Int 1435-2025

Be it enacted by the council as follows: Section � 1. Section 19-159.8 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 94 for the year 2024, is redesignated section 18-107.1 of chapter 1 of title 18 of the administrative code of the city of New York, and amended to read as follows: � [19-159.8] 18-107.1 Improvement of paved medians. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings: High priority investment area. The term "high priority investment area" means an area of the city determined by the department, in consultation with the department of transportation, to have a greater need for infrastructure investment based on a relatively low amount of prior investment, a relatively high population of low income residents, and any other factors considered by the commissioner to be relevant. Paved median. The term "paved median" means a portion of a median under the jurisdiction of the department of transportation which is between 2 intersecting streets and does not include planted vegetation or stormwater management infrastructure. b. The commissioner, in collaboration with the commissioner of [parks and recreation] transportation and the commissioner of environmental protection, shall improve at least 1 linear mile of paved medians where feasible and appropriate every 2 years until 2046. If such an improvement would affect unrelated infrastructure, in proximity to such improvement, that is under the jurisdiction of the department of transportation, then the department of transportation shall coordinate with the department to facilitate implementing such improvement. [Improvements pursuant to this subdivision shall be made where feasible and appropriate as part of a street reconstruction project or projects impacting consecutive blocks of a street for which funds have been appropriated in the capital budget, and shall be made in each of the 5 boroughs.] When determining where such improvements shall be made, the commissioner shall prioritize improvements in high priority investment areas. Such improvements shall include adding planted medians, tree beds, or stormwater management infrastructure. c. Beginning February 1, 2026, and every February 1 thereafter until February 1, 2046, the commissioner shall submit a report to the mayor and the speaker of the council detailing the length and location of any paved median improved pursuant to this section in the preceding calendar year, the cost of making such improvement, and whether such improvement was made in a high priority investment area. [Such report may be included in the update required by paragraph 2 of subdivision d of section 19-199.1.] d. The department shall be responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of all medians improved pursuant to this section, except that the mayor may designate any other agency or office to be responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of any median improved pursuant to this section. [This section does not interfere with the commissioner of parks and recreation's jurisdiction or responsibilities over trees and vegetation pursuant to section 18-104.] The department shall post on its website a list or map that identifies each median improved pursuant to this section, and identifies the agency or office responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of that median. � 2. This local law takes effect immediately. Session 13 MC LS #19400 8/26/2025 12:49pm Session 12 SRB/XC LS #13118 1/17/2024 3