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Int 1233-2025

Planting of vegetation on new medians separating bicycle lanes from motorized vehicle traffic.

IntroductionEnactedCommittee on Transportation and Infrastructureintroduced 2025-04-10Local Law 2026/031

Enacted as Local Law 2026/031.

Official record · Legistar

Agenda: 2025-04-10Passed: 2026-01-17Enacted: 2026-01-17

Summary

This bill would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to build any new medians separating bicycle lanes from motorized vehicle traffic to accommodate the planting of trees and other vegetation, based on feasibility determinations made by DOT, in consultation with the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). DPR would be required to plant, or permit to be planted, trees and other vegetation in the new medians accordingly. DOT would also be required to post information online regarding the long-term cleaning and maintenance responsibilities of such medians.

Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureMass transportation agencies and facilities, Taxi and Limousine Commission, Department of Transportation and New York City Transit Authority, and the Department of Design and Construction and matters related to infrastructure projects within New York City.

How it compares

20% of similar bills passed

10 passed · 40 died

This bill: 251 days in committee

Similar bills: median 490 days · 230 days when passed

Sponsors (10)

Lifecycle

IntroducedIntroduced by Council
2025-04-10 · City Council
ActionReferred to Comm by Council
2025-04-10 · City Council
HeardHearing Held by Committee
2025-10-01 · Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
HeldLaid Over by Committee
2025-10-01 · Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
HeardHearing Held by Committee
2025-12-18 · Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
ActionAmendment Proposed by Comm
2025-12-18 · Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
ActionAmended by Committee
2025-12-18 · Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
AdvancedApproved by Committee
2025-12-18 · Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
AdvancedApproved by Council
2025-12-18 · City Council
ActionSent to Mayor by Council
2025-12-18 · City Council
AdvancedCity Charter Rule Adopted
2026-01-17 · Administration
ActionReturned Unsigned by Mayor
2026-01-20 · City Council

Votes (59)

Aye (50)
Pierina Ana SanchezJustin L. BrannanGale A. BrewerSelvena N. Brooks-PowersTiffany L. CabánCarmen N. De La RosaEric DinowitzHarvey D. EpsteinAmanda C. FaríasSimcha FelderOswald J. FelizJames F. GennaroShahana K. HanifCrystal HudsonRita C. JosephShekar KrishnanInna VernikovKevin C. RileyLynn C. SchulmanAlthea V. StevensSandra UngNantasha M. WilliamsJulie WonAdrienne E. AdamsDiana I. AyalaShaun AbreuAlexa AvilésChris BanksErik D. BottcherLinda LeeChristopher MarteJulie MeninFrank MoranoFrancisco P. MoyaMercedes NarcisseSandy NurseChi A. OsséKeith Powers Yusef SalaamFarah N. LouisLincoln RestlerRafael Salamanca, Jr.Jennifer GutiérrezMercedes NarcisseChris BanksAmanda C. FaríasFarah N. LouisSelvena N. Brooks-PowersCarmen N. De La RosaJulie Won
Nay (6)
Robert F. HoldenJoann Ariola Kristy MarmoratoDarlene MealyVickie PaladinoJoann Ariola
Absent (3)
Kamillah HanksSusan ZhuangDavid M. Carr

Heard at (4)

City Council · 2025-12-18 · 1:30 PM · Council Chambers - City Hall
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure · 2025-12-18 · 10:45 AM · 250 Broadway - 8th Floor - Hearing Room 2
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure · 2025-10-01 · 10:00 AM · 250 Broadway - 8th Floor - Hearing Room 1
City Council · 2025-04-10 · 1:30 PM · Council Chambers - City Hall

Attachments (20)

Full text
Be it enacted by the Council as follows: Section 1. Subchapter 1 of chapter 1 of title 19 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 19-159.9 to read as follows: � 19-159.9 Vegetation on new medians separating bicycle lanes from motorized vehicle traffic. a. When designing a new median that separates a bicycle lane from motorized vehicle traffic, the department shall consult with the department of parks and recreation or other appropriate agency to determine the feasibility of planting trees and other vegetation on such median. In making such determination, the department shall prioritize the planting of trees and shall consider public safety, the suitability of the median for the growth of trees and other vegetation, the potential impact on underground infrastructure, the existence of a plan for long-term cleaning and maintenance, and other factors the department deems appropriate. b. The department shall build such median to accommodate the planting of trees and other vegetation in accordance with the determination made pursuant to subdivision a of this section, unless such determination indicates that the planting of trees or other vegetation on such median is infeasible. c. The department shall post on its website a list or map that identifies each such median built pursuant to subdivision b of this section, and identifies the agency or office responsible for the long-term cleaning and maintenance of the median. d. The department of parks and recreation shall plant or permit to be planted trees on such median in accordance with the determination made pursuant to subdivision a of this section and with section 18-106. The department of parks and recreation or another agency authorized to plant vegetation or permit such vegetation to be planted shall also plant or permit to be planted other vegetation on such median in accordance with such determination. � 2. This local law takes effect 270 days after it becomes law. RL/TM LS #14305 12/10/25 8:20PM 1 2