NYC Budget: Mamdani dedicates more funding to adding new bus and bike lanes across city | amNewYork

"Mamdani's budget director, Sherif Soliman, said on Tuesday that his $124.7 billion executive budget includes increased funding for the Streets Master Plan, which requires the city to install a certain number of bus and bike lanes each year. The plan, which mandates the city add 150 new miles of protected bus lanes and 250 new miles of protected bike lanes between 2022 and this year, was passed by the council in 2019."

"The budget will increase DOT's Streets Plan funding to nearly $35 million in Fiscal Year 2027 and then to $65 million by Fiscal Year 2030. Soliman said that the amount breaks down to $17 million over the coming fiscal year and the following three for new bus lanes, $11.8 million over the same period for building new bike lanes, and a recurring $6.5 million investment in public realm improvements. Those dollars will go toward personnel and resources to get those projects built."

"However, it was not immediately clear if the increased investments would be enough to fund adding 30 miles of new protected bus lanes and 50 miles of new protected bike lanes required by the Streets Plan for this year. A DOT spokesperson, when contacted by amNewYork, did not confirm when a determination would be made."

"City Council Transportation Chair Shaun Abreu, in a statement to amNewYork, said lawmakers feel encouraged by Mamdani's Streets Plan commitments, but will be reviewing the details. At our Preliminary Budget hearing, we emphasized the need for dedicated line-item funding for critical infrastructure projects, so the public can clearly understand how reso"

The city will increase Department of Transportation funding over the next four years to build additional protected bus and bike lanes. The Streets Master Plan requires adding 150 miles of protected bus lanes and 250 miles of protected bike lanes between 2022 and the present, a plan passed by the council in 2019. The executive budget raises Streets Plan funding to nearly $35 million in Fiscal Year 2027 and to $65 million by Fiscal Year 2030. Funding includes amounts for new bus lanes, new bike lanes, and recurring public realm improvements, supporting personnel and resources to deliver projects. It remains unclear whether the funding is sufficient to meet the current year’s required mileage targets.

Read at www.amny.com