Governor Cuomo signs Complete Streets legislation!

On Monday, August 15th, 2011 NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the historic Complete Streets legislation. The State Senate and Assembly unanimously passed the bill earlier this summer.

In a press release from the Governor's office, he said "New York's roadways should safely accommodate all pedestrians, motorists and cyclists, and this legislation will help communities across the state achieve this objective," Governor Cuomo said. "Complete Streets designs recognize measures that will make streets safer for New Yorkers of all ages and abilities. I thank Senator Fuschillo and Assemblyman Gantt for their hard work on this legislation."

NYS Senator Charles Fuschillo said "Complete streets design principles have been proven to reduce fatalities and injuries, and by taking them into consideration on future projects we will greatly improve the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers of all ages and abilities. This new law will result in safer roadways and I thank Governor Cuomo for supporting this law which will help save lives, prevent injuries, and make New York a safer place for all."

Sandy Vega, whose daughter's tragic death crossing the street led to the bill being dubbed "Brittany's Law," said "I'm overjoyed by the knowledge of the impending signing of Complete Streets. I know Brittany is looking over us thinking it's wonderful that we are helping other families keep their loved ones safe from these busy, congested, dangerous streets. I will sleep a little better knowing that we are moving forward toward making NY a more pedestrian friendly state."

Tri-State Transportation Campaign’s Kate Slevin said in a statement, “We are one step closer to viewing our roads in New York State differently—not just as conduits for cars, but as public spaces in which all citizens have a right to travel safely, whether they are young or old, in a car, on foot, in a wheelchair, or on a bike.

Eric Alexander, Executive Director of Vision Long Island, said "Pedestrian and bicycle fatalities have continued to be a major safety concern for all road users on LI. The newly enacted "Complete Streets" legislation wil help reverse that trend. Kudos to Governor Cuomo, Sen. Fuschillo and the NYS Senate and the NYS Assembly for moving this important bill forward. This is the third piece of major legislation signed into law in two years advanced by the LI Lobby Coalition. 45 LI civic, environmental, transportation, human service and business organizations worked together on the Complete Streets bill this year among other priorities."

Read more in Newsday and The Albany Times-Union.

Read the Governor's press release here.

Fatalities and injuries on our roadways are a serious and preventable issue. New York has some of the most dangerous roads in the nation. Some of the deadliest include state roadways, such as Sunrise Highway and Hempstead Turnpike.

Complete Streets legislation amends the state highway law, requiring that all roads receiving state or federal funds consider all potential road users- including cyclists, public transportation vehicles, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities- in the road design and construction process.

Complete Streets are safe streets. Simple additions such as countdown clocks, better crosswalks, protected bike lanes and traffic calming devices can dramatically reduce the number of fatalities on our roads. Safer roads also make alternative modes of transportation more realistic and even pleasant options, creating positive effects for local economies, urban vitality, public health and the environment.

At least 25 other states have passed statewide Complete Streets legislation, including Connecticut, Oregon, Massachusetts, Illinois and Virginia. Complete Streets laws have already been passed in 15 municipalities in New York State, including five towns on Long Island (Babylon, Brookhaven, Islip, North Hempstead and Southampton).

Not only is this a step forward in making our cities and towns more liveable, this policy also will undoubtedly save lives.

Special thanks to Chuck Fuschillo in the Senate and Bob Sweeney, Michelle Schimel and Harvey Weisenberg in the Assembly for taking leadership on Complete Streets.

Not only is this a step forward in making our cities and towns more liveable, this policy also will undoubtedly save lives.

Thank you to all our state legislators who helped pass this historic legislation! Senators: Charles Fuschillo (bill sponsor), Jack Martins, Majority Leader Dean Skelos, Kenneth LaValle, John Flanagan, Lee Zeldin, Owen Johnson, Carl Marcellino & Kemp Hannon. Assembly members: Dan Losquadro, Fred Thiele, Dean Murray, Steven Englebright, Al Graf, Philip Ramos, Michael Fitzpatrick, Philip Boyle, Andrew Raia, James Conte, Robert Sweeney, Joseph Saladino, Charles Lavine, Brian Curran, Michael Montesano, Michelle Schimel, Tom McKevitt, Earlene Hooper, David McDonough, Harvey Weisenberg and Edward Ra.

