC DOT 

 


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NYC DOT

The New York City Department of Transportation’s (NYC DOT) mission is to provide for the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible movement of people and goods in the City of New York and to maintain and enhance the transportation infrastructure crucial to the economic vitality and quality of life of our primary customers, City residents.

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