State Senator Brad Hoylman Manhattan Borough President Gale A.

Brewer
City Council Member Dan Garodnick

October 20, 2017

Polly Trottenberg
Commissioner
New York City Department of Transportation
55 Water Street, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10041
Dear Commissioner Trottenberg-
We are writing concerning the current 5th Avenue street redesign project recently put
forward by the Department of Transportation (DOT). While we are supportive of any
effort to improve commuting conditions along 5th Avenue, we urge DOT to consider
including additional complete street features, such as bicycle lanes and pedestrian islands.
A protected bike lane along Fifth Avenue would ensure that bikers can continuously
cycle down Fifth Avenue from Central Park to Washington Square Park without being
directed into car traffic.
Thanks to the continued leadership of the DOT, New York City is fast becoming one of
the most bike and pedestrian friendly cities in the country, a status few thought we would
ever achieve. Still, there are huge gaps in our bicycle infrastructure, and the lack of
complete streets in Midtown Manhattan is one of the most glaring examples. As you are
well aware, complete streets have become the gold standard in street redesign in New
York Citythis is because of their myriad benefits. Complete streets improve safety for
all types of commuters and encourage healthy and congestion-friendly modes of
transportation such as walking and cycling.
It is concerning, then, that while the DOT is considering enhancements to bus lanes
between 34th and 60th Streetsan improvement we strongly supportthe agency is not
also taking the opportunity to implement additional safety features such as installing a
separated bike lane and pedestrian islands.
On November 5th, 2015, our offices sent a letter to DOT asking for complete streets on
the entire stretch of 5th Avenue. We are encouraged that some progress has been made
towards this goalthis summer, a separated bike lane was created on 5th Avenue
stretching from Madison and Washington Squares in lower Manhattan. However,
installing a complete street for just these 15 blocks is inefficient. Commuting conditions
north of 24th Street in Midtown Manhattan along 5th Avenuewhich are some of the
most perilous in the citywould benefit even more from a complete street redesign
effort.
For this reason, we urge the DOT to broaden the scope of its current project on
5th Avenue to include additional time-tested safety features, including separated bike
lanes and pedestrian islands. Thank you for the consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Gale. A Brewer Brad Hoylman

Manhattan Borough President NY State Senator

Daniel Garodnick
NYC Council Member