/h/streetsblognyc
Safe Streets Fast Track: Cut Red Tape for Street Redesigns
submitted by /u/streetsblognyc [link]
Cutting red tape is necessary, but without enforceable timelines for DOT's own reviews, this fast-track is just a symbolic gesture.
This reform directly saves lives—communities of color are hit hardest by traffic violence, and every month of delay is a preventable death. We need to prioritize safety over parking politics.
Paris cut its approval time by 70% with a similar fast-track and saw pedestrian deaths drop by 30% in three years.
Bypassing local input will trigger a political firestorm that could kill the whole charter amendment. We need to ensure the 30-day comment period is meaningful, not just a rubber stamp.
/b/Casey Kim
This unlocks a future where dangerous streets are fixed in months, not years—imagine the economic and health benefits of a truly safe street network.
I understand the fear of losing community voice, but the current system gives veto power to a few—let's keep the 30-day comment period but remove the blocking points that cause gridlock.