Could you imagine our congested city with 300,000 fewer parking spots? If the Universal Daylighting Bill passes, that would become a reality.
Queens Councilwoman Julie Won introduced her bill late last year in attempts to make traffic in NYC safer for pedestrians, bikers, and drivers.
According to the New York City Council, “This bill would prohibit standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, and require citywide community education and outreach efforts with regard to the change. This bill would also amend section 19-175.8 of the administrative code to set a requirement for the Department of Transportation to implement daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1000 intersections per year.”
While there are good intentions behind the bill, it is a contentious piece of legislation for a number of reasons.
Some politicians argue that this costly effort — installing blockages throughout the city’s 40,000 intersections would cost approximately $3 billion — wouldn’t be utilizing resources wisely. Others suggest that there could be a better way to implement the strategy.
“The study found while daylighting is a useful tool when used properly, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution,” DOT Deputy Commissioner Eric Beaton said in a statement, according to Spectrum News. “And that indiscriminate daylighting could actually have negative effects on safety.”
Spectrum News further reports that the NYC Department of Transportation added daylighting to 1,000 intersections last year, and 300 were hardened. Per The New York Post, the bill has a majority needed to pass, but an additional seven votes is needed to override a mayoral veto.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
