New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced the city will implement Regional Slow Zones in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island, after launching the first Regional Slow Zone in Manhattan late last year. A Regional Slow Zone is a specific geographic area where speed limits will be set at 20 miles per hour. The speed limit reductions are targeted to improve traffic safety. In addition to the Regional Slow Zones, NYC DOT has also reduced speed limits at 70 locations since last fall. The speed limit reductions follow the passage of Sammy’s Law, a state law granting the city greater authority to reduce speed limits.
“Lowering vehicle speed limits by even a few miles per hour could be the difference between life or death in a traffic crash,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Our newest Regional Slow Zones will save lives and protect our most vulnerable New Yorkers in some of our busiest pedestrian communities. I want to thank the herculean efforts of Families for Safe Streets and Amy Cohen, who has tirelessly advocated in honor of her son Sammy Cohen Eckstein for the city to have greater control over our speed limits.”
The new Regional Slow Zones will be located in DUMBO, Brooklyn; Broad Channel, Queens; St. George, Staten Island; and on City Island, in the Bronx. By the end of 2025, NYC DOT will lower speed limits in 250 locations, prioritizing areas such as schools, Open Streets, and Shared Streets. Each Regional Slow Zone was chosen based on the location having well-defined geographic boundaries to avoid driver confusion; and higher pedestrian volumes compared to surrounding areas. NYC DOT will begin publicly notifying community boards on its proposals this month, with a 60-day comment period to follow before implementation.
