One New York

The Plan for a Strong

and Just City

The City of New York

Mayor Bill de Blasio
Anthony Shorris
First Deputy Mayor

Table of Contents

Letter from the Mayor 2

Vision 3: Our Sustainable City 160

Executive Summary 4

166

80 x 50

176

Zero Waste

188

Air Quality

New York City: Today and Tomorrow 22

194

Brownfields

Vision 1: Our Growing, Thriving City 44

200

Water Management
Parks & Natural Resources

Introduction and Evolution 8

50

Industry Expansion & Cultivation

206

58

Workforce Development

Vision 4: Our Resilient City 214

66

Housing

222

Neighborhoods

74

Thriving Neighborhoods

230

Buildings

78

Culture

236

Infrastructure

84

Transportation

244

Coastal Defense

100

Infrastructure Planning & Management

108

Broadband

Vision 2: Our Just and Equitable City 112

120

Early Childhood

126

Integrated Government & Social Services

132

Healthy Neighborhoods, Active Living

142

Healthcare Access

150

Criminal Justice Reform

156

Vision Zero

Diverse and Inclusive Government 252

Appendix 262
262

2011 Sustainability Initiatives

298

2013 Resiliency Initiatives

326

References

329

Glossary

331

Acknowledgments

Letter from
the Mayor

Friends,
For generations, New York City has been the place where people from across the
globe have come to realize their dreams. However, today, rising inequality makes it
difficult for so many New Yorkers to live here and raise their families with dignity.
With the launch of One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City, we build on
New York Citys global leadership when it comes to growth, sustainability, and
resiliencyand embrace equity as central to that work.
We know the challenges facing New York City as we approach the start of our fifth
century. OneNYC sets out what we need to do to make our city stronger, our people
better prepared for jobs in the 21st century economy, our government more
responsive, and our communities able to withstand the existential threat posed by
climate change.
It is a blueprint of the New York City we want our children to inherit. The actions
we take now will ensure we have a dynamic, inclusive economy, a healthier
environment, more affordable housing, and more reliable and resilient
infrastructure. With this work, we will be prepared for the shocks and stresses
ahead, and have the ability to bounce back stronger.
OneNYC is ambitious, setting clear and aggressive goals. Our initiatives address
every aspect of life in New York Cityhow we live, work, learn, and play, raise our
children, and enjoy all our city has to offer. Achieving these goals requires nothing
less than bold, innovative solutions.
We will meet the challenges we face today and in the futureas New Yorkers have
always doneand inspire other cities around the world to do the same.
We are committed to building a stronger, sustainable, resilient, and equitable
cityOneNYC.

Mayor Bill de Blasio

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Executive
Summary

Ten years from now, New York City will enter its fifth century.
As we look ahead, we are asking critical questions about New York: what do we want
our city to be in ten years, twenty years, and beyond? What kind of city do we want
to pass on to our childrenand to the generations to come?
This plan is our roadmap that will preserve and enhance New York Citys role as a
leading global city. As with past iterations of this report, we focus on economic
growth, sustainability, and resiliency. But we also seek to address issues of equity for
our residentsbecause we must serve all New Yorkers.
The bold initiatives we launch in OneNYC will speak to these challenges and
articulate the goals and long-term agenda of the de Blasio Administration. They
build on previous sustainability plans, as well as on the initiatives we have
announced over the past year regarding affordable housing, pre-kindergarten
education, the reduction of traffic fatalities, the fight against climate change,
bolstering our coastal communities, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and
economic development.
The plan lays down clear markers we will fight for, and sets out a comprehensive
blueprint to prepare New York City for the future. We envision a dynamic, thriving
economy, a city that is a responsible steward of the environment, and that is resilient
against shocks both natural and man-made. We have made equity an explicit guiding
principlea lens through which we view all of our planning, policymaking, and
governing. Equity means we ensure that every New Yorker has equal access to
opportunities to reach his or her full potential and to succeed.

Our Vision for New York City

We have organized our vision for New York Citys fifth century around principles of
growth, equity, sustainability, and resiliency.

Our Growing, Thriving City

New York City will continue to be the worlds most dynamic urban economy
where families, businesses, and neighborhoods thrive.
To meet the needs of a growing population at a time of rising housing costs, the City
will implement the nations most ambitious program for the creation and
preservation of affordable housing. The City will support a first-class, 21st century
commercial sector. It will foster job growth, and build an inclusive workforce by
focusing investment in training in high-growth industries, as well as programs that
provide skills to the hardest-to-employ. We will support the burgeoning innovation
economy, create new high-speed wireless networks, and invest in transportation
infrastructure. As a regional hub, we will work closely with our neighbors on issues
including transportation, housing, and jobs.

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

New Challenges

Our Just and Equitable City

New York City will have an inclusive, equitable economy that offerswell-paying
jobs and opportunity for all to live with dignity and security.

The challenges of our fifth century will be as profound as those weve seen in the
past. Despite widespread prosperity, living costs and income inequality in New York
City are rising. Poverty and homelessness remain high. The citys core
infrastructureour roads, subways, sewers, and bridgesis aging. Affordable
housing is in short supply. Our air and water have never been cleaner, but our parks
and public spaces dont always serve the needs of all New Yorkers. And, without
action, climate change is an existential threat to our future.

With the measures in OneNYC, the City will lift 800,000 New Yorkers out of poverty
or near poverty by 2025. We will do this by fighting to raise the minimum wage, and
launching high-impact initiatives to support education and job growth. We will seek
to reduce premature mortality by 25 percent by ensuring that all New Yorkers have
access to physical and mental healthcare services and addressing hazards in our
homes. We will expand Family Justice Centers to help victims of domestic violence.
We will promote the citywide integration of government services, information, and
community data.

OneNYC is based on ideas coming from thousands of New Yorkers. We asked civic,
community, and business leaders what they thought we should be doing. We heard
from everyday New Yorkersat town hall meetings and online, in polls and
surveyswho told us about what works and what could be better in their lives, and
what they imagine for New Yorks future. We worked with over 70 City agencies and
offices and many regional partners. As we implement this plan, we will continue to
engage with New Yorkers. We will seek their opinions and suggestions about how to
make our city better.

Our Sustainable City

New York City will be the most sustainable big city in the world and a global
leader in the fight against climate change.

We will strive to minimize our environmental footprint, reduce dangerous greenhouse

gas emissions, and have the cleanest air and water. The City is building on its goal to
reduce greenhouse gases by 80 percent by 2050 (80 x 50)the largest city in the world
to make that commitmentby expanding from an initial focus on buildings to
including energy supply, transportation, and solid waste as part of a comprehensive
action plan to reach our goal. We are committing to a goal of Zero Waste to landfills by
2030. We will keep organics out of the landfill, which will also cut greenhouse gas
emissions. The City will make major investments to remediate contaminated land, and
ensure that underserved New Yorkers have more access to parks.

We will fight for New York to retain and enhance its status as a global leaderin
commerce, culture, trade, innovation, sustainability, climate resiliency, and more. We
will ensure that New York will always be a place where people can realize their
dreams on the worlds biggest stage, as generations have done in the past, and that
everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
The initiatives we announce today in OneNYC are far-reaching, but also realistic,
and will prepare New York City for the challenges we face today and in the years
ahead. By focusing our efforts on growth, equity, sustainability, and resiliency, we
will ensure that the citys fifth century will be our strongest yet.

