De Blasio Budget Sets Aside Money for Vision Zero
Mayor de Blasio attached some numbers to his Vision Zero Action Plan in today's executive budget announcement.
In a speech this afternoon, de Blasio said he was moved to take action when he realized that in 2013, there were 286 traffic deaths in NYC, compared to 333 homicides.
"The Vision Zero plan is being implemented intensely as we speak," de Blasio said. "It is already having a very positive effect. You'll be seeing more red light cameras ahead, continued efforts to lower speed limits, more speed humps and redesigns of streets, more NYPD enforcement. All of this is already having an effect. You're going to see a lot more in fiscal '15 because of this budget."
Here are figures released today by the mayor's office:
Vision Zero: Mayor de Blasio's executive budget strategically allocates funds toward his interagency goal of eliminating the city's traffic fatalities. Specifically, the budget adds $28.8 million for DOT initiatives, including the installation of 50 speed bumps near schools, the development of neighborhood slow zones, the installation of speed cameras, and intersection redesigns; $13 million for NYPD traffic enforcement; and $1.1 million for TLC's safety squad ad campaign.
City departments, including NYPD, have yet to reveal publicly how much they will spend to implement Vision Zero initiatives, so it's good to finally see some line items. One key question will be how NYPD intends to use the $13 million allocated for additional enforcement. The department's annual budget exceeds $3 billion.
De Blasio called for $226 million for road repaving, an increase of $49 million, and an additional $346 million for bridge maintenance. He also proposed more funds for snow removal.
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