Int. No. 1195

By Council Members Ung and Louis

A Local Law in relation to requiring a study and plan regarding the installation of tactile paving on sidewalks

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Tactile paving installation. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

City. The term “city” means the city of New York.

Commissioner. The term “commissioner” means the commissioner of transportation.

Department. The term “department” means the department of transportation.

Pedestrian ramp. The term “pedestrian ramp” means any ramp, cut, or slope where a pedestrian walkway crosses a curb.

Sidewalk. The term “sidewalk” means the portion of a street between the curb lines, or the lateral lines of a roadway, and the adjacent property lines that is intended as a pedestrian walkway, except that such term does not include the curb or a pedestrian ramp.

Tactile paving. The term “tactile paving” means a system of ground surface indicators that provide textured cues detectable by foot or cane, designed to assist visually impaired individuals in navigating their environment.

b. Study. Over a 1-year period beginning on the effective date of this local law, the commissioner shall conduct a study to gather information necessary for the installation of tactile paving on sidewalks. At a minimum, such study shall include:

1. Identification of high-priority city blocks for installation of tactile paving on sidewalks, based on the following factors:

(a) High pedestrian traffic due to significant commercial activity, the presence of public transportation facilities, or both;

(b) The lack of tactile paving;

(c) The presence of visually impaired individuals;

(d) The presence of pedestrian traffic hazards; and

(e) Feasibility of such installation, including but not limited to consideration of physical restrictions on installation and the costs to the city of installation and maintenance;

2. An evaluation of best practices from other jurisdictions that have successfully installed tactile paving on sidewalks;

3. Consultation with disability advocacy groups, community organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to understand the tactile paving needs and preferences of visually impaired individuals; and

4. An evaluation of existing assignments under city law or rule, or in connection with any relevant agreement entered into by the city, of sidewalk maintenance responsibility and personal injury and property damage liability for failure to maintain sidewalks.

c. Plan. 1. Based on the findings of the study conducted pursuant to subdivision b of this section, the commissioner shall, within 5 years after completing such study, develop and implement a plan for the installation of tactile paving on sidewalks. At a minimum, such plan shall include:

(a) A schedule for the installation of tactile paving on sidewalks in the high-priority city blocks identified in such study and in any other city blocks the commissioner deems appropriate;

(b) A budget outlining the costs associated with such installation and sources of funding;

(c) Design standards to ensure that any installed tactile paving is effective and durable;

(d) Guidelines on the assignment of tactile paving maintenance responsibility, sidewalk maintenance responsibility where tactile paving is installed, and personal injury and property damage liability for failure to maintain sidewalks where tactile paving is installed, consistent with any applicable requirements in city law or rule; and

(e) Strategies for public outreach and education concerning:

(1) The benefits of using tactile paving;

(2) Instructions for using tactile paving;

(3) City blocks in which tactile paving is installed; and

(4) Assignment of tactile paving maintenance responsibility, sidewalk maintenance responsibility where tactile paving is installed, and personal injury and property damage liability for failure to maintain sidewalks where tactile paving is installed.

2. The commissioner shall submit such plan to the mayor and the speaker of the council and post it on the department’s website.

d. Reporting. At the end of each year of the 5-year period specified in subdivision c of this section, the commissioner shall submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council, and post on the department’s website, a report detailing the progress of implementation of the plan required under such subdivision. At a minimum, each such report shall include the following information:

1. A list of the high-priority city blocks identified in the study conducted pursuant to subdivision b of this section and the status of tactile paving installation in each such block;

2. A list of any other city blocks identified by the commissioner as appropriate for tactile paving installation under such plan and the status of tactile paving installation in each such block;

3. The number of miles of tactile paving installed in the preceding year under such plan;

4. The number of miles of sidewalk still requiring tactile paving installation under such plan;

5. Any challenges or obstacles encountered during the implementation of such plan;

6. Any adjustments made to such plan based on encountered challenges; and

7. An assessment of the effectiveness of the tactile paving installed under such plan in improving accessibility for visually impaired individuals.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.JL

LS #17084

9/20/2024 10:45 AM