This bill could not have moved forward without significant local support and advocacy.

Special thanks go out to members of the Long Island Lobby Coalition who have been calling and writing constantly over the last month, including Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Mayer Horn of Greenman-Pedersen, Tom Talbot of Middle Island Civic Association, Ralph Fasano of Concern for Independent Living, Ernie Mattace of Suffolk County Community College, Carol Meschkow of Concerned Citizens of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Community, Will Ferris of AARP, Peter Fleischer of Empire State Future, and others!

Vision Long Island would also like to thank the rest of the Long Island Lobby Coalition, who helped enormously in making this bill a reality: Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce, Long Island Business Council, Long Island Federation of Labor, Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Long Island Software and Technology Network, Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce, Coram Civic Association, Dowling College, Elmont Chamber of Commerce, Friends of Huntington Station, Glen Cove Business Improvement District, Gordon Heights Civic Association, Gordon Heights Chamber of Commerce, Hicksville Chamber of Commerce, Laible and Fitzsimmons Inc., Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization, Long Island Housing Partnership, Long Island Minority AIDS Coalition, Longwood Alliance, Mastic Beach Property Owners Association, Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library, Neighborhood Network, New York League of Conservation Voters, Plainview/Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce, Renaissance Downtowns, Roel Resources, Save the Forge River, Selden Civic Association, South Yaphank Civic Association, them TV, US Green Building Council—Long Island Chapter, Verizon, Wading River Civic Association, Youth of Ethical Societies Long Island Chapter

In addition, the following organizations issued memos of support for Complete Streets: AARP, NYS County Highway Superintendents Association, NYS Association of Town Superintendents of Highways, Inc., Regional Plan Association of NJ, CT, and NY, American Heart and Stroke Association, Long Island Lobby Coalition, New York State Wide Senior Action Council, Inc., Sierra Club (Atlantic Chapter), American Cancer Society, Transportation Alternatives, Vision Long Island, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, New York Association on Independent Living, New York State Association of Area Agencies on Aging (NYSAAAA), Empire State Future, NRDC – National Resources Defense Council, NYBC – New York Bicycling Coalition, NIPIRG Straphangers Campaign- New York Public Interest Research Group, NYSTEA – New York State Transportation Equity Alliance, Parks and Trails of New York, The New York Academy of Medicine, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, Green Village Consulting, Rochester, New York, Hudson Valley Speaks(WEACT) for Environmental Justice, Syracuse First, New York State Public Health Association (PHA), AIA New York State – An Organization of the American Institute of Architects, APA NY – American Planning Association New York Chapter, NYLCV-New York League of Conservation Voters, Environmental Advocates of New York, Coalition for Economic Justice (CEJ), League of Women Voters Buffalo-Niagara, BALCONY – Business and Labor Coalition of New York, The New York Academy of Medicine, Orange County Citizens Foundation, Earth Day Lobby Day 2011, NYSHEPA – New York State Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Alliance: Signatories: New York State Public Health Association, Be Active New York State, New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Public Health Association of New York City, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, New York State PTA, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, YMCA’s of New York State, American Diabetes Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, District II NYS, Parks ^ Trails, New York, Gilmour Planning, LLC, Herkimer County HealthNet, Lower Hudson Valley Perinatal Network, Clinton County Health Department, New York Bicycling Coalition, Corning Community YMCA, FAST (Fit and Strong Together), Lewis County Public Health Department, Clinton County Public Transit (CCPT), Center for Communications, Health & the Environment (CECHE), Local Development Corporation of West Bronx, Broome County Health Department, Community Cradle, Cycotour Guide BooksBrooklyn Health Educators Lions Club, Healthy Monday Campaign, The People’s Policy Institute, National Association for Health and Fitness, NYS Dietetic Association, Chautauqua County Health Network, Geri Brewster RD MPH CDN PC, Green Options Buffalo, Hudson River HealthCare, Inc., Chautauqua County Built Environment Team, Tioga County Health Department