Relates to authorizing a five mile per hour speed limit for open streets in cities having a population in excess of one million.
Summary
This bill amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law to allow New York City, the only city in the state with a population over one million, to set speed limits as low as five miles per hour on designated “open streets.” Open streets are defined as streets or street segments designated by the New York City Department of Transportation where motor vehicle access is restricted and priority is given to pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-vehicular users. The bill also clarifies that cities may establish speed limits below 20 miles per hour for traffic calming measures or for open streets, while preserving existing rules that prohibit limits below 10 miles per hour for traffic calming generally and below 5 miles per hour on open streets specifically.
The measure is aimed at supporting pedestrian safety, bicyclist safety, and the operation of car-free or partially car-free public spaces by giving local officials more flexibility to slow or restrict vehicle traffic in these areas. It does not change school speed limit rules and is limited to cities with populations over one million, which in practice means New York City. The bill takes effect 90 days after becoming law, with immediate authorization for any needed implementing regulations.
Impact
The bill would amend section 1642 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to expressly authorize a five mile per hour speed limit on open streets in large cities, and to recognize open streets as a separate basis for setting very low speed limits. In practical terms, it expands New York City’s authority to regulate vehicle speeds on streets designated under its open streets program, while leaving existing traffic calming and school speed limit provisions intact. The affected parties are primarily New York City transportation officials, motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and other users of open streets.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears generally supportive of pedestrian-oriented street design and traffic calming, with no recorded committee debate or votes provided. The framing of the bill suggests a policy preference for safer, slower, and more accessible open streets in dense urban areas. Because there is no transcript or voting history, there is no documented opposition or support beyond the bill’s sponsor and co-sponsors.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the practical effect of allowing a five mile per hour limit, which some may view as too restrictive for vehicle access or enforcement on open streets, while supporters would likely see it as necessary to protect pedestrians and cyclists. Another possible issue is the bill’s narrow geographic scope, since it applies only to cities with populations over one million and therefore effectively only to New York City. No specific objections, amendments, or opposing arguments are included in the provided materials.
Relates to establishing speed limits in cities with populations in excess of one million people by easing restrictions so cities can establish speed limits below twenty miles per hour.
A bill for an act relating to speed limits, including the speed limit in school districts and the penalty for speeding in excess of twenty miles per hour over the limit.(See HF 2496.)