Transportation Alternatives Releases “The Road to Affordability: A Streets and Transportation Agenda for the Next Mayor of NYC”, Plan Outlining How Mayor-Elect Mamdani Can Transform City Streets
When Mayor-elect Mamdani takes office on January 1, he will control over 6,300 miles of streets throughout the five boroughs.
Reducing car dependence is one of the best ways to reduce costs for New Yorkers. Owning a car costs nearly $9,000 annually, while taking transit costs just $1,500.
Mayor-elect Mamdani has promised to speed up the slowest buses in the nation.
NEW YORK — Today, Transportation Alternatives is releasing a new report, The Road to Affordability: A Streets and Transportation Agenda for the Next Mayor of NYC. This report is a full transportation agenda for the incoming Mandani administration.
The report includes over 80 ideas to transform New York City into a more affordable place to walk, bike, ride the bus, and live. New Yorkers who own cars spend nearly $9,000 annually on expenses like gas and maintenance, while their neighbors who go car-free spend just $1,500 to get around by walking, biking, or taking public transit. Building a city where it’s possible for New Yorkers to sell their car, or use their car less often, could save a household nearly five figures each year.
The Road to Affordability offers recommendations to finally reach Vision Zero, speed up the slowest buses in the nation, make it safe and easy to get around by bike, transform our streets into New York’s greatest public spaces, and to create a City government that’s capable of delivering on these ambitions.
“Mayor-elect Mamdani has a generational mandate to transform the streets of New York City,” said Ben Furnas, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “For too long, New York has been home to the slowest buses in the nation, bike lanes that suddenly end, narrow sidewalks, obstructed intersections, and speeding vehicles. That can all end with an administration that puts people first on our streets, and these recommendations are the way to do it.”
The report includes the following recommendations, along with dozens of others:
Implement universal daylighting. Make it safer to cross the street with universal daylighting of intersections, using hardened physical infrastructure, such as curb extensions, benches, planters, Citi Bike stations, and bike parking, to increase visibility and slow turning speeds at every intersection.
Commit to building a citywide bike network that reaches every New Yorker. Instruct DOT to draw up a plan for a safe biking network — of greenways, protected bike lanes, and bike boulevards — that reaches within a quarter-mile (a one-minute bike ride) of every New York City residence.
Develop a plan for marquee bus rapid transit on at least five key routes. High-quality bus rapid transit is possible across the five boroughs and can dramatically speed up buses. BRT is distinguished by center-running bus lanes, busways, off-board fare collection, level boarding, and a subway-like experience on the streets.
Announce a plan to expand Summer Streets to every Sunday, with an all-day program that includes a continuous route that connects at least four boroughs.
Announce a plan for dramatically expanding pedestrian spaces, including building on existing community-led plans for FiDi, Broadway, and SoHo. Plazas, Open Streets, microparks, and more can turn public space into a public good across the five boroughs.
Finish the job: Un-pause all existing bus projects, bike lane projects, and street safety projects that have already been presented to community boards but then stalled or implemented and then removed.
Implement Sammy’s Law by committing to lowering speed limits to 20 mph on all eligible roads across the city, and beginning to change signage within the first 100 days.
Go bold with the NYC Streets Plan 2.0. and commit all necessary funding in the mayor’s executive budget to fully implement the Streets Master Plan, as required by law; end the safe streets hiring freeze; and increase DOT staff to meet the measure of this legislation.
Read the full report online here.
“Losing my only son, Aundrei, after he was hit and killed was the worst thing that has ever happened to me. Not a day goes by that I stop missing him. We need full implementation of these proven safety measures so New York City can finally have truly safe streets. No one should be afraid to cross the street, and no one should bury their child,” said Patricia Morant, a member of Families for Safe Streets.
"A city we can afford needs streets we can afford," said Riders Alliance Policy & Communications Director Danny Pearlstein. "Much better bus service in every neighborhood, connected cycling routes, and sidewalks and intersections where everybody feels comfortable and safe will save people money and time. Once again, Transportation Alternatives has the detailed roadmap for City Hall to enhance New Yorkers' freedom in public space and expand our horizons to get around and get ahead."
“Transportation Alternatives’ Streets and Transportation Agenda for an Affordable NYC lifts up our streets as community assets and public spaces to support the common good. Reclaiming even a small fraction of our 6,300 miles of streets for play, greenery, climate infrastructure and gathering would expand access to open space for many residents across the city. At New Yorkers for Parks, we applaud this vision and share the belief that investing in streets and parks together is how we build a more livable, affordable, and resilient city," said Kathy Park Price, Director, Advocacy & Policy, New Yorkers for Parks.
