The New York City Council is preparing to vote on a sweeping street safety bill that supporters say would prevent pedestrian deaths. Still, transportation officials warn it could backfire, increase injuries, and eliminate hundreds of thousands of parking spots across the city.
Proposed ‘Daylighting’ Rule Aims to Improve Street Safety, But Critics Say It Could Cost Lives and Billions
Known as Intro. 1138, the bill would prohibit parking within 20 feet of any crosswalk, a traffic design change called “daylighting.” The idea is to clear drivers’ line of sight at intersections, making it easier to spot pedestrians, cyclists, and other cars before making a turn.
The Council’s Progressive Caucus formally backed the measure on July 30, and if passed, the bill would align the city with existing state law. Queens Council Member Julie Won, the bill’s sponsor, believes it’s long overdue.
“Universal daylighting and hardening at intersections will keep all New Yorkers safe whether they are driving, walking, or biking,” Won said.
DOT Warns of Unintended Consequences
However, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is pushing back hard. At an April hearing, officials said a universal rollout of daylighting could actually increase injuries by up to 15,000 per year if not accompanied by physical barriers. These physical barriers are a requirement that the agency estimates would cost the city around $3 billion to implement.
“In theory, we would support hardened daylighting at all corners,” said DOT deputy commissioner Eric Beaton, “but that would cost in the neighborhood of $3 billion, and would cover large numbers of locations without a history of injuries.”
In the meantime, DOT is planning targeted daylighting at crash-prone intersections in Brooklyn.
Parking Woes and Political Pushback
The bill is expected to eliminate up to 300,000 parking spaces, a major blow for drivers in a city already plagued by tight parking. Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella blasted the measure as a “solution in search of a problem,” calling it “even worse than daylight saving time.”
“It is a big mistake to impose a $3 billion parking ticket on New York City residents,” he said.
Transit advocates, including Sara Lind of Open Plans, argue that intersections are where the majority of pedestrian injuries occur, and that bold action is needed.
“We’re talking about children being hit and killed crossing the street,” Lind said. “That feels like something worth putting money toward.”
The timing of a vote remains unclear, but Council Speaker Adrienne Adams’ office says the legislation is actively moving through the process.
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