The Vanderbilt Avenue Open Street initiative, popular among New Yorkers for converting traffic-heavy areas to pedestrian spaces, faces significant challenges due to budget cuts and resource shortages. Organizers reported receiving far fewer traffic cones than requested, indicating a broader issue in the support for these programs. Vanderbilt's operating budget has drastically reduced from $200,000 to $60,000, forcing reductions in service hours. Additionally, a comptrollerâs report indicates a decrease in active Open Streets, from 326 in 2021 to 232 this year, raising concerns about funding and operational viability moving forward.
Bill de Blasio's pandemic-era plan to turn typically car-filled streets over to pedestrian idling has proved popular among a majority of New Yorkers... But the programs don't have a dedicated budget or funding source and are struggling.
According to Haegens, Vanderbilt Avenue organizers slashed their operating hours by half this year as a cost-cutting measure. This year, it is making do with $60,000.
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