NYC’s New Office of Livable Streets Aims To Make Streets Safer, Greener and More Habitable- Next City
By Maylin Tu
The COVID-19 pandemic changed how people used public space in New York City, with streets like 34th Avenue in Queens shutting down to cars and opening up for neighbors to walk, bike and play.
Now, the New York City Department of Transportation is launching a new initiative, the Office of Livable Streets, to design and implement streets that accommodate people using all modes of transportation. It’s the first office of its kind in the U.S., according to the department.
The goal is to “create streets that are beyond the binary — it’s not just a place for cars or not cars,” Sean Quinn, associate deputy commissioner for the new office, tells Next City. “It’s a place for community, a place for activity, a place for cycling, a place for pedestrians, commerce, commercial development, all of that stuff.”