Our Resilient City

Our neighborhoods, economy, and public services are ready to withstand
and emerge stronger from the impacts of climate change and other 21st
century threats.

As a resilient city, New York will be able to respond to adverse events like Hurricane
Sandy, deliver basic functions and services to all residents, and emerge stronger as a
communitywith the goal of eliminating long-term displacement from homes and
jobs after shock events by 2050. The City will upgrade private and public buildings
to be more energy efficient and resilient to the impacts of climate change; adapt
infrastructure like transportation, telecommunications, water, and energy to
withstand severe weather events; and strengthen our coastal defenses against
flooding and sea level rise. We will strengthen homes, businesses, community-based
organizations, and public services to reduce the impacts of disruptive events and
promote faster recovery.

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Introduction

Introduction
and Evolution

Introduction and Evolution

New York City is the place where people come to realize their dreams. Its a city where
people are determined to create a new and better life for themselves and their families.
Sometimes gritty and in many ways grand, and always pulsing with a mix of symphonies,
salsa, Broadway show tunes and street music, New York is both a global citythe
preeminent center of commerce and cultureand one of small, vibrant neighborhoods.
Ten years from now, New York City will celebrate its 400th anniversary. OneNYC is
the first step in creating a living and breathing plan for New Yorks fifth century a
vision of our city as a place where New Yorkers of today and tomorrow have the
opportunity to thrive and succeed.
When PlaNYC was first released in 2007, the recession had not yet begun, nor had
Sandy hit our shores. We are living in a different city today, and different times
demand different approaches.
We now face multiple crises that threaten the very fabric of our city: climate change
continues to threaten our future in a host of ways, while growing inequality gaps
create other challenges. OneNYC lays out our approaches to dealing with income
inequality along with our plans for managing climate change, all the while
establishing the platform for yet another century of economic growth and vitality for
this world capital.

Throughout our history, we have built a better New York City together

1886
First settlement
house founded

1821
Erie Canal
opened
1866
Metropolitan
Board
of Health,
now DOHMH,
created

1625
New
Amsterdam
established

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

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1903
First IRT
subway line
constructed
1895
NY Public Library
established

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

1964
VerrazanoNarrows Bridge
opened
1915
Catskill System,
including the Ashokan
Reservoir and Catskill
Aqueduct, completed

2014
One World
Trade Center
opened

Introduction

Introduction

These challenges reach beyond the five boroughs.

Meeting Past Challenges

New York City is the engine of the regions economy and its population center. It is
at the center of the impact of climate change and the need for a responsible
environmental policy. And inequality casts a shadow over the entire region, not just
New York City itself. For all these reasons, we have the responsibility to fight for
solutions to the challenges that we confront as a region.

Weve done this before. New Yorkers have a long and proud tradition of
confronting tough issues head on, with determination and heart, and having the
skills to get the job done. Through it all, we have remained a city of tolerance and
diversity, one that has drawn people from around the world since our origins as a
Dutch settlement. Our government has a noble history of innovating urban
policies that have been adopted across the country and around the world. We
created the first fire districts and a Board of Health committed to eradicating
cholera and other epidemics. We devised a system of reservoirs to bring water to
the city and engaged creative designers to build great public parks. We created a
citywide zoning ordinance that became a worldwide model. We pioneered school
meals programs, settlement houses for a booming immigrant population, and
social programs that became a template for the New Deal and the Great Society.
Today, we are leading the way in curbing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing
for climate change.

OneNYC is the first step in bringing together government at every level,

neighborhood organizations, and the private sector to tackle these crises.
OneNYC charts a course for a sustainable and resilient city for all its residents, and
addresses the profound social, economic, and environmental issues that we face.
Through OneNYC, we pledge to keep the promise of opportunity that has made our
city such a remarkable place for so many generations.
OneNYC is what New Yorkers need now and for the next century. We recognize that
we do not control all the levers and cannot alone eliminate poverty or greenhouse
gas emissions. So we will engage the private sector, rally our people, and leverage
our strength as a region, while committing the significant tools at our disposal, to
meet our goals.

PlaNYC 2007-2013
The City of New York
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg

2007

We cannot fix what is before us overnight. But we can lead the way. OneNYC is the
first step.

UPDATE APril 2011

NEW YOrK
The City of New York
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg

2011

In 2007, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg released the first PlaNYC, which focused on
responsibly meeting the citys growing population and infrastructure needs. Titled A
Greener, Greater New York, it included the Citys initial sustainability strategy, and
became the model for other large global cities. PlaNYC outlined measures to address
the citys aging infrastructure, support parks, improve the quality of life and health
for New Yorkers, and for the first time ever, commit to a goal for reducing
greenhouse gas emissions. PlaNYC 2011 expanded on these initiatives by
strengthening the Citys commitment to environmental stability and livable
neighborhoods, launching brownfield cleanups, and improving the quality of our air
and water.
In 2013, after Hurricane Sandy, the City released PlaNYC: A Stronger, More
Resilient New York, which documented the lessons learned from Sandy, developed
a strategy for the city to build back, and developed recommendations to adapt the
city to the projected impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels and
extreme weather events.

PlaNYC Progress

A STRONGER,
MORE RESILIENT
NEW YORK

Since the first PlaNYC in 2007, the City has made considerable progress on
reaching its goals. We have reduced greenhouse gas emissions 19 percent since
2005, invested billions of dollars to protect our water supply, planted nearly a
million trees, installed 300 miles of bike lanes, and passed regulations and
developed programs to phase out polluting heating oils. The City also
strengthened coastal defenses, fortified crucial infrastructure such as wastewater
treatment facilities, and worked to make buildings and neighborhoods more
resilient.

2013

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

10

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

11

Introduction

Introduction

Initiatives launched in 2014

Initiatives launched in 2015

Building on
a Solid Foundation
In its first year, the de Blasio administration
presented a series of long-term goals and
strategies, and launched comprehensive
initiatives across City agencies. These
initiatives have already begun to show
results. OneNYC builds upon these
initiatives as a launching point for the
ambitious goals set forth in this plan.

New York City and the

100 Resilient Cities Initiative

Running Head Here

100 Resilient Cities (100RC) is an innovative global

network pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation to help
cities around the world become more resilient to the physical, social, and economic challenges that are a growing
part of the 21st century. New York City was in the first
wave to join the network in 2013, and through its participation, demonstrates leadership in resiliency and takes
advantage of the resources and opportunities it presents.

Vision Zero
Action Plan

City of New York

Mayor Bill de Blasio

2014

Pre-K for All

Vision Zero

IDNYC

A plan to create a truly universal

pre-kindergarten system, with a
seat in a high-quality pre-kindergarten class for all four-year-olds
in need of such services.

A plan that commits the City to

using every tool at its disposal to
improve the safety of our streets
and to reduce traffic fatalities
to zero.

A program that provides a free

identification card to every city
resident, including the most
vulnerable populations who may
have difficulty obtaining other government-issued ID, and provides
access to services and programs
offered by the City and other
businesses.

