Requiring the installation of traffic calming devices adjacent to senior centers and naturally occurring retirement communities.

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of traffic calming devices adjacent to senior centers and naturally occurring retirement communities.

Under Section 19-183 of the Administrative Code of the city of New York, the Department of Transportation (“Department”) is required to establish guidelines for the approval and placement of traffic calming devices. A traffic calming device is defined by the statute and includes, but is not limited to, tools such as speed humps, curb extensions, traffic diverters, median barriers, and raised walkways. Such devices are installed on a street and are intended to slow, reduce, or alter motor vehicle traffic to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. Currently, the Department is required to consider locations such as schools, senior centers, and nursing homes. This bill would require the Department to annually install at least one traffic calming device on no less than fifty blocks that are adjacent to senior centers or naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs). The Commissioner of the Department, after evaluating all of these locations, may determine to stop further installation (consistent with the Commissioner’s right to decline to install a device if they determine that doing so would endanger the safety of motorists or pedestrians, or would be noncompliant with the Department’s traffic control device guidelines), but only upon informing the Speaker of the City Council of the reasons for their determination. Any senior center or NORC created after such a determination must be evaluated for placement of a traffic calming device. The Department is further required to report to the Council on July 1, 2015 and annually thereafter on the locations where traffic calming devices have been installed.