NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- A new report claims less than half of the areas listed among New York City’s Open Streets are operational, and even less are functional in the Bronx.
Open Streets started in mid-2020 as a way to allow for some social distant recreation, but it was soon made permanent by Mayor Bill de Blasio, with a promise to expand it to 100 miles of roads.
“Over the summer, our surveyors only found that 24 miles of ‘Open Streets’ were actually active,” said Cory Epstein, of the group Transportation Alternatives.
Epstein said the flimsy barriers a lot of streets had were quickly tossed away, including at places like 21st Street in Sunset Park — which is listed as an Open Street, but cars are continuing to drive on it.
“Open Streets are incredible, they provide people with safe streets, however they need to be expanded much more,” said Epstein.
The study found that just 16% of Open Streets in the Bronx were still working as they were supposed to. The number of “active” Open Streets in Queens is at 31% and 40% in Brooklyn. The citywide number of active Open Streets is 46%, the report found.
It also found that only one in five New Yorkers live within walking distance of an active Open Street.
Epstein said Open Streets that do persist tend to be in more “well-off” neighborhoods, with volunteers who are able to maintain it.
The report said the program itself has had a positive impact on neighborhoods, but it has been “inequitable in planning and in execution, and is failing to live up to its potential.”
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“As we consider what our city's streetscape should look like post-COVID, we must do a better job of ensuring the benefits of Open Streets reach New Yorkers that need them most,” said Brooklyn Borough President and mayoral candidate Eric Adams.
On the positive side, Transportation Alternatives found that active Open Streets lead to sizable reductions in traffic injuries.
The Department of Transportation said in response that it checks on the status of Open Streets frequently, and insists the report likely undercounted the program’s total mileage.
Transportation Alternatives called on the city to create infrastructure that makes sure permanent Open Streets “can be used by community members and provide benefits for neighborhoods facing poor air quality, increased traffic violence and lack open space.” It also asked for an audit on where the program is needed most.
The group also wants to see an Open Street outside of every city school.
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