The NYC Department of Transportation is working on implementing a proposal to install upgraded bus lanes, bike lanes, and pedestrian spaces on 2nd Avenue from East 59th Street to Houston Street. It includes the following:

• Shifting the bus lane from the “curbside” to the “offset” lane.
• Upgrading the bus lane from only being in use during peak hours to being in use 24/7.
• Widening the bike lane to accommodate current demand and future growth.
• Adding a mix of concrete and painted pedestrian spaces.

For additional information about this project, contact the NYC DOT Manhattan Borough Commissioner’s Office at (212) 839-6210 or visit nyc.gov/dot

CB6 wants to begin a discussion on the FDR Drive, which contains aging infrastructure and has a major impact on our district, as well as our city. CB6 therefore commissioned a report on the FDR Drive, a report done by WXY Architecture + Urban Design. At the March 13, 2024 Full Board meeting, WXY presented to the community board a summary of their findings on the FDR Drive’s current conditions, as well as potential visions for the highway. You can also access their report detailing all of the findings.

The Traffic Mobility Review Board, who is responsible for recommending a tolling structure for New York’s congestion pricing program, has released its report where it recommends the program’s tolling structure. Anyone with questions about the proposed tolling structure should read the report, as it goes into details about key components of the program, such as what tolling fare will be, the exemptions that will be made, and the exemptions that were considered but not made.

The recommendations submitted in the report were considered by the MTA Bridges and Tunnels board, known legally as Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA), on Wednesday, December 6th. They voted to proceed with the steps necessary to submit for public comment a proposed toll schedule in compliance with the State Administrative Procedure Act (SAPA). TBTA is coterminous with the MTA Board.

That public comment period on the proposed charges for the Central Business District went from December 27th to March 11th. There were also four public hearings on the proposed plan.

A final vote on the plan was passed. Implementation of the plan is expected to start on June 30th.

The Mayor’s City of Yes initiative seeks to amend zoning rules to help the City recover more quickly from the pandemic, to create a greener city, to support small business growth, and to incentivize the creation of housing, at all levels, in all New York City neighborhoods. There are three proposed zoning text amendments that would be part of this initiative:

Zoning for Carbon Neutrality aims to modernize the zoning regulations in support of the City’s climate goals. The changes would focus on supporting a renewable energy grid, making our buildings clean and efficient, support for electric vehicle charging and micro-mobility options, and reducing waste and storm water. The text amendment was passed by the City Council on December 6, 2023.

Zoning for Economic Opportunity is focused on providing small businesses with the flexibility needed for them to change and grow, especially as the city recovers from the pandemic. The proposals would remove certain limitations on small businesses and ensure that our storefronts are occupied, and our neighborhoods remain lively spaces. There was a public hearing at the November 27th Land Use & Waterfront Committee meeting and it was discussed at our December 19th Land Use & Waterfront Committee meeting. A resolution regarding this text amendment passed at our December 19, 2023 meeting as well as our January 10, 2024 Full Board meeting. You can find our resolution here.

Zoning for Housing Opportunity is a direct response to our City’s housing crisis. This text amendment will modernize our zoning rules to allow for a little more housing in every neighborhood, improving housing availability and affordability. There was public information session on Zoning for Housing Opportunity held remotely on Zoom on Tuesday, September 27, 2023; you can find the video of the public information session here. CB6 passed a resolution giving initial feedback on this text amendment at its May 8th Full Board meeting; you can find the resolution here. This text amendment has been referred to community boards, and will be before our May 14th Land Use & Waterfront Committee meeting.

To learn more about City of Yes, visit the Department of City Planning’s website here. Flyers describing the proposals are directly available here.