One City
Built to Last

The CEO Poverty Measure,

2005 - 2013

ONE CITY, REBUILDING TOGETHER

A Report on the City of New Yorks Response to Hurricane Sandy and the Path Forward

An Annual Report from

the Office of the Mayor

New York City Community

Schools Strategic Plan
Key system-building efforts that will
be implemented over the next three
years to achieve and surpass the
Citys initial goal of establishing 100
fully developed Community Schools
to improve student achievement
through strong partnerships among
principals, parents, teachers and
Community Based Organizations.

Ten-Year
Capital
Strategy

APRIL 2014

Mayors Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability

Anthony Shorris, First Deputy Mayor
1

One City, Rebuilding Together

One City: Built to Last

Housing New York

Career Pathways

The Citys commitment to cut

its greenhouse gas emissions
80 percent by 2050 focusing on
reductions in buildings, which
are responsible for nearly three
quarters of the citys contribution
to climate change.

An ambitious ten-year plan that

addresses New Yorks housing
crisis by building our next generation of affordable housing and
supporting the quality of life in
our neighborhoods.

A plan to create a more comprehensive, integrated workforce

development system and policy
framework focused on skills
building and job quality.

nyc.gov/onenyc

New York City has a history of innovating in the face

of change. This plan adopts the approach of the 100RC
initiative, recognizing the need to address acute shocks
and chronic stresses in securing the citys growth.
Equity, sustainability, and resiliency are incorporated
into OneNYC, including through the involvement of
agencies across City government and extensive public
engagement in creating the plan.
The City will continue to work with 100RC and its
partners, to develop and test new systems, tools and
methodologies for measuring and improving resiliency.

Prepared by:
William Goldstein, Senior Advisor for Recovery, Resiliency and Infrastructure
Amy Peterson, Director of the Housing Recovery Office
Daniel A. Zarrilli, Director of the Mayors Office of Recovery and Resiliency
The City of New York
Mayor Bill de Blasio

100RC supports the adoption and incorporation of a

view of resilience that includes not just the shocks
superstorms, blackouts, heat waves, and other acute
eventsbut also the stresses that weaken the fabric of a
city on a day-to-day or cyclical basis. Examples of these
stresses include high unemployment; aging infrastructure; an overtaxed or inefficient public transportation
system; endemic violence; and growing inequality. By
addressing both the shocks and the stresses in a holistic
manner, a city becomes more able to respond to adverse
events, and is better able to deliver basic functions in
both good times and bad, to all populations.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

One City, Rebuilding

Together

The CEO Poverty

Measure Report

A plan to overhaul the Build It Back

program to accelerate the Sandy
recovery process for homeowners
and establish targets for reimbursements and construction starts. Also
established a first-ever Mayors
Office of Recovery and Resiliency
to lead the Citys climate adaptation
and resiliency program.

This years annual report by the

Center for Economic Opportunity
in the Office of the Mayor that
measures poverty in New York
City and is aligned with OneNYCs
focus on anti-poverty goals. The
CEO measure improves on the
official methodology by consideringthe cost of living in New York
City and the resources available
to households after tax and social
policy is taken into account.

12

Learn more about 100RC at 100resilientcities.org.

April 2015

nyc.gov/onenyc

Ten-Year Capital Strategy

This strategy provides a blueprint
for capital spending over the next
decade. OneNYC and the Ten-Year
Capital Strategy are aligned to
ensure funding for OneNYC goals.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

13

Introduction

Introduction

OneNYC: New Approaches

Four principles informed
OneNYC goals and
initiatives:

Vision 1
New York City will continue to be the worlds most dynamic urban economy,
where families, businesses, and neighborhoods thrive

Previous PlaNYC reports have focused on the pressing issues of growth,

sustainability, and resiliency. All of these goals remain at the core of OneNYC, but
there are three significant differences in the approach taken with this plan.

A Focus on Inequality
Growth

Population growth, real

estate development, job
creation, and the
strength of industry
sectors

Equity

Fairness and equal access to

assets, services, resources,
and opportunities so that all
New Yorkers can reach their
full potential

Sustainability

Improving the lives of our

residents and future
generations by cutting
greenhouse gas emissions,
reducing waste, protecting
air and water quality and
conditions, cleaning
brownfields, and enhancing
public open spaces

Resiliency

The capacity of the city

to withstand disruptive
events, whether physical,
economic, or social

nyc.gov/onenyc

With the poverty rate remaining high and income inequality continuing to grow,
equity has come to the forefront as a guiding principle. In this plan, we envision a
city that is growing, sustainable, resilient, and equitablea place where everyone has
a fair shot at success. The explicit addition of equity is critical, because a widening
opportunity gap threatens the citys future. These four pillars together will spur the
innovation we will need for the next century. We know that a drive for a sustainable
environment leads to innovations that create whole new businesses, while driving
out poverty leads to healthier people, and safe neighborhoods spur businesses to
grow. They all grow together.

Industry
Expansion &
Cultivation

Workforce
Development

Housing

Thriving
Neighborhoods

Culture

Transportation Infrastructure
Planning

Broadband

Vision 2
New York City will have an inclusive, equitable economy that offers well-paying
jobs and opportunity for all New Yorkers to live with dignity and security

A Regional Perspective
To make the changes we need, OneNYC recognizes that we need to reach out to our
neighbors so that our whole region may thrive. The strength of the city is essential
for the strength of the region, and strong communities around the city make it more
competitive nationally and globally.

Leading the Change We Need

While New York City has a vast and complex government, even one of its scale
cannot accomplish all that needs to be done on its own. While City government will
take the lead in every single aspect of OneNYC, this plan also calls for action from
other levels of the public and even private sector. That means calling for some
actions that are not entirely within the control of the City government, but they are
all steps that are credible and necessary. We will not stop pushing for the right thing
for our people because some of it is out of our control.

Early
Childhood

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

14

Healthcare
Access

Criminal Justice
Reform

Vision
Zero

Vision 3
New York City will be the most sustainable big city in the world and a global
leader in the fight against climate change

80 x 50

OneNYC is a citywide effort. Nearly all City agencies came together in cross-cutting
working groups that examined underlying trends and data in order to develop new
initiatives. The working groups were tasked with envisioning how the physical city
should be shaped to address a range of social, economic, and environmental challenges
on the municipal and regional scale. This exercise required deeper consideration of
the relationship between physical and human capital, and acknowledgment that the
built environment has manifest implications for not just economic growth and
development, but public health and the delivery of essential services. This process
helped break down agency silos and resulted in an ambitious set of visions, realized
through supporting goals and initiatives, which crossed the traditional boundaries of
City agencies and their focus areas of activity.

Integrated
Healthy
Government & Neighborhoods,
Social Services
Active Living

Zero Waste

Air Quality

Brownfields

Water
Management

Parks & Natural

Resources

Vision 4
Our neighborhoods, economy, and public services will be ready to withstand and
emerge stronger from the impacts of climate change and other 21st century
threats

Neighborhoods

nyc.gov/onenyc

Buildings

Infrastructure

Coastal
Defense

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

15

18

0T

This plan introduces many ambitious initiatives to

address the social, economic, and environmental issues
facing our city today.

