DOT's Grand 'Streets Master Plan' Runs Into Lame Duck Mayor

NEW YORK CITY — A newly unveiled "Streets Master Plan" will provide a blueprint for a New York City with more bus lanes, protected bike paths and measures to reduce traffic deaths, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

But the sweeping vision outlined in the 96-page document released Wednesday has two significant roadblocks: money and de Blasio's soon-to-end term.

The document itself acknowledges that fulfilling all its proposals will require more Department of Transportation workers, funding, community support and political will.

"The Streets Plan is a living document," it states.

De Blasio, DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson released the plan to little fanfare late during a weekday.

All made prepared statements praising the sometimes-literal road map the document provides future pedestrian, bicycle and bus infrastructure for the next five years.

The plan, for example, calls to expand Vision Zero projects — such as expanding speed cameras — that will bring the city to a no-traffic-death goal.

“Vision Zero has shown the nation how to reimagine our streets for buses, bikes, and pedestrians – not just private vehicles," de Blasio said in his statement. This plan charts a path forward to build on that progress with innovative ideas from the lessons we’ve learned. It will make our streets safer than ever."

The report does acknowledge, however, that Vision Zero has fallen far short of its goal during the coronavirus pandemic. Indeed, Gutman called traffic deaths — which are poised to set records this year — a "second pandemic" in his introduction to the plan.

Gutman, despite noting that the plan is a "draft" not set in stone, argued federal infrastructure funds can make many of its goals a reality.

But left unsaid is the fact that de Blasio is essentially handing off a blueprint without firm commitments to his successor mayor-elect Eric Adams.

Adams has expressed strong support for aspects of proposals outlined in the plan, but whether he adopts its goal will be seen starting in 2022.

Read the full plan here.