Transportation Alternatives Press Conference in Favor of Intro 199, the Traffic Information and Relief Bill

Intro 199 is a bill in the New York City Council that would require the NYC Department of Transportation to work to reduce driving as a matter of policy.

Transportation Alternatives will testify in favor of Intro 199, the Traffic Information and Relief Bill introduced in the City Council. Prior to the testimony they will hold a press conference on the City Hall steps. Attend to show your support.

From TA’s Fact Sheet on Intro 199:

Bill Facts

• The bill was introduced by Gail Brewer in March 2006, in no small part due to the strength of the 135 members of the Citywide Coalition for Traffic Relief
• There are currently 20 co-sponsors on the bill (including 5 of 10 transportation committee members)
• The City Council Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on Thursday, January 25th, at 10AM
• 7 Community Boards have passed resolutions in support of the bill in their full board meetings
• 4 Community Boards have passed resolutions in their transportation committees
• Several boards are considering resolutions after the January hearing date

About the Bill

Growth

• This bill is about accommodating the one million more New Yorkers living in the city by 2030
• The city cannot not build any new streets, so we must make them more efficient, safer, healthier, and we have to improve our quality of life

Information

• Intro 199 is about leveling the information playing field everywhere in the city. Right now, city and state agencies have excellent data on hub-bound traffic (Manhattan Central Business District), but not nearly enough information for everywhere outside this area
• This bill will equip the Department of Transportation, the City Council, and the public with the information that we need to understand traffic patterns and existing street usage

Traffic Reduction

• Intro 199 is about changing NYC policy to reduce traffic, not just accommodate it. The DOT measures success by Vehicular Level of Service, or how many vehicles they can move through a given space in time. This bill is about measuring and improving the movement of people
• It is about reducing traffic where appropriate and needed, and about mitigating the negative impacts of traffic everywhere in the city
• The aim of the bill (from Section B):
• reducing commute time citywide;
• reducing household exposure to roadway emissions;
• reducing the proportion of driving to the central business districts and
• increasing the proportion of walking, biking, and the use of mass transit to the central business districts;
• increasing the availability of on-street parking;
• increasing the efficient movement of commercial traffic;
• optimizing to no higher than full capacity the usage of existing transportation infrastructure.