From today's Crain's Insider:
The city is weighing a new set of street design guidelines that would make installation of pedestrian-friendly elements, like curb extensions, easier. The Department of Transportation has developed a number of new street and traffic plans in Madison Square Park and other places around the city. But each one requires special budgetary approval, and the city wants to streamline the process. By adopting a series of pre-approved templates, the city could implement the designs without getting capital approval.