About DOT

Neighborhood Slow Zones

Neighborhood Slow Zones are a community-based program that reduces the speed limit from 30 mph to 20 mph and adds safety measures within a select area in order to change driver behavior. The ultimate goal of the Neighborhood Slow Zone program is to lower the incidence and severity of crashes. Slow Zones also seek to enhance quality of life by reducing cut-through traffic and traffic noise in residential neighborhoods.

Neighborhood Slow Zones are established in small, self-contained areas that consist primarily of local streets. Signs and gateways announce the presence of a Slow Zone. The Zone itself is a self-enforcing, reduced-speed area with speed bumps, markings and other traffic calming treatments. Implementing Neighborhood Slow Zone safety treatments can result in the loss of some on-street parking.

DOT creates slow zones in response to applications from communities. After each round of applications, DOT selects appropriate location(s) and works with the community to devise a plan to install the Slow Zone. Slow Zones must be approved by the local Community Board.

Applying

Applications may be submitted by local Community Boards, civic associations, business improvement districts (BIDs) or elected officials. The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, February 3, 2012. Applications must be submitted via email to slowzones@dot.nyc.gov.
Download the Application

Map of the Claremont Neighborhood
Slow Zone in the Bronx.

Applicants should:

• pick a location that is approximately a quarter square mile (around 5 by 5 blocks) in area
• pick a location that is primarily residential
• avoid wide, major streets, industrial and major commercial areas within the zone
• choose strong boundaries, e.g. highways, large parks, elevated trains, dead ends, major streets

Applicants must provide an inventory of relevant institutions and transportation facilities within the boundaries of the zone, including schools, senior centers, daycare centers, subway stations, bus routes (in the zone and on the boundary), truck routes (in the zone and on the boundary), fire stations, and hospitals.
Find schools, hospitals and other institutions on NYCityMap
Browse transit maps from the MTA

Applications must demonstrate local support for the Slow Zone. Applications that include letters of support from key community stakeholders will be prioritized. Examples of key stakeholders include the local Community Board, police precinct, civic councils, community groups, BIDs and local elected officials.

All applications will be reviewed to ensure they are complete, and applicants will be sent confirmation of receipt of their applications as soon as they have been processed. Applicants may be asked to provide additional information or make changes to the application after the original application has been submitted. Applicants may amend their proposals within a reasonable time period, set by DOT.

Applicants are encouraged to contact DOT with any questions well in advance of the deadline. For questions, please contact DOT at slowzones@dot.nyc.gov.

Application Review and Evaluation

DOT objectively reviews and evaluates each application. DOT prioritizes applications based on a wide range of factors, including:

• An analysis of traffic crashes inside the proposed zone, using official crash data records.
• Presence of schools, senior centers, daycare centers and small parks
• Strength of the proposed zone's boundaries
• Location of bus and truck routes (ideally located outside or on the boundary of the proposed zone)
• Proximity to subway stations
• Letters of support.
• Fire stations and hospitals (should be outside or on the boundary of the proposed zone)
• Feasibility for DOT to implement the zone

Application Process

Applications must be submitted to DOT by February 3, 2012. Applications are reviewed by DOT through the winter and the applicants are informed of their application status in the spring. Design of the new zone(s) begins in the spring, continuing through the summer. DOT's designs for new zones are presented to the applicants and to the relevant Community Boards from the late spring into the early fall. Construction of the zones takes place from the summer through the fall.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are gateways?

A gateway is a treatment at an intersection that uses signs and markings to bring down vehicle speeds. Drivers are clearly alerted that they are entering a traffic calmed zone.

Why will there be a loss in on-street parking?

Two parking spaces will usually be needed to be removed to construct each gateway.

Will reducing the speed limit cause traffic congestion?

No. Most travel delay on urban streets is caused by congestion and the traffic signal timing that balances vehicle and pedestrian flows. Also, the Slow Zones will be implemented in areas with low traffic volumes.

Have other cities done this? Has the speed reduction resulted in safety improvements?

In London, the introduction of 20 mph zones was associated with a 42% reduction in injuries, as compared to untreated areas. In the UK, average speeds in 20 mph zones were reduced by 9 mph.