CROTONA
PARK

Were taking the neighborhoods along the Bronx

River Corridorincluding the West Farms, Crotona
Park East, Longwood, Soundview, and Hunts Point
neighborhoodsto illustrate how OneNYC will guide
future growth, sustainability, and resiliency.

Donston E.
Walsingham Construction

BRONX
PARK

CR

E
T AV
ON
M
T RE

OS

S- B

SOUTHERN BLVD

LONGWOOD

WY
VER PK
I
R
X
N
O
BR

SHERI
DA
NE
XP
Y

CROTONA
PARK EAST

SOUNDVIEW
PY
ER EX
N
K
C
U
BR

Percent of Households Below

Poverty Level, 2012

While most Corridor residents

(66%) use public transit to commute to work, 57% of them had a
commute of 40 minutes or longer

Unemployment and a high poverty

rate of 37% of households
demonstrate the challenges residents
have finding well-paying jobs.

57%

Bronx River
Corridor

SOUNDVIEW
PARK
BR

ON

XR

IVE

Dave S.
Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice

HUNTS
POINT

Ive lived in the Bronx since 1979 and

worked at Hunts Point Market since
1988. Since then, the community has
changed dramatically. Everyone feels
safer. I think things are improving.

Public Transit Usage and

Commute Times, 2012

66%

5 2

Our community has long been known

as the Toxic Triangle between the
Sheridan, Bruckner and Cross Bronx
Expressways. We see a direct correlation between health issues and access
to open space and were trying to bring
recreation opportunities to the area.

PARKCHESTER

RONX EX
PY
BRONX
RIVER
HOUSES

Each vision includes a Neighborhood Spotlight

section that shows how this plan will impact the
Bronx River Corridor.
We need to think about how were addressing high asthma rates in this area.
We are seeing lots of new residential
development in the neighborhood. When
these new units come in, they often include parks and trees. This transition is
helping to improve this neighborhood.

ST

WEST
FARMS

Neighborhood Spotlight
Bronx River Corridor

These Bronx neighborhoodsvibrant, diverse, and

ever-changing like the city as a wholerepresent the
opportunities and challenges that drive this plan in a
number of ways.

58%

54%

The Bronx

56%

46%

New York
City

37%

29%

19%

Bronx River
Corridor

The Bronx

New York
City

ACS 2012

ACS 2012

Percentage of Residents Who

Eat 5 or More Servings of Fruit/
Vegetables Daily, 2013

Asthma Emergency Department Visits

(Youths and Adults) by Neighborhoods,
2013

This area lacks access to fresh and healthy

food, with bodegas accounting for 77% of
all retail food stores; only 4% of food establishments specialize in fresh produce.

Residents experience the health effects of

urban environmental conditions. Asthma
hospitalization and ED visit rates are higher
in the Bronx when compared to the citywide

Quartiles

Quartiles

4%-7%

4%-7%

8%-10%

8%-10%

11%-13%

11%-13%

14%-21%

14%-21%

no population

no population

Rene C.
Employee at Mosner Family Brands,
Hunts Point Cooperative Market
DOHMH, Community Health Survey 2013

EAST RIVER

DOHMH, Community Health Survey 2013

Introduction

Introduction

How New Yorkers Shaped OneNYC

To find out New Yorkers priorities and to tap their most creative ideas, we used a
variety of methodsfrom roundtable discussions to an online surveyduring the
months leading up to the launch of OneNYC. Our residents, and the communities
they comprise, represent tremendous diversity of knowledge, culture, interests,
skills, and economic resources. Approximately 3 million New Yorkers37 percent of
the Citys total populationwere born outside the U.S., and 49 percent of all
residents speak a language other than English at home. Some residents are intensely
involved in their local community, while others are loosely attached to their
neighborhood but still dependent on critical services.

NYCHA residents attend a

Town Hall meeting at Johnson
Community Center, East Harlem.

More than

Clergy/Faith Leaders listening

session, April 20, 2015.

Regional Coordination
Fifteen leaders, including Mayors and County Executives, from cities and counties
in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut met with the City to discuss the
common challenges affecting the region, such as infrastructure, housing, jobs, and
climate change.

Resident Outreach
We met face-to-face with over 1,300 New York City residents, advocacy groups and
elected officials in one-on-one meetings, roundtable discussions, and town hall-style
forums. We talked about issues regarding senior citizens, schools, housing, the
environment, parks, and transportation.

Online Survey: nyc.gov/ideas

On March 6, 2015, OneNYC launched an online survey nyc.gov/ideas to ask New
Yorkers for their ideas. Through the survey, over 7,500 people provided thoughtful
and candid insights in seven languages. Respondents overwhelmingly mentioned the
high cost of living and affordable housing as primary concerns. Comments and
suggestions from the survey informed the plan.

Business Roundtable
Many of the citys largest and most innovative employers met with us to tell us what
they needed to succeed, to retain workers, to hire new ones, and to grow. We heard
from them about their real estate needs, transportation for their workforce, broadband
infrastructure, childcare services, as well as the importance of our cultural community.

Telephone Survey
We surveyed 800 New Yorkers to identify key issues and concerns. New Yorkers
identified education, jobs, and housing as the most important issues facing the city
today, and recognized diversity as the citys top asset.

7,500 New Yorkers took the online public survey

Most Important Issues According to New Yorkers

800 New Yorkers participated in the telephone survey

1,300+ residents attended more than 40 community

3%
Environment

177 civic organizations and over 50 elected officials

7%
Physical
Infrastructure

offices met about OneNYC

13%
Public Safety

to discuss the plan

125

20%
Housing

15%
Jobs

representatives
Led by the Office of Sustainability, over
from over
City agencies developed OneNYC

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

29%
Education

7%
Health

15 leaders from neighboring cities and counties met at City Hall

70

3%
Dont Know

3%
Connecting
Government

meetings in every borough

nyc.gov/onenyc

Advisory Board
The Mayors Sustainability Advisory Board also helped to guide our thinking. The
38-person Board represented all five boroughs and is comprised of civic leaders, policy
specialists, and community leaders, representing sectors including sustainability,
social services, the business community, academia, real estate, and healthcare.

In a telephone survey of 800 people, New Yorkers identified education, housing and jobs as the most important issues facing the city.

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Introduction

Introduction

Model Resident-Centered Government

What We Heard from New Yorkers
Extensive pre-launch discussions with New Yorkers
directly shaped the goals and initiatives detailed in
this plan.
When nearly 3,500 people submitted comments to the
online survey about housing and affordability, we
affirmed the affordable housing commitments in
Housing New York, the Citys ten-year housing plan.
That plan lays out strategies to create and preserve
200,000 affordable housing units over the next ten
years. OneNYC now sets a goal of creating 240,000 new
housing units both market rate and affordable
within the next decade. It also calls on governments
across our region to support efforts to create new
housing throughout the metro area.

Through new tools for ongoing civic engagement, New York City will become a
model for resident-centered government. As our efforts to bring Pre-K for All to tens
of thousands of New York City families demonstrated, connecting residents to vital
services and opportunities can be done in a more proactive, engaging manner. In the
coming months, we will continue the conversation with residents, civic leaders, and
elected officials as we refine initiatives.

