Int 0512-2011

Be it enacted by the Council as follows: Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 16 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 16-124.4 to read as follows: § 16-124.4 Plan for removal of snow and ice from curb cuts and pedestrian medians. a. The following terms shall have the following meanings for purposes of this section: (1) The term “bus stop” shall mean a location designated by signage for New York city transit authority vehicles to pick up or discharge passengers, which location includes five feet of the sidewalk and the gutter immediately adjacent to the curb for the portion of such curb; (2) The term “bus shelter” shall mean a location which has a cover or ceiling and is used as shelter for individuals waiting to board a New York city transit authority vehicle, and shall include three feet on any open side of such shelter and to the curb on all portions of the sidewalk covered under this provision; (3) The term “curb cut” shall have the same meaning it is given in section 27-480 of the code; (4) The term “pedestrian median” shall mean a direct path between curb cuts on a median strip dividing a roadway or, where no curb cuts exist on such a median strip, the portion of the median strip designed to be traversed by pedestrians in order to cross the roadway that such median strip divides; (5) The term “primary street” shall mean streets that are determined by the department to be the first priority for purposes of snow removal; (6) The term “snow event” shall have the same meaning it is given in subdivision g of section 15 of chapter 1 of the charter. b. No later than October 1, 2011, the commissioner shall establish and submit to the council and make available to the public on the city’s website a plan to coordinate the removal of snow and ice from curb cuts and pedestrian medians at intersections on primary streets following a snow event. Such plan shall also coordinate the removal of snow and ice from bus stops, but not bus shelters. Such plan shall be updated from time to time, but in no event less frequently than once every two years. Any time such plan is updated, it shall promptly be submitted to the council and made available to the public on the city’s website. c. Where the department employs non-city workers to conduct snow removal pursuant to this section, pursuant to subdivision g of section 15 of chapter 1 of the charter, such non-city workers shall be directly supervised by department personnel. d. The requirements of this section shall not be construed to remove responsibility of an owner, lessee, tenant, occupant, or other person having charge of any building or lot of ground to remove snow and ice from an abutting sidewalk pursuant to section 16-123 of this chapter and section 7-210 of the code. § 2. This local law shall take effect on the same day as the local law amending the Charter relating to the annual snow preparedness and response report. LS# 1910 - JJH 2/25/11 2:30 pm