Julie Menin
0:09:47
THANK YOU, CHAIR FOR HOLDING TODAY'S HEARING.
0:09:50
THERE HAVE BEEN FAR TO MANY NEW YORKERS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES for simply crossing a street.
0:09:56
Last year in Astoria, a 7 year old girl was killed by an SUV after a driver failed to observe a shop sign.
0:10:04
A 76 year old man was killed last October while crossing a street in Washington Heights.
0:10:10
And in January, a 14 year old teenager was fatally struck in Kenarcy by a person driving without a license.
0:10:18
New York City became the 1st city in the country to a opt a vision 0 platform in 2014.
0:10:23
10 years later, it is clear more it needs to be done.
0:10:27
In 2022, there were 1700 61 severe injuries according to DOT.
0:10:35
From January to September 2023, it was 1800 and 40, which is simply unacceptable.
0:10:43
That is why we need intro 301 that requires DOT to install 500 solar paneled crosswalks over 5 years.
0:10:53
These illuminated these can be illuminated crosswalks stop signs or other traffic signs.
0:10:57
Any person can press a button before crossing the street or DOT can install weight activated devices.
0:11:04
The devices would ensure distracted devices have a visual signal for pedestrians crossing.
0:11:10
In addition, the bill requires that DOT would conduct a study on the infect of traffic control devices, any challenges with these devices, and recommendations for their expanded use.
0:11:22
From San Francisco to New Haven, Connecticut, communities have embraced solar panel crosswalks, and New York City can benefit from it.
0:11:31
In fact, 1 study found that the odds of a fatality at an intersection crosswalk with street lighting is 54% lower than without street lighting.
0:11:41
Just last year, there were 258 fatalities resulting from traffic crashes.
0:11:47
A majority of these deaths, 61% happened between 6 PM to 6 AM.
0:11:53
The 3 individuals I mentioned earlier were all fatally hit after 5 PM.
0:11:59
Clearly, this is a problem that remains unaddressed, and that is why this bill is necessary as an additional vision 0 measure.
0:12:07
I wanna thank the bill director, Keith Fel Felicianfeld.
0:12:11
And from my team, Jonathan Shut, Brandon Jordan, Mercedes Anderson, Thank you so much, Chair, and I look forward to today's hearing.