“Transportation Alternatives’ "Streets and Transportation Agenda for an Affordable NYC” is an expansive and comprehensive roadmap for transforming the city’s streets, public spaces and transportation systems into a cohesive mobility network that will benefit each and every New Yorker. While it’s incredibly ambitious, it’s just what the city needs as we transition to a new era of leadership that appears ready to meet the moment. We urge Mayor-elect Mamdani to think big and bold and to use this policy blueprint to guide the administration’s work in these essential areas, and we applaud TA and the allied organizations and individuals who contributed their expertise to this smart, vital agenda,” said Eric McClure, StreetsPAC.
"A city we can afford needs streets we can afford. Fast, reliable bus service in every neighborhood, connected cycling routes, and sidewalks and intersections where everybody feels comfortable and safe will save people money and time. Once again, Transportation Alternatives has the detailed roadmap for City Hall to enhance New Yorkers' freedom in public space and expand our horizons to get around and get ahead," said Riders Alliance Policy & Communications Director Danny Pearlstein.
"The largest public space in New York City, our streets and sidewalks, should serve our communities in more ways than parking cars. Design Trust supports Transportation Alternatives' agenda for reclaiming our streets and making our public realm safer, greener and active for all New Yorkers,” said Elana Ehrenberg, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Design Trust for Public Space.
“With the recent release of the “Greater Greenways Plan” and ongoing greenway construction and planning underway in every borough, NYC is at an important and critical time for even more New Yorkers to commute, exercise, and relax safely and enjoyably on greenways. Brooklyn Greenway Initiative looks forward to working with the Mamdani administration to accelerate this positive momentum. We applaud Transportation Alternatives, our partners in the NYC Greenways Coalition, and support the priorities laid out in the “Road to Affordability.” We want an expanded greenway network to link boroughs safely, connect communities, and be integrated with transit and protected bike lanes networks in neighborhoods. We wholeheartedly endorse this vision to provide New Yorkers a way to get around our city in the safest, healthiest, and most affordable way,” said Hunter Armstrong, Brooklyn Greenway Initiative Executive Director and NYC Greenways Coalition Co-Chair.
“The Open Streets program empowers communities to reimagine how we use our streets. It has allowed us to transform our streetscape and create new public space for children to play, for outdoor dining, for neighbors to connect. It has made our streets safer and supported our local businesses,” said Saskia Haegens of the Vanderbilt Avenue Open Street. “There is a real and exciting opportunity for the next administration to fully fund and scale up the program, and to fast-track street redesigns. The Open Streets program should be the blueprint for public space transformation in neighborhoods across the city.”
“Mayor-elect Mamdani has committed to reimagining NYC's streets — and the ideas put forward here show just how much momentum there is for change,” said Sara Lind, Co-Executive Director at Open Plans. “We're especially excited to see expanding outdoor dining, growing School Streets, and advancing daylighting included - these are proven ways to make our city safer, healthier, and more connected. It’s inspiring to see leaders across the city champion these people-first solutions. Outdoor dining, School Streets, Low Traffic Neighborhoods, and daylighting are proven ways to make our city safer, healthier, and more connected.”
Said Alia Soomro, Deputy Director for NYC Policy at the New York League of Conservation Voters: “Transportation policy is climate policy. Whether it’s expanding busways and bike lanes, improving street safety, or investing in affordable public transit, this agenda is a clear and achievable roadmap that will cut pollution and make our city more resilient, equitable and affordable for everyone. We look forward to working with our partners at Transportation Alternatives and the incoming administration to help turn this vision into a reality.”
"The Streets and Transportation Agenda for an Affordable NYC recognizes that biking should be a safe and accessible option for everyone. PeopleForBikes supports this effort and the policies outlined in this proposal, such as implementing Sammy’s Law, recommitting to Vision Zero, and ensuring infrastructure creates a safe and accessible network for bicycles, pedestrians, and all types of micromobility. Trust for Public Land commends these forward-looking reforms that invest in what truly strengthens New York City communities—safe ways to get around, more parks and playgrounds where every child can thrive, and vibrant public spaces that bring people together. Parks and transportation go hand-in-hand in creating stronger, more connected neighborhoods—something we’ve seen through our work on the Queensway and the Long Island Greenway. Together, these investments make our city healthier, more resilient, and stronger for the future,” said Tamar Renaud, Associate Vice President & New York State Director of the Trust for Public Land.
###
