What's happening
This bill expands the requirement for complete street design features to include certain resurfacing, maintenance, and pavement recycling projects.
Why it matters
Expands the scope of "complete streets" requirements. to include not just new construction and major reconstructions, but also resurfacing, maintenance, and pavement recycling projects with a service life of at least ten years—meaning more routine and periodic roadwork will now have to consider safety and accessibility for all users (pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, not just drivers).
Could lead to more consistent improvements for vulnerable road users. (like pedestrians and bicyclists) across a wider range of road projects, not just larger or more expensive ones, potentially accelerating progress toward safer, more inclusive streetscapes statewide.
May increase project costs and planning complexity. for local governments and transportation agencies, since they will need to assess and, where feasible, implement complete street features (like curb cuts, bike lanes, crosswalks) during more types of road maintenance projects, not just during full reconstructions.
Maintains flexibility for exemptions. (such as demonstrated lack of need or community support), but overall raises the baseline expectation that roadwork—especially long-lasting repairs—should actively consider the safety and mobility needs of all people using the street, not just drivers.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Safer Streets for Everyone
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 45–17
- Ordered to third reading cal.1677
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Safer Roads for Everyone
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Jonathan Rivera
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
915
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. S. RYAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the highway law, in relation to enabling safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision (a) of section 331 of the highway law, as added by chapter 398 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
(a) For all state, county and local transportation projects that are undertaken by the department or receive both federal and state funding and are subject to department of transportation oversight, the department or agency with jurisdiction over such projects shall consider the convenient access and mobility on the road network by all users of all ages, including motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transportation users through the use of complete street design features (i) in the planning, design, construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation[, but not including resurfacing, maintenance, or pavement recycling] of such projects; and (ii) in the resurfacing, maintenance and pavement recycling of such projects if the service life of such resurfacing, maintenance or pavement recycling project is at least ten years.
§ 2. Paragraph (iii) of subdivision (c) of section 331 of the highway law, as added by chapter 398 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
(iii) demonstrated lack of need as determined by factors, including, but not limited to, land use, current and projected traffic volumes, including population density, or [demonstrates] demonstrated lack of community support; or
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law, provided that it shall not apply to trans-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00665-01-5
portation projects undertaken or approved prior to the date on which this act shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the highway law, in relation to enabling safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design princi- ples
Purpose
To include, when possible, complete street design features in resurfac- ing, maintenance and pavement recycling projects and further enable safe access to public roads for all users, if the service life of such resur- facing, maintenance, or pavement recycling project is at least ten years.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: amends subdivision (a) of section 331 of the highway law to include complete streets design features in resurfacing, maintenance and pavement recycling projects that are subject to the department of trans- portation's oversight and which have a service life of at least ten years.
Section 2: amends subdivision (c) of section 313 of highway law to address demonstrated lack of need.
Section 3: sets the effective date for this act.
Justification
New York State's Complete Streets Law, which requires the Department of Transportation to consider the convenient access and mobility on the road network by all users of all ages, including motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transportation users with complete street design features, only applies to projects classified as construction, recon- struction or rehabilitation. The law specifically excludes projects classified as resurfacing, maintenance and pavement recycling, which dramatically decreases the projects in which complete streets design features are used.
As a result of the state Department of Transportation's Preservation First policy, nearly 80 percent of transportation funding and numerous road projects exclude pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure, according to the Tri-State Transportation Campaign. This exclusion of a key component of complete-streets design runs contrary to the original intent of the state's Complete Streets law, and this bill would address the issue and strengthen the law.
By reforming our state's Complete Streets law, this legislation would make dangerous intersections and roadways safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. It would ensure our children have safer routes to school and provide local families with more opportunities to walk and bike safely.
Legislative history
2023-2024: S.9718/A.1280 Passed Senate
2021-2022: A. A7782 Referred to Transportation
2019-20: S.1549A
2017-18: S.1801 Referred to Transportation
2015-16: S.764 Referred to Transportation
2013-14: S6340 Referred to Transportation
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.