Yorker will be able to reach 1.8 million jobs by

transit within 45 minutes. Survey respondents
requested that we reduce garbage in New York
because its good for the environment and our
neighborhoods. Weve responded with a strategy to
achieve Zero Waste by 2030.
As this goes to press, we are still evaluating great new
ideas. How can we increase childrens access to
affordable afterschool and summer camp programs,
as recommended by Ivette S. in Queens, and many
others? Could Eman R.s (Brooklyn) proposed annual
NYC Challenge to engage New Yorkers to resolve
local issues be incorporated into the Citys BigApps
Competition? Can Debbie L.C.s (Manhattan) suggestion
for a design, technology, and media innovation
commission help fuel growth within those industries?

Other feedback focused on providing New Yorkers

with transit access from their homes to good jobs.
We look forward to continuing to test these and other
Through transit investments, job creation in diverse
locations, and transit-accessible housing construction, ideas with New Yorkers beyond OneNYCs publication.
this plan will ensure that by 2040, the average New

New York Citys Greatest Assets, According to New Yorkers

PAL Playstreet at Morris Houses

To achieve this goal, we will implement outreach initiatives as described in this

report. This includes further developing the Citys Public Engagement team,
charged with implementing engagement initiatives similar to the Pre-K for All
outreach effort. We will adapt best practices from successful efforts by focusing on
quantifiable goals, conducting public opinion research to determine how best to
engage residents proactively, and relying on data to monitor our progress in serving
New Yorkers. We will improve existing digital tools, such as 311 and LinkNYC, to
enhance the exchange of feedback and ideas between government and communities.

New Yorkers Ideas for Our Citys Future

I would like to live
Que los jovenes que

within commuting
trabajamos podamos

distance from my CUNY

encontrar la opcion de

job (academic advisor

alquilar un apartamento
$47k plus $16k from my Create unexpected
o estudio a bajo costo y
surprises in the urban
husbands Social
asi comenzar a tener
daily life, such as public
Security) without
nuestra vida fuera de
art in the city.
having to rely on a food
nuestra familia y ver la
bank. Were a family of
vida con nuevos
Chuan-Wei T., Queens
three living in East
proyectos y seguir
Harlem. We make too
adelante en nuestras
much for some lotteries
vidas. (En lo personal
Works towards it
and not enough for
tengo 28 aos y vivo con
becoming
a
beacon
of
others. I have two
mi familia y no puedo
sustainability, a model
Masters degrees, my
rentar un estudio y ser
city to visit and respect
husband is 71 year old
independiente por que
for its Zero Waste,
Viet Nam [a] vet and our
soy inmigrante y no
energy efficiency, and
25 year old daughter
encuentro apartamentos
environmental justice
had been sick from
a bajo costo quisiera ya
achievements.
mold exposure and
hacer vida
cannot help.
independiente).
Kristal I., Brooklyn

That we, as young

people who work, can
find options to rent an
apartment or studio at a
low cost and thus begin
to have our lives outside
of our family and
envision a life with new
projects and move
forward in our lives.
(Personally, I am 28
years old and live at
home. I cant rent a
studio and be
independent because
Im an immigrant and
cant find low-cost
apartments. I would like
to make an independent
life already).
Johny T., Bronx

Elizabeth W., Manhattan

In a telephone survey of 800 people, New Yorkers identified diversity as the Citys greatest asset.

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Through the OneNYC online survey, over 7,500 New Yorkers shared ideas to shape our citys

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Introduction

New York City:

Today and
Tomorrow

Overview
New York City has been a hub of commerce and culture since 1625. Blessed with
deep harbors and rivers running through verdant countryside, later connected by
the Erie Canal to important trade routes, New York City grew into a domestic
and international center of trade and commerce. Immigrants came and
prospered, building new neighborhoods and a better life, far from the poverty
and persecution they had fled. Industries were founded and flourished, and over
time transformed, evolved, or departed. But thanks to the resourcefulness and
ingenuity of New Yorkers, the city remains the global center of finance, research,
industry, tourism, and culture. As New York City enters its next century a decade
from now, we will leverage the great resources already available and set a path to
prosperity for all.

Challenges and opportunities

facing New York City as it enters its
fifth century

TD Five Boro Bike Tour

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New York City Today and Tomorrow

New York City Today and Tomorrow

What Works

What Could Be Better

Among the hallmarks of New York City are tolerance, pluralism, openness, caring for
others, innovation, and business acumen. We are truly international: our residents
come from every country, and over 180 languages are spoken by students in our
public schools. We celebrate our diversity. We have shown the ability to recover
from both man-made and natural disasters, including the attacks of 9/11 and the
2008 recession, and will continue to recover from Hurricane Sandy.

New York Citys success has brought many benefits, but the city also faces significant
challenges. Because so many people want to live here and many are doing well
financially, affordable housing is scarce. A growing populationexpected to reach 9
million by 2040will test our infrastructure systems. Mass transit, roads, and other
infrastructure are heavily used, but they have not been fully maintained over the
years. For some New Yorkers, public transit is not easily accessible, or the system
cant get them across their own borough because it was designed to take people into
Manhattan, and commute times are too long from many areas.

With jobs at an all-time high, our entrepreneurial spirit can be seen from Wall Street
to storefront businesses and revitalized neighborhoods across the city. New York City
is now the safest big city in the country. Our air and water are cleaner than they have
been in recent memory. We welcomed a record 56.4 million tourists in 2014, and we
continue to attract thousands of new people each year who want to call New York City
home. We are reclaiming the waterfront, remediating brownfields, developing
affordable housing and new commercial districts, providing all four-year-olds access
to full-day pre-kindergarten, and creating open spaces for all to enjoy.

As commercial rents go up and neighborhoods change, existing small businesses and

shops, many of which are family-owned and have been in business for a long time,
struggle to stay open. Our public schools need to improve. Slow Internet speeds and
gaps in accessibility hamper competitiveness and the ability of New Yorkers to be a
part of all that New York has to offer. Income inequality is rising and nearly half of
the citys population now lives at or near the poverty threshold, while 1.4 million
residents live in households that lack sufficient food. Too many artists and talented
mid-level professionals leave for other cities that are more affordable. Homelessness
is too high, and over half of renters spend more than 30 percent of their income on
housing. Asthma, obesity, and diabetes rates remain high, especially among residents
in low-income neighborhoods. And we could be better prepared for climate change
and other 21st century threats.

New York Citys cultural attractions offer something for everyone, with hundreds of
museums, art galleries, performing arts companies, concert halls, Broadway
theaters, zoos, and botanical gardens. Of the 60 largest U.S. cities, the Trust for
Public Land ranks New York City second overall in park acreage, access, and
investment in open spaces. And with more than 100 degree-granting educational
institutions and over 600,000 students, the city is home to as many students as
Bostons total population.

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New York City Today and Tomorrow

New York City Today and Tomorrow

Addressing Core Challenges and Opportunities

A Growing Population

It is time to build on our strengths and address these challenges and opportunities.
We are all at risk when so many New Yorkers struggle to find living-wage jobs, good
schools for their children, affordable housing, and neighborhoods and communities
they can proudly call their home for years to come. We run the risk of becoming two
New Yorks: one for the affluent and one for those who are left out of the citys
success and lack access to good schools or good wages for hard work. What we do
now to confront these challenges will define the future of New York City and what
kind of city we leave to our children.

