The NYC DOT program will build on pandemic-era initiatives to promote safe and comfortable streets that enhance community and expand uses beyond just moving cars.
In an article in Next City, Maylin Tu describes the New York City Department of Transportation’s new Office of Livable Streets, which calls itself the first of its kind in the nation. Sean Quinn, associate deputy commissioner for the new office, told Next City that “the rebrand was born from the pandemic and the ways that New Yorkers started using streets as places to connect and build community — for example, through the Open Streets program — rather than as places to drive or park a car.”
The initiative seeks to prioritize non-auto modes and redesign city streets to accommodate a variety of users safely. “The new office rebrands what was previously known as the Office of Street Improvements. It consists of different sub-units, including the Public Realm, Bike, Policy and Innovation, Street Furniture, Street Improvement Projects Central and Administration units.”
The office says it will focus on improving safety for micromobility — particularly as e-bikes and cargo bikes grow in popularity among delivery companies — and use a range of flexible interventions to redesign each block as appropriate.
FULL STORY: NYC’s New Office of Livable Streets Aims To Make Streets Safer, Greener and More Habitable
NACTO Releases Updated Urban Bikeway Guide
The third edition of the nationally recognized road design guide includes detailed design advice for roads that prioritize safety and accessibility for all users.
Houston Developers Question Mayor’s Stance on Pedestrian Projects
The new mayor’s reversal of road safety projects, some already underway or completed, is raising eyebrows among developers who say residents want walkable, mixed-use streets.
DOT Scraps Safety Plan for Two Brooklyn Avenues
An ambitious proposal to build protected bike lanes and install traffic calming measures on two dangerous Brooklyn avenues has been nixed by the agency, which plans to develop a new proposal in the coming months.
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network
The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.
Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits
The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.
Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods
Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Borough of Carlisle
Caltrans
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland