City Hall \u2013 Today the City Council passed three Home Rule messages authorizing and urging Albany to pass state legislation that would allow local action on important city issues.<\/p>\n
Preconsidered M. S7892\/A.10144 (Klein and O\u2019Donnell\/Silver) would allow New York City to establish a citywide speed limit of 25 miles per hour. Under this law, the Department of Transportation would be required to give Community Boards a 60 day notice prior to any street\u2019s speed limit being lowered by more than 5 miles per hour.<\/p>\n
\u201cHigh speeds contribute to an alarming number of traffic-related fatalities and injuries,\u201d said Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. \u201cEstablishing a citywide speed limit of 25 miles per hour is another step in our comprehensive plan to save lives by reforming our city\u2019s traffic laws. I thank Speaker Silver, Senator Klein, and Assembly Member O\u2019Donnell for their work on this important legislation.\u201d<\/p>\n
“I am thrilled that at long last, we finally have a bill to lower New York City\u2019s speed limit to 25 mph,\u201d said Transportation Chair Ydanis Rodriguez. \u201cSenator Jeff Klein’s initiative to ensure our city is a safer place for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike cannot be understated. This bill, which I expect to pass by Thursday, will improve street safety and decrease traffic crashes; and I am sure that with the necessary enforcement and culture changes that will follow, we will soon see significant drops in the number of fatalities on our streets. This is a culmination of the tireless efforts of our Mayor, our Speaker, members of our state legislature, the City Council and the invaluable contributions from advocates and families from across the city, whose pain has inspired us all to action. I thank everyone who contributed to this effort.”<\/p>\n
\u201cLowering the City\u2019s speed limit to 25 mph will save the lives of countless innocent New Yorkers and dramatically lower the amount of serious injuries we see on our streets,\u201d said New York City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer. \u201cWe cannot wait until another life is lost. I urge the State Legislature to allow New York City the ability to lower its own speed limit and help our City make Vision Zero a reality.\u201d
\n\u201cSlowing down speeding cars is a major part of achieving our Vision Zero objectives, and I urge Albany to give New York City the authority to lower our speed limit. The traffic safety agenda laid out by Mayor de Blasio and supported by the City Council must be acted on without haste, and I hope the State will partner with us on this effort,\u201d said Council Member James Vacca.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew Yorkers want safe streets, the simplest way to do that and save lives is to slow cars down to a reasonable speed limit. Today the Council is sending a clear message that we want Albany to act. Saving the lives of New York City\u2019s residents is now in Albany\u2019s hands. I thank Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Transportation Chair Ydanis Rodriguez for supporting Vision Zero and my four year quest to reduce the speed limit in New York City,\u201d said Council Member David G. Greenfield.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe evidence is clear \u2013 reducing our City\u2019s speed limit is one of the best ways to protect the public safety of all New Yorkers because it will save lives and significantly reduce the number of traffic-related injuries,\u201d Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson (D-Bronx, 16th CD), chair of the Council\u2019s Public Safety Committee said. \u201cI am proud to join with Mayor de Blasio, Council Speaker Mark-Viverito and so many of my colleagues in urging that the State Legislature make passage of this life-saving legislation a priority in the closing days of session.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cThe tragic traffic statistics from my borough illustrate the need for this important legislation to lower the city-wide speed limit,\u201d said Council Member Deborah Rose. \u201cIn 2013, we had 14 traffic deaths on Staten Island. Now, it\u2019s only June, and we\u2019ve seen a total of five traffic deaths on Staten Island in 2014. There are many things in life we do not have control over, but reducing the number of deaths in the city from traffic fatalities is something we can control, and must reduce. That is why I am proud to vote in favor of lowering our city-wide speed limit.\u201d<\/p>\n
“Lower speed limits save lives. To realize Vision Zero and bring deadly collisions to an end, we in city government need every traffic safety tool at our disposal,\u201d said Council Member Rory Lancman. “Home rule authority to set speed limits will help us do the vital work necessary to keep all New Yorkers safe on city streets.”<\/p>\n
Preconsidered M S.7849A\/A.10021B (Lanza, Rules) would permit the City to use joint bidding\u2014including utility interference work within its contracts for public work projects\u2014in order to facilitate the timely, cost effective and efficient completion of public work projects.<\/p>\n
Preconsidered State Legislation Resolution S.7664\/ A.9059 (Golden and Abbate) would amend the New York City administrative code to reflect a change in union representation for Pilot and Marine Engineers in the FDNY Pension Fund Chapter 2.<\/p>\n
###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
City Hall \u2013 Today the City Council passed three Home Rule messages authorizing and urging Albany to pass state legislation that would allow local action on important city issues.<\/p>\n
Preconsidered M. S7892\/A.10144 (Klein and O\u2019Donnell\/Silver) would allow New York City to establish a citywide speed limit of 25 miles per hour. Under this law, the Department of Transportation would be required to give Community Boards a 60 day notice prior to any street\u2019s speed limit being lowered by more than 5 miles per hour.<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\n