New York City continues to grow at a rapid rate, in large part through immigration.
With nearly 8.4 million people, the citys population is at an all-time high, and is
expected to reach 9 million by 2040. Growth is projected to be greatest outside
Manhattanwith the largest increases in Brooklyn and the Bronx. This increased
population will strain the citys infrastructure and test the reliability of services.
New York Citys population is also aging: by 2040, the number of New Yorkers over
65 will surpass school-age children. These changes will create new challenges in
everything from the delivery of services to urban design. We must improve social
and physical infrastructure to provide equitable access to services and employment
for a changing population.
Throughout its history, people have flocked to New York City, drawn by its economic
opportunities and ethnic networks. Foreign-born residents comprise almost 40
percent of the total population. At the same time, many young, educated Americans
are also moving to New York City.

Core Challenges
and Opportunities
PlaNYC 2007 & 2011

Growing
Population

Infrastructure
Needs

Evolving
Economy

Urban
Environmental
Conditions &
Climate Change

With a growing population comes the critical need for additional affordable housing
for all New Yorkers. In order to accommodate projected growth and the natural loss
of some housing over time, and to reduce pressure on housing prices, the City
intends to create 240,000 new housing unitsincluding market rate and
affordablein the next decade.

OneNYC 2015

Growing
Inequality

Importance of
the Region

New York City population, 19002040 (projected)

New York City

Voices

% Growth

10,000,000

20102040

9,000,000

7%
Staten Island

7.9 in
1950

8,000,000

9 in
2040

8.4 in
2015

7,000,000

8%
Queens
7%
Manhattan
13%
Brooklyn

OneNYC builds upon the four

core challenges addressed in past
PlaNYC reports, and now includes
growing inequality, the importance
of the region, and New York City
voices.

nyc.gov/onenyc

MILLIONS

New Vision for OneNYC

6,000,000

14%
Bronx

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

26

5,000,000
4,000,000

3.4 in
1900

3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000

NYC Department of City Planning

1900

1910

1920

1930

1940

1950

1960

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1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

2030

2040

27

New York City Today and Tomorrow

New York City Today and Tomorrow

An Evolving Economy

Employment change in total jobs 20012011

The city has an all-time high of 4.2 million wage and salary jobs, adding 113,000
private sector jobs in 2014 alone. Our economic activity, measured by Gross City
Product (GCP), is $647 billion, and the citys economic recovery since the last
recession outpaced the nations, with an 11.5 percent increase in jobs between 2009
and 2014, compared to only 6.1 percent nationally.

More than 50% Gain in Jobs

Up to 50% Gain in Jobs
Norwood
72% Job Gain
Belmont
169% Job Gain

Sustainable economic growth and stability depend on the continued strength of

our core sectors, as well as economic diversification across both boroughs and
sectors. The rate of job growth in the boroughs has been higher recently,
outpacing Manhattan in the past ten years. While employment is becoming
geographically diversified, it continues to remain highly concentrated in
Manhattan.

Employment growth
2009-2014:
New York City vs.
United States

3.0%

3.0%
2.6%
2.5%

1.7%

1.9%

2.0%

2.0%

1.6%

1.5%
1.0%

1.0%

0.9%

0.5%
0.0%
0.5%

-0.2%
2009
2010

2010
2011

2011
2012

New York City

United States

Crotona Park East

60% Job Gain

The traditional core sectors of the citys economyfinance, insurance, and real
estateremain the foundation of our economic strength. While they represent 11.7
percent of our jobs, they comprise 38.4 percent of GCP. They also provide a
substantial tax base that supports investment in infrastructure and services to
ensure our long-term ability to accommodate continued growth.

3.5%

2.0%

Van Nest - Morris Park

Westchester Square
59% Job Gain

2012
2013

2013
2014

Queensboro Hill
59% Job Gain

Jobs in sectors such as retail, food services, and home care are
increasing due to growth in the overall population, tourism, and
senior residents. These sectors provide opportunities for people
who lack the skills to compete for high-wage jobs, and provide
access to the job ladder to advance their careers. New York City has
many people in this position, and these jobs are vital. One of the
reasons less-skilled people stay in New York City, despite the high
cost of living, is that jobs of this kind are available and generally
accessible without a car. Expanding skills training and workforce
development programs, as well as access to higher education, will
enable low-skilled entry level workers to gain the skills needed to
move into higher paying jobs.

East Village
82% Job Gain

Glen Oaks - Floral Park

New Hyde Park
103% Job Gain

Chinatown
61% Job Gain
Brooklyn Navy Yard
119% Job Gain

Brooklyn Heights
85% Job Gain

Downtown Brooklyn
88% Job Gain

Park Slope
61% Job Gain
JFK International Airport
100% Job Gain
Rugby - Remsen Village
229% Job Gain
New Brighton - Silver Lake
52% Job Gain

Flatbush
52% Job Gain

Borough Park
80% Job Gain

Ocean Parkway South

71% Job Gain

Homecrest
54% Job Gain

While New York City is home to 52 Fortune 500 companies, small

businesses with fewer than 100 employees are a critical part of the
citys economy. These businesses account for more than half of New
Yorks private sector employment. Small business owners in New York
often face regulatory hurdles to starting and growing their businesses,
while the high cost of living makes it difficult to attract and retain
talented young people.

Brighton Beach
102% Job Gain

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

The citys economic recovery

since the last recession outpaced
the nations.
U.S. Census Bureau, LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics, v. 7
Geography: Neighborhood Tabulation Area (NTA)

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New York City Today and Tomorrow

New York City Today and Tomorrow

Growing Inequality

Percentage of population below poverty threshold, 20092013

21.5 percent of New Yorkers are below the poverty, and 45.1 percent are at or near the poverty level.

Despite its overall prosperity, New York City continues to struggle with high rates
of poverty and growing income inequality. The crumbling of the middle class is
not just a local problem, it is one that requires a national solution, and is a crisis of
our time. Over the past decade, income inequality has increased in the city,
surpassing the national averageand in recent years, it has continued to rise.
During the 2008 recession, workers experienced flat or declining wages, except
for those in select high-wage sectors. The city has experienced an impressive
recovery, gaining 422,000 private jobs between 2009 and 2014. While job growth
has occurred across a range of sectors, it has been particularly strong in lowerpaying sectors, such as accommodation, food service and retail trade. Since 2014,
more workers have started to see wage gains due to declining unemployment and
increasing demand for labor. Nonetheless, these gains have not fully offset the
wage stagnation that occurred during the recession. As a result, low-income New
Yorkers continue to struggle with the citys high costs of living. Without training
to support career development, these individuals and their families are likely to
remain in poverty. Recognizing that high-, mid-, and low-skill jobs are all part of
a diverse, healthy economy, the City is committed to supporting job quality
across all sectorshigher wages for low-wage jobs and expanded opportunities
for skills training.

