Press Releases
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2022
Contact: (212) 839-4850, press@dot.nyc.gov
DOT and Fordham University to Open Exhibition Celebrating NYC’s Street Design Manual
New show at the Ildiko Butler Gallery at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus spotlights how DOT has streamlined, standardized and simplified street design; the Manual engages stakeholders to consider new ways to transform New York City streets to accommodate more and more diverse users, activities, and transportation modes
First published in 2009, third edition of Street Design Manual is now for the first time an entirely online resource
New York – New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) and Fordham University today celebrated the opening of an exhibition showcasing the NYC Street Design Manual (SDM), the agency's definitive guide that shapes how New York City's streets and plazas are built and used. The exhibition highlights the manual's ground-breaking role in transforming New York City's streets; the SDM has helped reimagine New York City's street network from one designed primarily for automobiles into one that supports a greater diversity of safe and convenient travel modes and activities – including with an increased focus on pedestrians and cyclists. First published in 2009, the third edition of the SDM is for the first time available entirely online: nycstreetdesign.info
"This exceptional exhibition spotlights the evolution of our Street Design Manual while engaging the public in open dialogue around the reimagining of our public spaces," said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "I am grateful for the hard work of DOT's urban design and creative services teams, and our partners at Fordham University, who've been instrumental in the planning and execution of this engaging and informative show. Street design impacts us all and I hope people are inspired to explore how urban planning can reshape cities to better meet their needs."
NYC Street Design Manual Exhibition
Location
Ildiko Butler Gallery at Fordham University
113 West 60th Street and Columbus Avenue, New York NY
Admission/Hours
Free/Open to the public every day from 9 AM – 9 PM, except during University holidays.
Dates
Now through February 2, 2023
About the Street Design Manual
After more than a decade and successive editions since its first publication, the Street Design Manual is now New York City's definitive resource on street design policies, principles, processes, and best practices, providing clarity and guidance to all agencies, organizations and community stakeholders involved in designing New York City's streets and public plazas.
After more than a decade and successive editions since the manual's first publication, New York City has made unprecedented strides in reshaping its public right-of-way to meet the evolving needs of New Yorkers, including fostering greater safety and mobility and enhancing sustainability and resiliency. The current publication reflects this evolution and solely features New York City projects. In particular, the third edition comprises an expanded toolkit for bike and bus lane treatments; a growing portfolio of street furniture; an increased emphasis on accessibility; and a new chapter on public space programming. With DOT's fully interactive website, agencies and stakeholders readily have more access to the resource than ever before.
Goals & Principles
Streets make up over 25% of New York City's total land area; the demands for this space continue to increase and evolve. Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed expanded use of our streets for community programming and restaurants while the imperatives of new technologies such as electrical vehicle charging and critical functions like sidewalk waste containerization pose further challenges. Practitioners and stakeholders will increasingly have to meet these challenges and prioritize walking, cycling and transit while still achieving the principles set forth in the manual and illustrated in this exhibition. The major principles the SDM exhibition showcases are that design must be: • Safe, • Contextual, • Sustainable and Resilient, • Vibrant, • Balanced and Inclusive, and • Cost-effective and Maintainable.
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