Enacts "Stefan's law"; directs the department of transportation in the city of New York to evaluate the need for traffic control signals at intersections

2 Co-sponsors

• Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.
• Kevin S. Parker

Title of bill

An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the establishment of specific criteria for the evaluation and placement of traffic control signals

Purpose or general idea of bill

To require the New York city Department of Transportation to consider specific criteria not currently considered when determining the placement of traffic control signals.

Summary of specific provisions

This bill requires the Department of Transportation to examine its current policy and establish a new process to evaluate the need for traffic control signals. The evaluation would include consideration of criteria that expands upon the department's current evaluation process. The criteria include, but are not limited to, the likely presence of school children and bicyclists, considerations of any unique characteristic relevant to location in question, average vehicular speeds, and the frequency and types of accidents involving motor vehicles and pedestrians, including property damage, based upon information and statistics provided by the police department and insurance companies.

The bill also requires that if a request for a traffic signal is denied, the Department of Transportation provide a written explanation within ten business days to the individual, group or organization that made such a request. The Department of Transportation would be required to send copies of the written explanation to the state assembly member and state senator in the area.

Justification

Pedestrian safety has become an increasingly important issue in New York city where pedestrian deaths are not uncommon. On April 12, 2003, ten year old Stefan Trajkovski was struck by a speeding SUV in Queens while riding his bicycle. The community had known for years that the corner needed a traffic signal but a light was not installed at that location until months after the Stefan's fatal accident. Unfortunately, Stefan's story is only one of many pedestrians and bicyclists crossing intersections that the community has declared dangerous but DOT's criteria determined that a traffic signal would be unwarranted. Current policy is reactive rather than preventative and needs to be changed.

This bill would adjust the current evaluation process for traffic control signals to allow additional considerations to be used when determining if a traffic control signal is warranted for a particular intersection. The current process is based upon federal guidelines for determining the need for traffic control signals. These guidelines are helpful, but limit the considerations the Department of Transportation might use in appropriate situations. The Federal guidelines were designed for use by transportation officials throughout the country including rural and suburban areas such that the process does not include criteria that are unable to traffic conditions in large cities. This legislation supplements the federal guidelines to tailor the evaluation process more specifically to conditions in New York city.

Prior legislative history

01/11/07 Referred to Cities 01/09/08 Referred to Cities

Fiscal implications

EFFECTIVE DATE : On the ninetieth day after becoming law.