More than 30% in Poverty

25-30% in Poverty

Morrisania - East Tremont

20-25% in Poverty

University Heights - Fordham

15-20% in Poverty

Highbridge - South Concourse

16.4%

20.7%
29.5%

18.8%
20.5%

10-15% in Poverty

34.1%

Less than 10% in Poverty

32.5%

16.8%

32%
25.2%
23.5%
22.4%

29.2%

21.9%
9.7%
7.3%

20.4%
23.2%

25.5%
11.3%

14.5%

10.3%
27.9%

21.4%

14.1%

9.3%

20.7%

21.1%

22.5%
19.6%

These employment and wage trends are occurring against a backdrop of other
significant economic challenges. Nearly half of the citys population still lives in or
near poverty, including a disproportionate number of African-American, Latino, and
Asian New Yorkers. The citys already-high cost of living is still increasing. The
supply of housing has not kept pace with the increase in population, leading to a
severe lack of affordable housing, especially for those who are least well off.
Homelessness is at a record high.
As it continues to grow, the City must invest strategically to create new economic
opportunities for the most vulnerable and lowest-income New Yorkers. We must
provide increased support to the economic sectors that drive middle-income job
growth. The citys rapid employment growth offers a real opportunity to improve
the incomes of low-wage workers. To ensure that this happens, we must do all we
can to continue to raise the minimum wage. We must also work with employers and
labor unions to improve employee training, provide a path for advancement, and
emphasize employee retention.

27.8%
13.4%

19.6%

27.4%

12.5%
33.6%

24.9%

9.3%

32.1%

25%

22.6%

18.4%

29.5%
21.7%
32.1%
20.7%

25.6%

20.4%

13.8%
22%
20.2%

14.6%

21.7%

24%

East New York - Starrett City

10.1%

Brownsville - Ocean Hill

Borough Park

Center for Economic Opportunity, Office of the Mayor

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2009-2013 5-Year Estimates, Public Use Microdata Sample Files as
Augmented by CEO Geography: Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA)

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New York City Today and Tomorrow

New York City Today and Tomorrow

Infrastructure Needs

Urban Environmental Conditions

and Climate Change

While New York City is a 21st century global city, its aging infrastructure is straining
to meet the demands of a modern and dynamic urban center. Infrastructure
connects people, neighborhoods, and businesses, and provides essential services
the water we drink, the gas we need to cook, the electricity that lights homes and
businesses, and the Internet access to communicate and learn.

In recent years, New York has made substantial headway in protecting the
environment through improved air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions,
which have decreased by 19 percent since 2005. We have reduced energy use in
buildings and switched to less carbon intensive electricity generation. New York
Citys air quality is the cleanest it has been in over fifty years, and among U.S. cities,
it has moved from having the 7th to the 4th cleanest air over the past several years.

Despite a mountain of evidence emphasizing the link between modern

infrastructure and economic growth, public investment across the region has not
kept pace with capital investment needs. New York Citys transit system is in need
of improvement and expansion to provide the best possible service to New Yorkers.
Our subway system, the nations largest, had a record 1.7 billion total riders total in
2013 and is near or at full capacity. Every day, New Yorkers crowd onto subways and
buses, with an average commute time of 47 minutesthe highest of any major
American city. Investing directly in transit systems, including expanded Select Bus
Service routes and a citywide ferry system, as well as coordination with regional
entities, is key to supporting continued growth and will support competitiveness.
Significant expansion of our existing rail transit system is extremely expensive and
federal resources are dwindling. Yet without investments to maintain a state of
good repair, aging infrastructure incurs higher costs down the road and imperils
our long-term prosperity.

More than 100 brownfields encompassing over one million square feet have been
cleaned up and redeveloped. The 23 sites completed this year alone will generate
more than 420 new jobs, 550 units of affordable housing, and $162 million in new tax
revenue. Green infrastructure initiatives such as bioswales help to mitigate
stormwater flooding and prevent the discharge of pollutants into the citys waterways.
At the same time, longstanding environmental conditions continue to have chronic
impacts on the health and livelihoods of New Yorkers, with four out of every 1,000
children aged 5-17 years hospitalized for asthma in 2012. As the citys population
continues to grow, additional strain will be placed on the environment from basic
infrastructure needs, including a projected 14 percent increase in heating fuel demand
by 2030 and a 44 percent increase in energy consumption by 2030. The city generates
about 25,000 tons of residential, business, and institutional garbage every day, but only
about 15.4 percent of waste collected by City workers is diverted for recycling.

Many of the citys gas, steam, sewer, and water lines are not only aging, but are made
of materials not in use today, and prone to leaks and breaks. Much of the citys
underground infrastructure is not mapped, making it hard to pinpoint issues to
make efficient repairs or improvements. Our highways and bridges are also old and
at risk. The Brooklyn Bridge, for instance, opened in 1883.

Aging infrastructure strains to

meet both manmade and natural
challenges.

The Internet is rapidly becoming as central to our daily lives as electricity, gas, and
water. However, currently 22 percent of New York City households lack broadband
Internet at home. Affordability of Internet services is cited as the main barrier to
broadband adoption in New York City. Increased affordability and public availability
of broadband service will help to close the adoption gap and increase access to
online tools that support individuals, families, and businesses.
Identifying adequate funding resources to maintain and upgrade critically aging
infrastructure and ensure a consistent state of good repair across the city is a
major challenge.

Kayaking on the Bronx River

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New York City Today and Tomorrow

volume
1336

SEA LEVEL - MEAN ANNUAL CHANGES

Baseline (2000-2004)

75

75
70
65

58

60
55
50
45
40

22-50
30

35
30

18-39

25
20

11-21
10

4-8

15

13
8

2050s
High
Middle
Low

New York City Voices

Climate Change
The city also faces increasing risks from the impacts of global climate change. While
we have made significant strides in reducing our contributions to climate change, we
still expect to face local impacts that could threaten the city. In partnership with the
New York City Panel on Climate Change (NPCC), the City has continued its work to
understand these risks and make sure that the best available science continues to
inform the Citys climate policy.

New York City works best when New Yorkers are involved with their city and have a
say in their government, and when government listens to their voices to make better
decisions. We need to create new processes for communication and dialogue. The
result will be more informed policymaking and better-designed programs, and New
Yorkers with the tools and resources to help shape the future of their city. Engaged
New Yorkers are empowered residents who interact with their government, and can
effectively help set priorities and shape policy.

10
5

2020s

15

New York City Today and Tomorrow

2020s

2100

2080s
2050s

2080s

2100

Low 10th percentile Middle 25th to 75th percentile High 90th percentile

Building the
Knowledge Base for
Climate Resiliency
New York City Panel on
Climate Change 2015 Report

NPCC 2015 Report

Earlier this year, the NPCC released Building the Knowledge Base for Climate Resiliency,
which included updated projections for the region. Among them, we can expect to
see, by the 2050s, increased average temperatures (4.1 to 5.7 F), increased average
precipitation (4 to 11 percent), and rising sea levels (11 to 21 inches). The average
number of days per year above 90 F is expected to at least double. Due to sea level rise
alone, coastal flood events will increase in both frequency and intensity. The number of
the most intense hurricanes across the North Atlantic Basin is also expected to increase.

