New York voters approve charter change to accelerate street safety projects
Proposition 3 reduces approval steps and legal hurdles for bike and bus lanes, aiming to cut construction delays by one-third.
By David Almasi ·
New York City residents voted on Tuesday to shorten the time required to build bike lanes and bus infrastructure. The measure also limits the ability of opponents to halt these projects through litigation.
Ballot Proposition 3 passed with nearly 66 percent of the vote, securing support from over one million voters on November 3. The amendment was placed on the ballot by Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Commission on Government Efficiency, known as COGE. It passed alongside four other COGE proposals that address topics such as outdoor dining permits and construction approvals.
Supporters argue the vote signals strong public backing for the administration's street safety goals. Ben Furnas, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, stated that the majority vote is a confidence in the city's push for affordable mobility. He noted that more than 65 percent of the electorate approved the measure to bring safety improvements to more neighborhoods quickly.
Jon Orcott, director of advocacy at Bike New York, said the result aligns with polling data collected since 2011. Orcott, a former Department of Transportation official, observed that public support for protected bike lanes has consistently remained at a two-to-one margin. He viewed the ballot outcome as a reflection of that long-standing opinion.
The charter change specifically targets the definition of Major Transportation Projects. These are defined as works affecting 1,000 consecutive feet of roadway or four consecutive blocks, whichever is smaller. Any project involving a bike lane automatically falls into this category, regardless of its size.
Previously, agencies like the DOT had to consult four separate city bodies and certify those consultations. The Fire Department was required to confer with specific firehouses in the project area. COGE determined that these steps, particularly the local firehouse consultations, caused substantial delays. The new rule removes the requirement for agencies to check with specific sub-components of a consulted department.
The amendment also changes how procedural errors are handled in court. Under the new rules, lawsuits based on missed steps cannot stop a project entirely. This addresses issues seen in prior cases, such as the 31st Street bike lane project in Astoria, Queens. That project was scrapped and restarted after a judge ruled in favor of local business owners who challenged procedural details.
COGE estimates the reforms will reduce construction timelines by 33 percent. A report released by Transportation Alternatives on Monday noted that bike lane projects took an average of 527 days to complete between 2022 and 2025. The group compared this duration to the 410 days it took to build the Empire State Building.
The proposal grants the DOT the authority to begin work before presenting a plan to the community board if there is a risk of significant injury without immediate implementation. Danny Pearlstein, director of policy and communications for Riders Alliance, said this will help the city and state meet their goal of speeding up buses by 20 percent on 50 priority corridors. He emphasized that reducing bureaucratic red tape allows for faster service and fewer legal obstacles.
