The New York City Council unanimously passed legislation yesterday that will increase transparency in both New York City's Department of Transportation.

In the Council's effort to help coordinate and oversee the Department of Transportation's plans to slow down traffic and increase pedestrian safety on City streets, the Council voted to increase transparency at DOT by requiring guidelines governing the installation of bike lanes and pedestrian plazas.

As it seeks to reduce traffic fatalities by 50% by 2030, the Department of Transportation is using an increasingly broad range of traffic-calming devices, including dedicated bicycle lanes, pedestrian plazas, speed humps, curb extensions, and median islands. Unlike with traffic lights and stop signs, which are governed by federal standards, the council noted that the department has wide latitude to approve and place traffic-calming devices.

This bill would require the department to establish guidelines governing the approval and placement of such devices and publish this information on its website and distribute such guidelines upon request.

The guidelines must consider whether such traffic devices would be installed adjacent to a school, in locations with a high percentage of seniors, such as adjacent to senior centers and nursing homes, and other locations as determined by DOT; and the guidelines must also list the conditions under which the installation of traffic calming devices would be appropriate.

"The Council is constantly looking at ways to increase safety throughout the City," said Speaker Christine C. Quinn. "This legislation will help the public gain a better understanding of where and why the Department of Transportation's decides to put a traffic device, whether it's a speed hump, a bike lane, or a pedestrian plaza. When this legislation becomes law, the public will be more informed about decisions related to improving safety on our streets."

"DOT has a bigger toolbox than ever when it comes to slowing down cars and protecting pedestrians," said Council Member James Vacca, Chair of the Committee on Transportation and sponsor of the bill. "Yet citizens often do not now know the methodology behind why DOT does what is does on their block and in their community. By publishing clear and concise guidelines for the first time, I intend to begin a serious legislative effort to empower and protect pedestrians in this city."

According to an article by Sally Goldenberg in today's edition of The New York Post, Mr. Vacca said that people complain that bike lanes and other traffic measures reduce neighborhood parking, cause confusion and don't actually result in slowing down or improving traffic.

"In general," the article continued, "residents complain of 'inadequate community consultations' about the traffic changes, he said," adding that "the bill, which takes effect in three months, has the support of Mayor Bloomberg."

"The rollout of this initiative alienated a tremendous number of people and now folks have their backs up and oppose what they might have supported otherwise," said Councilman James Oddo (R-SI) after signing on to the bill.