NEW YORK (PIX11) — Voters in New York City will decide this November whether to change how some street safety projects, including bike lanes and bus lanes, move through the city’s approval process.
The proposal is one of several charter revision questions placed on the Nov. 3 ballot by a Charter Revision Commission appointed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
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Supporters say the measure would reduce delays in delivering transportation improvements, while critics argue it would weaken public oversight and concentrate more authority within City Hall.
The proposal would streamline the approval process for certain Department of Transportation projects by reducing the number of internal agency sign-offs required before work can move forward.
In cases where interagency consultation is required, coordination could occur at the commissioner level rather than through multiple divisions. It would also allow the DOT commissioner to declare certain projects as immediate needs.
The debate comes as many neighborhoods continue pushing for traffic safety improvements.
Residents along Columbia Street in Brooklyn recently celebrated the installation of new stop signs and a traffic signal after months of organizing and requesting changes from the city.
“It’s high time it happened. We were told it might not. Maybe it’ll might not happen. We have to do traffic studies,” said neighborhood parent Rita Rua.
Rua said she supports improving the city’s review process.
“Process is good. I love process. But process for the sake of it is not helpful to constituents,” she said.
The Charter Revision Commission approved the ballot proposals after holding 10 public meetings and receiving public testimony.
Commission Chair Patrick Gaspard said the proposals are intended to create “a government of the possible” that can “urgently build infrastructure, promote growth and make the city more livable with childcare and affordable groceries.”
Opponents argue the proposal could reduce opportunities for public input before street redesigns move forward.
Andrew Fine, who lives on the Upper East Side and works with a neighborhood alliance advocating for e-bike regulation, criticized the measure.
“They want to steamroll the public and put as many bike lanes in as they can without any consultation. This is a power grab and it’ll make our streets unsafe,” Fine said.
The proposal does not change existing legal requirements for community engagement on major transportation projects. Local community boards serve in an advisory role.
“The proposal does not affect DOT’s obligation to conduct interagency coordination and engage communities on major transportation projects. Instead, it empowers city agencies to work within a process that reduces unnecessary delays. This commonsense change will help the City deliver safer streets, more reliable bus service and a better-connected bike-lane network more quickly, while ensuring safety and accessibility remain central to every street redesign,” Jeremy Edwards, a spokesperson for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, said in a statement.
Some elected officials have also raised concerns.
Queens City Council Member Phil Wong said he believes the proposal removes important checks and balances.
“I think it takes away from the City Council and it gives a blank check to the mayor and commissioner to do whatever they want,” Wong said.
New Yorkers will vote on the proposal as part of the general election on Nov. 3. Early voting begins Oct. 24.
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