S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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4613--A
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
April 15, 2013
___________
Introduced by Sen. GOLDEN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Cities -- recommitted to
the Committee on Cities in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 --
committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in
relation to school zone speed limits and signage and other traffic
calming devices
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision a of section 19-177 of the administrative code
of the city of New York, as added by local law number 6 of the city of
New York for the year 1996, is amended and five new subdivisions d, e,
f, g, and h are added to read as follows:
a. The official speed limit for a vehicle in the city of New York
shall be thirty miles per hour EXCEPT THAT:
1. SCHOOL SPEED LIMITS MAY BE ESTABLISHED AT NOT LESS THAN FIFTEEN
MILES PER HOUR, FOR A DISTANCE NOT TO EXCEED ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED
TWENTY FEET ON A HIGHWAY PASSING A SCHOOL BUILDING OR AT AN ENTRANCE OR
EXIT OF A SCHOOL ABUTTING A HIGHWAY;
2. SENIOR CENTER SPEED LIMITS MAY BE ESTABLISHED AT NOT LESS THAN
FIFTEEN MILES PER HOUR FOR A DISTANCE NOT TO EXCEED ONE THOUSAND THREE
HUNDRED TWENTY FEET ON A HIGHWAY PASSING A SENIOR CENTER BUILDING OR THE
ENTRANCE OR EXIT OF A SENIOR CENTER ABUTTING A HIGHWAY. FOR PURPOSES OF
THIS SECTION, THE TERM "SENIOR CENTER" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS IN
SECTION 21-201 OF THIS CODE;
3. PARK SPEED LIMITS MAY BE ESTABLISHED AT NOT LESS THAN FIFTEEN MILES
PER HOUR FOR A DISTANCE NOT TO EXCEED ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY
FEET ON A HIGHWAY PASSING A PARK OR AT AN ENTRANCE OR EXIT OF A PARK
ABUTTING A HIGHWAY. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION THE TERM "PARK"
SHALL MEAN ANY BUILDING, STRUCTURE, PLAYING FIELD OR LAND CONTAINED
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10132-08-4
S. 4613--A 2
WITHIN THE BOUNDARY OF LAND OWNED, LEASED OR MAINTAINED BY THE CITY OF
NEW YORK OR BY ANY NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION OR ELEEMOSYNARY INSTITU-
TION, CORPORATION, OR ASSOCIATION WHICH IS USED ON A REGULAR BASIS AS A
RECREATION AREA AND IS SO DESIGNATED AND MAY ALSO MEAN ANY OF THE
FOLLOWING WHICH HAS THE SAME OWNERSHIP AS THE PARK GROUND: ANY PARKING
LOT, PARKING GARAGE, OR OTHER PARKING FACILITY, MARINA, BOAT LAUNCH, OR
OTHER SIMILAR FACILITY WHICH IS WITHIN ONE THOUSAND FEET OF AND SERVES
SUCH PARK AND WHICH IS SO DESIGNATED BY EASILY VISIBLE SIGNAGE AS SERV-
ING SUCH PARK;
4. PLAYGROUND SPEED LIMITS MAY BE ESTABLISHED AT NOT LESS THAN FIFTEEN
MILES PER HOUR FOR A DISTANCE NOT TO EXCEED ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED
TWENTY FEET ON A HIGHWAY PASSING A PLAYGROUND OR AT AN ENTRANCE OR EXIT
OF A PLAYGROUND ABUTTING A HIGHWAY. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION THE
TERM "PLAYGROUND" SHALL MEAN ANY PLAYING FIELD, PLAYGROUND OR LAND
CONTAINED WITHIN THE BOUNDARY OF LAND OWNED, LEASED OR MAINTAINED BY THE
CITY OF NEW YORK OR BY ANY NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION
WHICH IS USED ON A REGULAR BASIS AS A RECREATION AREA AND IS SO DESIG-
NATED;
5. HOSPITAL SPEED LIMITS MAY BE ESTABLISHED AT NOT LESS THAN FIFTEEN
MILES PER HOUR FOR A DISTANCE NOT TO EXCEED ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED
TWENTY FEET ON A HIGHWAY PASSING A HOSPITAL BUILDING OR AT AN ENTRANCE
OR EXIT OF A HOSPITAL ABUTTING A HIGHWAY; OR
6. except where an official sign indicates that a different speed
limit is in effect.
D. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL POST AT EACH PUBLIC AND NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL,
SCHOOL ZONE SPEED LIMIT SIGNS. NO PERSON SHALL DRIVE IN EXCESS OF SUCH
MAXIMUM SCHOOL SPEED LIMITS DURING:
1. SCHOOL DAYS AT TIMES INDICATED ON THE SCHOOL ZONE SPEED LIMIT SIGN,
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH TIMES SHALL BE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF SEVEN
O'CLOCK A.M. AND SIX O'CLOCK P.M. OR ALTERNATIVE TIMES WITHIN SUCH
HOURS; OR
2. A PERIOD WHEN THE BEACONS ATTACHED TO THE SCHOOL ZONE SPEED LIMIT
SIGN ARE FLASHING AND SUCH SIGN IS EQUIPPED WITH A NOTICE THAT INDICATES
THAT THE SCHOOL ZONE SPEED LIMIT IS IN EFFECT WHEN SUCH BEACONS ARE
FLASHING, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH BEACONS SHALL ONLY FLASH DURING
STUDENT ACTIVITIES AT THE SCHOOL AND UP TO THIRTY MINUTES IMMEDIATELY
BEFORE AND UP TO THIRTY MINUTES IMMEDIATELY AFTER SUCH STUDENT ACTIV-
ITIES.
E. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL POST AT EACH SENIOR CENTER SPEED ZONE SPEED
LIMIT SIGNS. NO PERSON SHALL DRIVE IN EXCESS OF SUCH MAXIMUM SPEED
LIMITS DURING THE TIMES INDICATED ON THE SPEED LIMIT SIGN, PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, THAT SUCH TIMES SHALL BE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF SIX O'CLOCK A.M.
AND NINE O'CLOCK P.M. OR ALTERNATIVE TIMES WITHIN SUCH HOURS.
F. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL POST AT EACH PARK ZONE SPEED LIMIT SIGNS. NO
PERSON SHALL DRIVE IN EXCESS OF SUCH MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS DURING THE
TIMES INDICATED ON THE SPEED LIMIT SIGN, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH
TIMES SHALL BE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF SIX O'CLOCK A.M. AND NINE O'CLOCK
P.M., UNLESS OTHER OPEN HOURS ARE POSTED AT ANY PARK.
G. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL POST AT EACH PLAYGROUND ZONE SPEED LIMIT
SIGNS. NO PERSON SHALL DRIVE IN EXCESS OF SUCH MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS
DURING THE TIMES INDICATED ON THE SPEED LIMIT SIGN, PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
THAT SUCH TIMES SHALL BE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF EIGHT O'CLOCK A.M. AND
EIGHT O'CLOCK P.M., UNLESS OTHER OPEN HOURS ARE POSTED AT ANY PLAY-
GROUND.
H. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL POST AT EACH HOSPITAL ZONE SPEED LIMIT
SIGNS. NO PERSON SHALL DRIVE IN EXCESS OF SUCH MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS.
