More Accessible Pedestrian Signals Approved
The City Council voted on three bills intended to make it safer and more manageable for disabled New Yorkers to navigate the city.
The legislative package calls for the establishment of a new Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) program, notification of all major city transportation projects in a userfriendly format for the disabled and an added provision to the livery passenger bill of rights to inform passengers that they are entitled to request a wheelchair accessible vehicle.
The Council also voted to override mayoral vetoes on two common sense parking bills passed in January. Part of the Fair Parking Legislative package, these bills support the Council’s continuing efforts to ensure that enforcement of laws-in this case, parking regulations-are administered in a way that is as fair as possible to New Yorkers.
Transportation bills package
More than 200,000 New Yorkers have serious vision difficulties. APS, which include audible alerts, are necessary and potentially life-saving, as they audibly notify those with visual impairments when it is safe to cross city streets. To this end, the Council bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a new APS program.
Under the program, the DOT will work with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, advocates and members of the visually impaired community to identify intersections that present the greatest crossing difficulty for visually impaired people.
The legislation (Intro. 183)will also require DOT to install an accessible pedestrian signal at each corner of 25 intersections every year, beginning this year.
There will be consistent examination of the program: the DOT must analyze the program’s progress annually, and post a report on its website, identifying 50 intersections in need of these signals while also exploring ways to expand the program.
Finally, the DOT must post on its website the locations of all accessible pedestrian signals sorted by community and City Council district.
The second bill the Council will consider goes in tandem with the first as it requires DOT to post on its website, in an format accessible to people with disabilities, the location of all past and future major transportation projects, as well as past and future installations or removals of bicycle lanes, pedestrian plazas, and several categories of signals, including APS. This bill will ensure that disabled individuals are aware of ongoing changes to city streets and of those that will be made in the future.
This notification will be helpful to all New Yorkers, especially those with visual impairments and the elderly, so that they can make necessary arrangements to safely travel throughout the city.
The final piece of this legislative package would add language related to wheelchair accessibility to the livery passenger bill of rights. Currently, a passenger bill of rights must be posted in all livery vehicles. This third piece of legislation would add a much-needed provision to the bill, informing passengers that they are entitled to request a wheelchair accessible vehicle, as well services equivalent to non-wheelchair users to accommodate their needs.
“Getting around the city can sometimes be challenging for any New Yorker, but for New Yorkers with visual impairments or for those who have difficulty walking, just crossing a street or getting from midtown to downtown can present hazards and prove more difficult than most of us can imagine,” said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “Simply put, passing this legislative package is the right thing to do. We want every New Yorker to feel that this is his or her city; that it is safe and free of obstacles. We will continue to ensure that the city stays accessible for all.”
Fair parking bills veto overrides
The Council also voted to override Mayoral vetoes on two bills passed as part of the Fair Parking Legislative Package.
The first bill vetoed by the Mayor would require Traffic Enforcement Agents to immediately cancel a ticket when presented with a muni-meter receipt that shows a time no later than five minutes after the time the ticket was issued.
As a result, there will be immediate recourse: anyone who receives a ticket while purchasing parking time from a muni-meter will not have to fight that ticket at a later date.
The second bill vetoed by the Mayor would prohibit the city from placing hard to remove, garish stickers on vehicles that appear to violate alternate side parking rules.
Prevailing wage bill
The Council also considered a bill to establish a prevailing wage requirement for building service employees in certain city leased or financially assisted facilities.
The legislation would cover building service employees working at economic development projects receiving more than $1 million in discretionary financial assistance, of at least 100,000 square feet, as well as those working in office buildings where the city leases at least 10,000 square feet and a majority of the total space.
While most office buildings in which the city leases space already pay the prevailing wage, many do not.
The probable increase in total compensation for these employees is about 35 to 45 percent for each worker not already unionized or receiving prevailing wage. This wage increase will benefit these workers and their families with minimal cost to the city: not even one percent of what the city spends annually on leasing office space-and not until all existing leases have been renewed in 2028.
Council operating budget
Finally, the Council voted to approve its operating budget. There is no increase projected from the current year, and the budget includes less than what was budgeted for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 and FY 10. There has also been no increase in staff headcount.
The City Council-the legislative body responsible for monitoring the operation and performance of city agencies, analyzing and approving the city’s budget, performing land use responsibilities, and passing laws – has an operating budget that accounts for less than one-tenth of one percent of total city budget, it was noted.
