City Council's Transportation Committee, led by Selvena Brooks-Powers, criticized the Department of Transportation (DOT) for failing to meet mandated benchmarks for bike and bus lanes as prescribed by the 2019 Streets Master Plan. Brooks-Powers expressed dissatisfaction with DOT's excuses and reiterated the plan's importance. DOT officials attempted to justify their shortcomings by highlighting other programs they manage, but the committee remained unconvinced. Advocates echoed these sentiments, calling for more transparency and a clearer explanation of DOT's needs to comply, particularly in light of Brooks-Powers's proposed tracker for accountability.
Brooks-Powers stated the benchmarks are a top priority for the committee, expecting the DOT to comply with the mandated measures outlined in the Streets Master Plan.
Margaret Forgione's attempts to shift the focus were met with resistance as Brooks-Powers emphasized that the DOT advocated for both the 'Dining Out NYC' and 'Open Streets' programs.
Transportation advocate Ben Furnas criticized the DOT’s response, stating that the department should clearly articulate what it needs to comply with the Streets Plan laws.
The DOT argued that introducing a tracker for progress would create more paperwork, pushing back against the demand for increased transparency.
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