NEW YORK (PIX11) \u2014 Voters in New York City will decide\u00a0this November whether\u00a0to change how\u00a0some street safety\u00a0projects, including bike\u00a0lanes and bus\u00a0lanes, move through the city’s approval\u00a0process.<\/p>\n
The proposal is\u00a0one of several\u00a0charter revision questions\u00a0placed on the\u00a0Nov. 3 ballot by\u00a0a Charter Revision\u00a0Commission appointed by\u00a0Mayor Zohran Mamdani.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0Discover more local reporting on our homepage\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Supporters say the\u00a0measure would reduce delays in delivering\u00a0transportation improvements, while critics argue\u00a0it would weaken\u00a0public oversight and\u00a0concentrate more authority\u00a0within City Hall.<\/p>\n The proposal would\u00a0streamline the approval\u00a0process for certain\u00a0Department of Transportation\u00a0projects by reducing\u00a0the number of\u00a0internal agency sign-offs required before work\u00a0can\u00a0move forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n In\u00a0cases where interagency\u00a0consultation is required, coordination could occur\u00a0at the commissioner\u00a0level rather than\u00a0through multiple divisions. It would also allow the DOT\u00a0commissioner to declare\u00a0certain projects as\u00a0immediate needs.<\/p>\n The debate comes\u00a0as many neighborhoods continue pushing for traffic\u00a0safety improvements.<\/p>\n Residents along Columbia\u00a0Street in Brooklyn recently celebrated the\u00a0installation of new\u00a0stop signs and\u00a0a traffic signal\u00a0after months of\u00a0organizing and requesting\u00a0changes from the\u00a0city.<\/p>\n “It’s high time\u00a0it happened. We\u00a0were told\u00a0it might not. Maybe it’ll might\u00a0not happen. We\u00a0have to do traffic studies,” said\u00a0neighborhood parent Rita\u00a0Rua.<\/p>\n Rua said she\u00a0supports improving the\u00a0city’s review process.<\/p>\n “Process is good. I love process. But process for\u00a0the sake of\u00a0it is not\u00a0helpful to constituents,” she said.<\/p>\n \u00a0More Transit News\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n The Charter Revision\u00a0Commission approved the ballot proposals after\u00a0holding 10 public meetings\u00a0and receiving public\u00a0testimony.\u00a0<\/p>\n Commission Chair\u00a0Patrick Gaspard said the\u00a0proposals are intended\u00a0to create “a government of the\u00a0possible” that can\u00a0“urgently build infrastructure, promote growth and\u00a0make the city more livable with\u00a0childcare and affordable\u00a0groceries.”<\/p>\n Opponents argue the\u00a0proposal could\u00a0reduce opportunities for\u00a0public input before\u00a0street redesigns move\u00a0forward.<\/p>\n Andrew Fine, who\u00a0lives on the\u00a0Upper East Side\u00a0and works with\u00a0a neighborhood alliance\u00a0advocating for e-bike regulation, criticized\u00a0the measure.<\/p>\n “They want to\u00a0steamroll the public\u00a0and put as\u00a0many bike lanes\u00a0in as they\u00a0can without any\u00a0consultation. This is\u00a0a power grab\u00a0and it’ll make\u00a0our streets unsafe,” Fine said.<\/p>\n The proposal does\u00a0not change\u00a0existing legal requirements\u00a0for community engagement\u00a0on major transportation\u00a0projects. Local community boards serve in an advisory role.\u00a0<\/p>\n “The proposal does\u00a0not affect DOT’s\u00a0obligation to conduct\u00a0interagency coordination\u00a0and engage communities on major\u00a0transportation projects. Instead, it empowers\u00a0city agencies to\u00a0work within a\u00a0process that reduces\u00a0unnecessary delays. This\u00a0commonsense change will\u00a0help the City\u00a0deliver safer streets, more reliable bus\u00a0service and a\u00a0better-connected bike-lane\u00a0network more quickly, while ensuring safety\u00a0and accessibility remain\u00a0central to every street redesign,” Jeremy\u00a0Edwards, a spokesperson for Mayor Zohran\u00a0Mamdani, said in\u00a0a statement.<\/p>\n