Int 1043-2026

Int. No. 1043 By Council Members Hankerson, Narcisse, Restler, Williams, Wong, Epstein, Ariola and Paladino A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to illuminating pathways under elevated structures Be it enacted by the Council as follows: Section 1. Subchapter 3 of chapter 1 of title 19 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 19-188.4 to read as follows: § 19-188.4 Lighting under elevated structures. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings: Elevated structure. The term “elevated structure” means a bridge, trestle, overpass, or other structure situated directly above a sidewalk. The term does not include elevated train lines operated by the New York city transit authority, the metropolitan transportation authority, or any subsidiary of either such authority. Pedestrian lighting fixture. The term “pedestrian lighting fixture” means a lighting fixture that illuminates a sidewalk. Sufficient lighting. The term “sufficient lighting” means that the average level of illumination, as measured at the level of the walking surface, along the entire length of the sidewalk underneath an elevated structure, is at least 1 footcandle (11 lux). b. Lighting study. No later than 1 year after the effective date of the local law that added this section, and every five years thereafter, the commissioner shall assess the lighting underneath every elevated structure to determine whether there is sufficient lighting, and if there is not sufficient lighting, whether it would be feasible to install pedestrian lighting fixtures capable of providing sufficient lighting, and shall post on the department’s website, and submit to the speaker of the council and the mayor, a report regarding the results of such assessment. If the commissioner determines that it would not be feasible to install pedestrian lighting fixtures capable of providing sufficient lighting underneath an elevated structure, such report shall explain what pedestrian lighting fixtures were considered and why their installation was determined not to be feasible. The commissioner shall also include in such report a description of the methodology used to conduct such assessment. c. Installation of lighting. If the commissioner determines that a sidewalk under an elevated structure lacks sufficient lighting, and that it would be feasible to install pedestrian lighting fixtures capable of providing sufficient lighting, the department shall install such pedestrian lighting fixtures no later than 1 year after making such determination, except that if such determination was made pursuant to the first assessment required by subdivision b of this section, the department shall install such pedestrian lighting fixtures no later than 3 years after making such determination. § 2. This local law takes effect 180 days after it becomes law. MC LS #22085 5/13/2026 3:32 PM