The New York City Council is gearing up to vote on a major street safety proposal, which supporters argue will reduce pedestrian fatalities. Yet, transportation officials caution it could lead to more injuries and the removal of hundreds of thousands of parking spaces across the city.
Proposed ‘Daylighting’ Measure Seeks Safer Streets, But Some Fear High Costs and New Hazards
Named Intro. 1138, the proposed law would disallow parking within 20 feet of any crosswalk, a practice called “daylighting.” Its aim is to improve drivers’ visibility at intersections, helping them notice pedestrians, bikes, and vehicles while turning.
The Council’s Progressive Caucus threw its weight behind the bill on July 30. Passage would bring city regulations up to state law, according to Queens Council Member Julie Won, the sponsor, who calls the change necessary.
“Universal daylighting and hardening at intersections will keep all New Yorkers safe whether they are driving, walking, or biking,” Won said.
DOT Officials Raise Concerns
However, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has expressed significant worries. At an April hearing, DOT officials claimed a citywide daylighting policy could result in an extra 15,000 injuries annually unless physical barriers accompany the plan—something the agency says would cost around $3 billion.
“In theory, we would support hardened daylighting at all corners,” said Eric Beaton, DOT deputy commissioner, “but that would cost in the neighborhood of $3 billion, and would cover large numbers of locations without a history of injuries.”
For now, the DOT is implementing targeted daylighting at high-risk intersections in Brooklyn.
Parking Concerns and Political Resistance
The measure is estimated to remove up to 300,000 parking spots, particularly impacting drivers in a city already short on parking. Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella dismissed the plan as a “solution in search of a problem,” even saying it’s “worse than daylight saving time.”
“It is a big mistake to impose a $3 billion parking ticket on New York City residents,” he argued.
Transit advocates, among them Sara Lind of Open Plans, contend that intersections are where most pedestrian injuries happen and say urgent measures are justified.
“We’re talking about children being hit and killed crossing the street,” Lind remarked. “That feels like something worth putting money toward.”
When the Council will vote remains uncertain, but the office of Council Speaker Adrienne Adams confirms the bill is moving ahead.
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