Statement of Environmental Defense Fund Applauds Release of New York City DOT Sustainability Plan

Diane Slaine-Siegel - (212) 616-1267 -o or dslaine@edf.org

(New York, New York – April 28, 2008) – Today, the New York City Department of Transportation released its strategic plan for 2008. In response, Andy Darrell, Environmental Defense Fund Vice President for Living Cities, stated:

“NYC DOT ‘s new strategic plan sets a fresh vision for the agency, with practical solutions to climate change at its core. All New Yorkers have reason to cheer more bus rapid transit, better bike lanes, public plazas, cleaner fuels and ferries. We look forward to working with state and city leaders to turn this vision into real on-the-ground improvements across the five boroughs.”

The plan outlines strategies for transforming the city’s streets into more livable spaces. For example, it includes commitments to: study and reduce congestion in 10 major traffic corridors; launch five initial bus-rapid-transit lines by 2011; expand ferry service; create new high-occupancy-vehicle lanes; and manage parking policy to reduce congestion.