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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 060-11
February 22, 2011

MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION AND POLICE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON VEHICULAR AND BICYCLE ACCIDENTS AS WELL AS DETAILS ON TRAFFIC STUDY DETERMINATIONS

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws

"The final three bills before me will increase transparency for users of our City's transportation network.

"The first bill, Introductory Number 370-A, is sponsored by Council Members Lappin, Brewer, Chin, Comrie, Fidler, Gentile, Gonzalez, James, Koppell, Koslowitz, Lander, Palma, Garodnick, Mealy, Rose, Jackson, Van Bramer, Barron, Mendez, Levin, Nelson, Gennaro, Recchia, Koo, Weprin, Greenfield and Public Advocate de Blasio.

"This bill will require the Police Department to post on its web site information relating to vehicular traffic crashes, traffic-related fatalities and injuries, and moving violation summonses issued.  It will also require the Department of Transportation to update its pedestrian safety report every five years and improve the mechanism by which the Department identifies and fixes dangerous intersections.  Finally, it will require the Administration to create an interagency road safety plan.

"The second bill, Introductory Number 374-A, is sponsored by Council Members Mendez, Brewer, Chin, Comrie, Fidler, Gentile, James, Koppell, Lander, Palma, Van Bramer, Williams, Rodriguez, Garodnick, Mealy, Jackson, Barron, Nelson, Gennaro, Recchia, Lappin, Reyna, Dromm, Gonzalez, Crowley, Weprin, Levin, Koo and Greenfield. 

"This legislation will require the Department of Transportation to collect and post on its web site data relating to bicycle crashes with motor vehicles, pedestrians, and other bicycles.  It also requires the Department to report on the number of injuries and fatalities resulting from these accidents.

"Last year the City recorded the second lowest number of traffic fatalities since we started keeping records in 1910.  We also recorded fatality rates at a quarter of the nationwide rate and half that of other big cities.  This outstanding progress will continue - it must - and combined, these two bills will enable New Yorkers to witness and engage in the making of an even safer City.

"The third bill, Introductory Number 377-A, is sponsored by Council Members Vacca, Cabrera, Comrie, Fidler, James, Palma, Williams, Garodnick, Mealy, Koppell, Lappin, Rose, Jackson, Chin, Van Bramer, Greenfield, Gentile, Barron, Sanders, Lander, Nelson, Gennaro, Recchia, Halloran, Ulrich, Ignizio, Rodriguez, Reyna, Dromm, Gonzalez, Weprin, Crowley, Levin and Koo. 

"Introductory Number 377-A will require the Department of Transportation to, upon request, provide an explanation to Council Members and Community Boards why their request for a traffic signal or multi-way stop sign was denied.  The Federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices provides a series of guidelines for the placement of these devices, and the explanation provided by the Department will also include a summary of these guidelines, or 'warrants,' as well as the dates and times DOT personnel inspected the proposed location. 

"This legislation will help Council Members and Community Boards obtain more information about the Department's intersection inspection and evaluation process, and will enable these important civic leaders to gain a better understanding of the Department's work.

"I would like to thank Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, and their staff along with my Office of City Legislative Affairs for their work on these bills.  I would also like to thank the Council for approving this package of legislation."

 







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Stu Loeser/Evelyn Erskine   (212) 788-2958



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