Relates to requiring inclusion of complete street design for state and local transportation projects subject to oversight by the department of transportation

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Keith Brown and 7 co-sponsors

Requires complete street design for all state and local DOT projects, ensuring pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users gain safer, more accessible, multimodal streets.

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

Purpose and intent

Establishes a requirement that state and local transportation projects subject to oversight by the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) incorporate complete street design elements.

Aims to ensure transportation projects accommodate multiple modes (pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users) and improve safety, accessibility, and multimodal connectivity across communities.

Key provisions (as described by the bill's title and status)

Requirements for complete street design: Projects under DOT oversight must integrate complete street design principles.

Multimodal considerations: Designs should provide for non-mvehicular users (pedestrians, cyclists) and transit users, in addition to motor vehicles.

Accessibility and safety: Provisions are expected to address accessibility for people with disabilities and overall safety enhancements.

Oversight and compliance: DOT would oversee implementation and ensure projects meet the complete street criteria.

Scope: Applies to both state transportation projects and local projects that fall under DOT oversight (scope subject to the bill’s text).

Affected entities and stakeholders

State agencies and local governments undertaking DOT-oversight projects.

DOT as the evaluating and approving body for compliance with complete street standards.

Project owners and design teams responsible for implementing street design elements.

Beneficiaries include pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and neighboring communities through improved safety and accessibility.

Legislative and procedural status

Introduced: January 14, 2025.

Status: Referred to Transportation (as of the latest action).

Legislative actions recorded: Referred to Transportation on January 14, 2025 (two entries listed in the record).

Sponsors:

Primary sponsor: Dana Levenberg
Cosponsors: Jonathan Jacobson, MaryJane Shimsky, Chris Burdick, David McDonough, Keith Brown, Albert A. Stirpe, Harvey Epstein

Related/companion and prior-session measures:

A 8423 (prior-session)
S 3387 (companion) appears in the Senate (listed as companion bills)

Potential impact and considerations

Benefits:

Promotes safer, more accessible, and multimodal streets in both state and local projects.
Creates uniform expectations for design that can improve mobility options and public health.

Costs and implementation:

May entail higher upfront design and planning costs, potential need for additional training and updated design manuals for municipal and state staff.
Could affect project timelines as teams integrate complete street standards and coordinate with DOT oversight.

Implementation considerations:

The bill will likely specify standards, exemptions, and phased timelines in its final text; current summary reflects anticipated elements common to complete streets policies.

Relationship to related bills:

The presence of companion bills (S 3387) suggests parallel consideration in the Senate.
A 8423 from a prior session indicates ongoing interest in complete street design within this policy area.

Summary

Bill A 1875 would require complete street design elements for all state and local transportation projects overseen by DOT, aiming to advance multimodal accessibility and safety. The bill is currently in committee (Transportation) with a primary sponsor and several cosponsors, and is related to companion measures in the Senate and a prior-session bill. The final text will define standards, exemptions, funding implications, and specific timelines for implementation.

Bill