What's happening
This bill requires New York City to establish criteria for evaluating traffic signal placement and provide written explanations for denied requests.
Why it matters
Mandates NYC to use a transparent, multi-factor process. for deciding where to install new traffic signals, considering not just traffic volume, but also accident history, presence of schoolchildren or cyclists, visibility, proximity to other signals, and other local conditions—potentially making it harder for arbitrary or inconsistent decisions.
Requires written explanations for denied requests. , which could empower residents, advocacy groups, or local officials to challenge or better understand the city's reasoning, fostering increased accountability and possibly reducing frustration or distrust.
Increases political and public oversight. by mandating that denial explanations be shared with local state legislators, potentially enabling more effective political advocacy or follow-up if a community feels a traffic signal is truly needed and wasn’t justified in being denied.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Traffic Signal Standards
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to cities
- Referred to cities
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2453
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 20, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. SIMOTAS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Cities
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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as "Stefan's law".
§ 2. The administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 19-180.2 to read as follows:
§ 19-180.2 Traffic control signals. The department shall establish a process by which it evaluates the need for traffic control signals to be placed at intersections within the city. Criteria to be included in such process shall include, but shall not be limited to, motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic volumes, visibility for both motor vehicle operators and pedestrians, any unique characteristics relevant to the location in question, proximity of existing traffic control signals to the location in question, average vehicular speeds, the frequency and types of accidents involving motor vehicles and pedestrians, including damage to property, at specific intersections based upon information and statistics provided by the police department and insurance companies, the likely presence of school children and bicyclists and the ability to appropriately control traffic flow by implementing other traffic control techniques, such as speed bumps or speed limit signs. Whenever the department undertakes such evaluation following the request of an individual, group or organization for the installation of a traffic control signal at a particular intersection and such request is denied after the completion of such evaluation, the department shall provide a written finding to such individual, group or organization upon request detailing the results of the evaluation upon which its determination was based.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04202-01-7
A. 2453 2
Such written finding shall be provided within ten business days of such request, with copies sent to the member of the state assembly and state senator in whose district such evaluated intersection is located.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law, provided that any administrative actions, including the promulgation of rules, necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be taken and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.