[Adopted 9-27-2016 by G.O. No.
17-2016[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided an effective date of
1-1-2017.
A.
Legislative
intent and Complete Streets Policy. The City of Yonkers seeks to improve
the City's interconnected network of transportation facilities which
accommodate all modes of travel in a manner that is consistent with
neighborhood context and is supportive of community goals by establishing
a Complete Streets Policy to incorporate active transportation into
the planning, design and operation of all future City streets projects,
whether new construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or pavement
maintenance. Active transportation attempts to better integrate physical
activity in our daily lives through increased emphasis on walking,
bicycling, and public transportation. Active transportation improves
public health, reduces traffic congestion, enhances air quality, and
supports local economic development. Complete streets are streets
that are planned, designed, operated, and maintained to enable safe
access for all users, and upon which pedestrians, bicyclists, transit
users, persons with disabilities, and motorists of all ages and abilities
are able to safely move along and across. The City of Yonkers acknowledges
the work of the Complete Streets Advisory Board, which comprised various
community stakeholders and is led by the Living Your Fullest Everyday
(LYFE) Coalition in the City of Yonkers.
B.
The City Engineer shall include bicycle, pedestrian, and transit
facilities in all street construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation
and pavement maintenance projects conducted by or on behalf of the
City, as appropriate, subject to the exceptions contained herein.
C.
The City shall plan, design, build and maintain all bicycle, pedestrian
and transit facilities in accordance with accepted and appropriate
federal, state, and local standards and guidelines, but will consider
innovative and/or nontraditional design options, as appropriate.
D.
The incorporation of bicycle, pedestrian and transit facilities shall
be mandated in all street construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation,
and pavement maintenance projects undertaken by or on behalf of the
City, except under one or more of the following conditions, where
the City Engineer must provide an explanation as to how the exception
applies:
(1)
The City Engineer determines there is insufficient space within
the right-of-way or insufficient need within the community to safely
accommodate such new facilities.
(2)
The City Engineer determines that establishing such new facilities
would require excessive or disproportionate cost.
(3)
The City Engineer determines that the inclusion of such new
facilities would create a public safety risk for users of the public
right-of-way.
(4)
The project is limited to routine or seasonal maintenance activities,
such as mowing, sweeping and pavement repairs.
(5)
Bicyclists and pedestrians are prohibited by law from using
the facility.
E.
The City Council and the Mayor shall receive an annual report from
the City Engineer on the City's consistency with this Policy with
respect to all street construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation,
and pavement maintenance under design or construction by or on behalf
of the City. This report shall be made available to the public on
the City's website.
F.
The City Engineer may establish rules, regulations and procedures
necessary for the implementation and administration of this article,
including, without limitation, creating a complete streets capital
projects checklist.
G.
The City Engineer will review all planning studies and/or engineering
reports for street projects prepared by or on behalf of the City.
