Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
DOT

Sustainable Streets Take a Hit in Bloomberg Budget Plan [Updated]

Mayor Bloomberg released his budget proposal yesterday and, with a $4.93 billion deficit to deal with, there's not much good news. Scanning the many gap-closing measures proposed for the Department of Transportation [start on page E-57 of this PDF], there are at least two significant developments for livable streets and sustainable transport -- one bad and one good.

First the bad news: The budget calls for cutting $5 million from DOT's planning and sustainability program, which includes bus improvements, performance parking, the public plaza program, and congestion mitigation strategies, among other things. [Update: We originally reported that this cut would specifically affect the Division of Planning and Sustainability. DOT informs us that it would affect "any divisions involved in Complete Streets projects." The agency says it is still in the process assessing the impact of the potential cuts.]

Now the good news: The single biggest budget-closing mechanism under DOT's purview entails raising the price of parking in Manhattan. The budget calls for raising an additional $8 million by increasing passenger parking rates from $2 to $2.50 per hour at all multi-space meters south of 86th Street, between Second Avenue and Ninth Avenue. Another $4.1 million will come from increasing the price of commercial parking by the same amount from 14th and 60th Street, between Second and Tenth Avenues. It makes a lot more sense to charge for the scarce resource of street space than it would to cut another $12 million.

These numbers could very well change. The budget counts on getting more from the state than Governor Paterson is currently offering. Mayor Bloomberg released a separate "Contingency Plan" in case state funds don't materialize. At DOT, the contingency plan calls for another 537 positions to be eliminated.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

MONEY TRAIN: How LIRR Unions ‘Game’ The System

An old work rule means that the MTA would have to pay millions of dollars just to provide a little extra service after special events like Mets games or the Ryder Cup. Nolan Hicks dives deep.

October 8, 2025

Eyes on the Street: DOT’s Greenway ‘Detour’ is Simply Unsafe for Cyclists

The greenway alongside the FDR Drive is closed for important resiliency work. But the city's detour is unsafe and unacceptable.

October 8, 2025

The Shocking Untold History of America’s Rails-to-Trails Movement

Some of the fiercest battles for the future of public space in America have happened on abandoned railway corridors — and the battles aren't over yet.

October 8, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines: Clearing the Heir Edition

Don't be fooled by random trolls: Streetsblog supports safety for pedestrians always. Plus other news.

October 8, 2025

‘Goddamn Outrageous’: MTA Boss Blames Amtrak For Delaying ‘Penn Access’ Expansion

Janno Lieber lit into Amtrak for delays to Metro-North's Penn Station Access project: "The people in Co-op City are waiting for a goddamn train!"

October 7, 2025

Brooklyn Still Choked by Placard Elite Leaving Their Cars Everywhere With No Consequences

Drivers park illegally — often with city-issued placards — and virtually none ever gets ticketed by cops.

October 7, 2025
See all posts