A new report released by New York City-based, non-profit advocacy group Transportation Alternatives reveals the deficiencies of Mayor Bill de Blasio's Open Streets program, an initiative formed in the wake of the pandemic to create safe, socially distanced outdoor space for New Yorkers. Less than half of the Open Streets are currently active, with further flaws in the form of inequitable access to and quality of those that are operational. 

The report titled, Open Streets Forever: The Case for Permanent 24/7 Open Streets, was formed through a data collection effort that included nearly 800 reports from volunteer surveyors who visited all 274 Open Street locations across the five boroughs this summer. The report finds that Mayor de Blasio’s program has fallen short of the promised 100-mile mark for street closures and has failed to serve all New Yorkers equally.

According to the report, only 46% of listed Open Streets were actually active, which is equivalent to 24 miles. Of these, 33.7 percent are in Manhattan, 32.3 percent are in Brooklyn, 25.5 percent are in Queens, 6.3 percent are on Staten Island, and 2.2 percent are in the Bronx. In the Bronx, 84 percent of listed Open Streets were non-operational, with Manhattan leading boroughs in active streets, with 34 percent being non-operational. 

The report also found significant inequities in the quality of Open Streets across the city. Households within walking distance of highly-rated Open Streets were more than twice as likely to earn over $200,000. Black, Latino, and low-income New Yorkers were more likely to live near poorly-rated Open Streets. 

Given the program’s positive impact in the neighborhoods that it has served, in terms of reducing traffic violence and pollution, while providing climate resiliency, the report advocates for the growth of the Open Streets initiative. TA is now calling on New York City to make every Open Street permanent coupled with “substantial infrastructure.”

The complete report can be viewed here.