Council Members Shekar Krishnan and Erik Bottcher, Transportation Alternatives, Open Plans, Advocates Urge DOT to Improve Open Streets for Schools in Open Letter
Since Vision Zero began, crashes have killed 94 New Yorkers under 18.
NEW YORK – Council Members Shekar Krishnan and Erik Bottcher, Transportation Alternatives, Open Plans, educators, and advocates sent a letter to the New York City Department of Transportation urging them to improve the Open Streets for Schools program by providing additional funding to schools, speeding up the application process, and increasing accessibility. Open Streets for Schools enable schools across New York City to establish and maintain Open Streets, protecting students from traffic violence.
Children ages 5 to 18 have the highest fatality and serious injury rates of all age groups under 50 in the five boroughs. Since Vision Zero began almost a decade ago, 94 New Yorkers between 5-18 have been killed, and 16 New Yorkers under 18 were killed last year alone.
Open Streets for Schools protect students across the city and create vital public spaces, but the program needs to be updated and maintained to best serve New York City. The number of these streets has declined from 100 in January 2022 to just 51 in January 2023.
“This isn’t due to a lack of interest, instead, it is an echo of the inequities communities face on a daily basis: New York City provides limited capital to participants to sustain their Open Streets for Schools, resulting in barriers for schools with fewer financial resources,” write the authors.
To improve Open Streets for Schools, the authors spoke with participating schools and schools that feel apprehensive about the process. They recommended:
$10 million in funding for the program, and additional resources for Title I schools
A dedicated Vision Zero Coordinator at each school
DOT commitment to establishing new Open Street for Schools in every city ZIP code by 2024
A faster, more streamlined, and more responsive application process
"Car accidents on NYC streets kill hundreds of New Yorkers every year, each one a neighbor, friend, or family member. The drastic reduction in accidents on 34th Avenue in my district offers proof that open streets are safe streets, especially when they prioritize safety at our schools. If we are going to save lives and protect our children, we must create and invest in more open streets,” said Council Member Shekar Krishnan.
“Community investment is essential for creating long-lasting and effective programs,” said Elizabeth Adams, Senior Director of Advocacy and Organizing at Transportation Alternatives. “Open Streets for Schools offer a unique and historic opportunity to improve streets around our public schools and also protect some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers from traffic violence. We believe that by implementing these key changes, DOT can expand and update an already successful program and ensure that everyone has a safe commute to and from school.”
"Every school that wants an Open Street should have an Open Street. We've been working creatively with schools across the city to connect them with the various resources they need to apply; but in the longterm, we're advocating for simple and immediately implementable changes to the program that will allow schools to successfully apply and operate an Open Street without any help at all. We’re grateful for the DOT’s stewardship of this incredibly valuable program and look forward to a future where many more school communities enjoy safe, joyful, and enriching street space,” said Sabina Sethi Unni, Schools Streets Organizer at Open Plans.
“A city that serves children’s need to play is a better city for all. Open streets, including school streets, provide opportunities for children to explore, create, and play; they are crucial intergenerational public spaces and must be supported if we want our urban environment to support health, joy, and belonging for the next generation of New Yorkers,” said Zoe Fortin, Executive Director of Play:groundNYC.
"Every school, especially those in cities, should have their street all to themselves. Paris has done this and we should too. It will be a wonderful day when every child can walk, roll, or bike to school safely, and motorists are having bake sales for highway repair. We need to provide safe passage to and from schools - all day, every day. What are we teaching our children if we don't prioritize their health, safety, and well being over the convenience of motorists?" said Stacey Randecker Bartlett, an Open Streets for Schools Advocate.