S. 4613--A 3
S 2. Paragraph 3 of subdivision a and subdivision b of section 19-183
of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local
law number 64 of the city of New York for the year 2010, are amended and
five new subdivisions c, d, e, f and g are added to read as follows:
3. "Traffic calming device" shall mean any device, not governed by the
manual on uniform traffic control devices, including, but not limited
to, speed humps, curb extensions, traffic diverters, FLASHING BEACONS,
median barriers and raised walkways, installed on a street and intended
to slow, reduce or alter motor vehicle traffic to improve safety for
pedestrians and bicyclists.
b. The department shall establish guidelines governing the approval
and placement of traffic calming devices. Such guidelines shall consider
whether such traffic calming devices would be installed [adjacent to a
school or] in a location where a high percentage of seniors use the
streets, such as locations adjacent to senior centers and nursing homes,
and any other locations as determined by the department. Such guidelines
shall list the conditions under which installation of such traffic calm-
ing device may be appropriate. Such guidelines shall be distributed to
any entity upon request and shall be published on the department's
website.
C. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL INSTALL AND MAINTAIN TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES
ADJACENT TO SCHOOLS AND ANY OTHER LOCATIONS AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPART-
MENT FOR STUDENT SAFETY AND NO LATER THAN MARCH FIRST OF EACH YEAR, THE
COMMISSIONER SHALL TRANSMIT TO THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL A REPORT
SETTING FORTH, WITH RESPECT TO THE PRIOR CALENDAR YEAR, THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION:
1. THE LOCATION OF EACH SCHOOL SPEED LIMIT ZONE SIGN;
2. THE NUMBER OF CITATIONS ISSUED FOR SPEED VIOLATIONS IN EACH SUCH
SPEED ZONE;
3. THE EFFECT THAT SUCH SCHOOL SPEED LIMIT ZONE SIGNS HAVE ON THE
NUMBER OF CITATIONS ISSUED AND NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS OCCURRING WITHIN EACH
SUCH ZONE; PROVIDED THAT SUCH EFFECT SHALL INCLUDE STATISTICS REGARDING
THE CITATIONS ISSUED AND ACCIDENTS FOR EACH SPEED ZONE DURING THE IMME-
DIATELY PRIOR CALENDAR YEAR; AND
4. THE EFFECT THAT SUCH SCHOOL SPEED ZONES HAVE ON THE TRAFFIC FLOW
AND SPEED VIOLATIONS IN AREAS OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL SPEED LIMIT ZONES.
D. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL INSTALL AND MAINTAIN TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES
ADJACENT TO SENIOR CENTERS AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION 21-201 OF
THIS CODE, AND NO LATER THAN MARCH FIRST OF EACH YEAR, THE COMMISSIONER
SHALL TRANSMIT TO THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL A REPORT SETTING FORTH,
WITH RESPECT TO THE PRIOR CALENDAR YEAR, THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
1. THE LOCATION OF EACH SENIOR CENTER SPEED LIMIT ZONE SIGN;
2. THE NUMBER OF CITATIONS ISSUED FOR SPEED VIOLATIONS IN EACH SUCH
SPEED ZONE;
3. THE EFFECT THAT SUCH SENIOR CENTER SPEED LIMIT ZONE SIGNS HAVE ON
THE NUMBER OF CITATIONS ISSUED AND NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS OCCURRING WITHIN
EACH SUCH ZONE; PROVIDED THAT SUCH EFFECT SHALL INCLUDE STATISTICS
REGARDING THE CITATIONS ISSUED AND ACCIDENTS FOR EACH SPEED ZONE DURING
THE IMMEDIATELY PRIOR CALENDAR YEAR; AND
4. THE EFFECT THAT SUCH SENIOR CENTER SPEED ZONES HAVE ON THE TRAFFIC
FLOW AND SPEED VIOLATIONS IN THE AREAS OUTSIDE THE SENIOR CENTER SPEED
LIMIT ZONES.
E. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL INSTALL AND MAINTAIN TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES
ADJACENT TO PARKS AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION 19-177 OF THIS
SUBCHAPTER AND NO LATER THAN MARCH FIRST OF EACH YEAR, THE COMMISSIONER
S. 4613--A 4
SHALL TRANSMIT TO THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL A REPORT SETTING FORTH,
WITH RESPECT TO THE PRIOR CALENDAR YEAR, THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
1. THE LOCATION OF EACH PARK SPEED LIMIT ZONE SIGN;
2. THE NUMBER OF CITATIONS ISSUED FOR SPEED VIOLATIONS IN EACH SUCH
SPEED ZONE;
3. THE EFFECT THAT SUCH PARK SPEED LIMIT ZONE SIGNS HAVE ON THE NUMBER
OF CITATIONS ISSUED AND NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS OCCURRING WITHIN EACH SUCH
ZONE; PROVIDED THAT SUCH EFFECT SHALL INCLUDE STATISTICS REGARDING THE
CITATIONS ISSUED AND ACCIDENTS FOR EACH SPEED ZONE DURING THE IMMEDIATE-
LY PRIOR CALENDAR YEAR; AND
4. THE EFFECT THAT SUCH PARK SPEED ZONES HAVE ON THE TRAFFIC FLOW AND
SPEED VIOLATIONS IN THE AREAS OUTSIDE THE PARK SPEED LIMIT ZONES.
F. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL INSTALL AND MAINTAIN TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES
ADJACENT TO PLAYGROUNDS AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION 19-177 OF
THIS SUBCHAPTER AND NO LATER THAN MARCH FIRST OF EACH YEAR, THE COMMIS-
SIONER SHALL TRANSMIT TO THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL A REPORT SETTING
FORTH, WITH RESPECT TO THE PRIOR CALENDAR YEAR, THE FOLLOWING INFORMA-
TION:
1. THE LOCATION OF EACH PLAYGROUND SPEED LIMIT ZONE SIGN;
2. THE NUMBER OF CITATIONS ISSUED FOR SPEED VIOLATIONS IN EACH SUCH
SPEED ZONE;
3. THE EFFECT THAT SUCH PLAYGROUND SPEED LIMIT ZONE SIGNS HAVE ON THE
NUMBER OF CITATIONS ISSUED AND NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS OCCURRING WITHIN EACH
SUCH ZONE; PROVIDED THAT SUCH EFFECT SHALL INCLUDE STATISTICS REGARDING
THE CITATIONS ISSUED AND ACCIDENTS FOR EACH SPEED ZONE DURING THE IMME-
DIATELY PRIOR CALENDAR YEAR; AND
4. THE EFFECT THAT SUCH PLAYGROUND SPEED ZONES HAVE ON THE TRAFFIC
FLOW AND SPEED VIOLATIONS IN THE AREAS OUTSIDE THE PLAYGROUND SPEED
LIMIT ZONES.
G. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL INSTALL AND MAINTAIN TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES
ADJACENT TO HOSPITALS AND NO LATER THAN MARCH FIRST OF EACH YEAR, THE
COMMISSIONER SHALL TRANSMIT TO THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL A REPORT
SETTING FORTH, WITH RESPECT TO THE PRIOR CALENDAR YEAR, THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION:
1. THE LOCATION OF EACH HOSPITAL SPEED LIMIT ZONE SIGN;
2. THE NUMBER OF CITATIONS ISSUED FOR SPEED VIOLATIONS IN EACH SUCH
SPEED ZONE;
3. THE EFFECT THAT SUCH HOSPITAL SPEED LIMIT ZONE SIGNS HAVE ON THE
NUMBER OF CITATIONS ISSUED AND NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS OCCURRING WITHIN EACH
SUCH ZONE; PROVIDED THAT SUCH EFFECT SHALL INCLUDE STATISTICS REGARDING
THE CITATIONS ISSUED AND ACCIDENTS FOR EACH SPEED ZONE DURING THE IMME-
DIATELY PRIOR CALENDAR YEAR; AND
4. THE EFFECT THAT SUCH HOSPITAL SPEED ZONES HAVE ON THE TRAFFIC FLOW
AND SPEED VIOLATIONS IN THE AREAS OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL SPEED LIMIT
ZONES.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediate-
ly, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation
necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.