NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Wednesday that retired attorney Hank Gutman will be the next Department of Transportation commissioner.
De Blasio said Gutman's appointment is part of an effort to "move away from the era of the automobile" in New York City.
At the mayor's briefing, Gutman announced a plan to create 10,000 new bike parking racks across the five boroughs by 2022.
"We are going to create in the next two years, 10,000 new bike parking racks around the city," Gutman said. "At two bikes per rack, if you do the math, that's 20,000 spaces for bicycles."
Gutman said ideas about where the racks should be can be submitted at: nyc.gov/cityracks.
Hank Gutman at Mayor de Blasio's briefing.NYC Mayor
"The mayor and I believe if you give people more and better alternatives to car culture, they'll use them. Safe and equitable bike parking is a major part of that equation," Gutman said. "And this announcement today, and what we're doing over the next two years, will help transform biking in this city."
Gutman had a legal career that included arguing before the Supreme Court, but he also "volunteered constantly in civic efforts," including fighting to create Brooklyn Bridge Park, de Blasio said. He was also chair of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, a position he was appointed to by de Blasio, and worked on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway expert panel.
"We have a chance to chart a new path for this city, one that leaves Robert Moses' vision behind, beats back COVID-19, protects our environment and builds a fair, safe and equitable recovery for all of us," Gutman said.
Gutman said he also planned to deepen de Blasio's Vision Zero initiative to eliminate traffic fatalities and "double down" on the city's commitment to Open Streets and Open Restaurants.
Gutman replaces Margaret Forgione, who served as acting transportation commissioner after Polly Trottenberg stepped down in December. Last month, the Biden administration named Trottenberg deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Forgione will become first deputy commissioner.
