File #: Int 1233-2025    Version: Name: Planting of vegetation on new medians separating bicycle lanes from motorized vehicle traffic.
Type: Introduction Status: Enacted (Mayor's Desk for Signature)
Committee: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
On agenda: 4/10/2025
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the planting of vegetation on new medians separating bicycle lanes from motorized vehicle traffic
Sponsors: Erik D. Bottcher, Shekar Krishnan, Chi A. Ossé, Justin L. Brannan, Shahana K. Hanif, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Mercedes Narcisse, Robert F. Holden, Chris Banks, Frank Morano
Council Member Sponsors: 10
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to build any new medians separating bicycle lanes from motorized vehicle traffic to accommodate the planting of trees and other vegetation, based on feasibility determinations made by DOT, in consultation with the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). DPR would be required to plant, or permit to be planted, trees and other vegetation in the new medians accordingly. DOT would also be required to post information online regarding the long-term cleaning and maintenance responsibilities of such medians.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1233-A, 2. Summary of Int. No. 1233, 3. Int. No. 1233, 4. April 10, 2025 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 5. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 4-10-25, 6. Committee Report 10/1/25, 7. Fiscal Impact Statement - City Council, 8. Fiscal Impact Statement - OMB, 9. Hearing Testimony 10/1/25, 10. Hearing Transcript 10/1/25, 11. Proposed Int. No. 1233-A - 12/12/25, 12. Int. No. 1233-A - Fiscal Impact Statement - City Council, 13. Int. No. 1233-A - Fiscal Impact Statement - OMB, 14. Committee Report 12/18/25, 15. December 18, 2025 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 16. Committee Report - Stated Meeting

Int. No. 1233-A

 

By Council Members Bottcher, Krishnan, Ossé, Brannan, Hanif, Brooks-Powers, Narcisse, Holden, Banks and Morano

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the planting of vegetation on new medians separating bicycle lanes from motorized vehicle traffic

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Subchapter 1 of chapter 1 of title 19 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 19-159.9 to read as follows:

§ 19-159.9 Vegetation on new medians separating bicycle lanes from motorized vehicle traffic. a. When designing a new median that separates a bicycle lane from motorized vehicle traffic, the department shall consult with the department of parks and recreation or other appropriate agency to determine the feasibility of planting trees and other vegetation on such median. In making such determination, the department shall prioritize the planting of trees and shall consider public safety, the suitability of the median for the growth of trees and other vegetation, the potential impact on underground infrastructure, the existence of a plan for long-term cleaning and maintenance, and other factors the department deems appropriate.

b. The department shall build such median to accommodate the planting of trees and other vegetation in accordance with the determination made pursuant to subdivision a of this section, unless such determination indicates that the planting of trees or other vegetation on such median is infeasible.

c. The department shall post on its website a list or map that identifies each such median built pursuant to subdivision b of this section, and identifies the agency or office responsible for the long-term cleaning and maintenance of the median.

d. The department of parks and recreation shall plant or permit to be planted trees on such median in accordance with the determination made pursuant to subdivision a of this section and with section 18-106. The department of parks and recreation or another agency authorized to plant vegetation or permit such vegetation to be planted shall also plant or permit to be planted other vegetation on such median in accordance with such determination.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 270 days after it becomes law. RL/TM

LS #14305

12/10/25 8:20PM