There are a number of fundamental challenges to increasing civic engagement and

democratic participation. More than one-third of the lowest-income New Yorkers,
for example, lack broadband Internet access, which hinders their communications
and access to City services. Only 18 percent of New Yorkers do volunteer work,
below the national average of 25 percent, and 49 percent are dissatisfied with the
level of cultural services in their neighborhood. Only 66 percent of eligible New
York City voters are registered, and the voter turnout rate was 21 percent in the
2014 election.

Each of these changes will increase the exposure of the citys neighborhoods,
businesses, and infrastructure.Health impacts on New Yorkers will continue to
increase. Fortunately, the City continues to reduce these risks. We are reducing our
greenhouse gas emissions and adapting our neighborhoods, with critical
investments now underway on our coastline, in our buildings, and for our
infrastructure. Much more remains to be done, and the City is committed to leading
the globe in this fight, to the benefit of future generations.

Decisions about City policies and initiatives should be informed by broad public
engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including residents whose voices are
not heard because of barriers such as language and time. Recognizing the
importance of this dialogue in shaping policy, OneNYC sought and continues to seek
input from a broad range of residents.

NPCC mid-range projections on climate change

2050s

Chronic Hazards

Baseline (1971-2000)

Average Temperature

54F

+4.1 to 5.7 F

50.1 in.

+4 to 11%

Precipitation

Baseline (2000-2004)

Sea Level Rise

Extreme Events
Number of days per year with maximum temperature at or above 90 F

Baseline (1971-2000)

18

Baseline (2000-2004)

Middle Range

2050s
Middle Range
+11 to 21 in.

2050s
Middle Range
Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYCHA
Chair Shola Olatoye, and Public
Advocate Letitia James with
residents of the Wagner Houses in
Manhattan

39 to 52
2050s
Middle Range

Future annual frequency of todays

100-year flood at the battery
nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

1%

1.6 to 2.4%

34

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

35

New York City Today and Tomorrow

New York City Today and Tomorrow

Importance of the Region

Change in
commuting trends
90,000

14.0%

80,000

12.0%

70,000

New York Citys future is intertwined with its metropolitan region. The citys economy
drives the regions prosperity, while benefiting from the regions transportation, skilled
workforce, cultural resources, and extensive infrastructure. Our suburbs and our city
face many of the same issues, including increased income disparity, the need for
affordable housing to keep pace with our growth, and a shared harbor. Between 1990
and 2010, the region grew by 10.9 percent, with the greatest percentage changes in
population in Northern New Jersey (14.3 percent). At the same time, New York Citys
job growth constituted 80 percent of the regions growth since 2000.

10.0%

60,000
50,000

8.0%

40,000

6.0%

30,000

4.0%

20,000
10,000

2.0%

0.0%

Every year, residents in the region take more than four billion trips, or 184 per person,
on buses, subways, commuter railroads, and ferries. No other U.S. metropolitan area
comes close. Regional travel is not only about coming into Manhattan. Between 2000
and 2010, the number of reverse commuters increased by 12.5 percent, compared to 9.5
percent arriving at our citys regional transportation hubs. The ability to access a broad
range of employment opportunities and workers within the region enhances the citys
competitiveness as a place to live and to locate businesses.

In
Reverse
Commuters Commuters
growth
% growth
In Commuters grew by

9.5%

Percentage of
total jobs

45%
NYC

Percentage of gross
regional product

However, we are not keeping pace with this growth in regional travel, and must
coordinate with our regional partners to advocate for the critical transportation
connections across the Hudson in New Jersey, as well as with Long Island,
Connecticut, and beyond. The fragmenting effects of a multitude of jurisdictions
have hindered regional planning in our broader region, including in

Reverse Commuters grew by

12.5%

U.S. Census Transportation Planning

Package

46%
NYC

Transit ridership, 1972-2012

6,000,000

Percentage of total
geographic area

5,000,000

M I L L I O N S O F D A I LY PA S S E N G E R S

4,000,000

Anticipated capital spending by City of New York and

regional agencies, ten-year estimate*
3%
Housing
$6,957

3%
City Services
$7,624

3%
Economic
Development
$8,072

4%
Airports and
Freight
$11,273

13%
Education
$35,480

36%
Commuter Rail/
Transit/
Subway
$95,860

Total
$266 billion

11%
Recovery and
Resiliency
$28,558

3,000,000

Penn Station
(Long Island Rail Road,
New Jersey Transit,
Amtrak)

15%
Energy and
Water
$40,782

400,000

300,000

6%
Bridges and
Tunnels
$15,168
3%
Highways
$9,203

Grand Central
(Metro-North Railroad)

300,000

Despite comprising only 4 percent

of the physical area, New York City
is a powerful economic engine for
the entire metropolitan region.

*Since regional agencies and private utilities have varied capital budget years and timeframes, this analysis consists of a rough
justice extrapolation where shorter-term capital budgets were extrapolated to a ten-year timeframe by assuming they would
match projected annual spending in the future, escalated by inflation. For instance, the City assumes the MTAs proposed
2015-2019 budget of $32 billion will be funded and subsequently repeated from 2020-2024, escalating to $37 billion based on
inflation adjustment. The analysis is intended to be illustrative of the magnitude and use of future capital expenditures based
on reasonable assumptions.

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

100,000
1972

nyc.gov/onenyc

A powerful illustration of this shared responsibility is that over $266 billion will be
spent in the region over the next ten years by the City as well as regional agencies,
such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Port Authority of
New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), and private utilities. The Citys preliminary
ten-year capital budget makes up nearly 25 percent of this anticipated spending.
This spending has a direct impact on New York Citys capacity to thrive and meet its
goals for equity, sustainability, and resiliency. Looking ahead to the next ten years
and beyond, the City is committed to taking a leadership role in directing these
investments and incorporating them into our own strategic process, so that regional
spending can be leveraged for the citys maximum benefit.

3%
Telecommunications
$7,096

New York City

Subway

Regional Planning Association

Fragile Success

transportation, energy, telecommunications, and a number of other crucial areas.

The siloed delivery of infrastructure and services does not produce optimal
outcomes. New York City must be a leader in working with regional
governments. This will ensure regional cooperation and coordination and that
funds are wisely invested.

1980

1988

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

1996

2004

2012

36

37

Projects located in Schoharie, Ulster

and Westchester Counties

Major Planned City and

Regional Capital Projects,
2014-2025

2nd Avenue Subway

Phase II Construction

Category
Airports and Freight
Commuter Rail,
Transit, Subway

La Guardia Airport - Various Projects

NYU Langone Hospital

Sandy Repairs and Mitigation

Bridges and Tunnels

Portal Rail Bridge Reconstruction

Pulaski Skyway Improvements

Roads and Highways

East Side Access: LIRR Access
to Grand Central Station

PATH Newark Airport Extension

World Trade Center Redevelopment

BQE Triple Cantilever

Reconstruction/Rehabilitation

Energy and Water

Southeast Queens
Sewer Build-out

Newark Liberty International

Airport - Various Projects

Bayonne Bridge Navigational Clearance

Recovery and Resiliency

Citywide Green Infrastructure

Program (not shown)
DEP - $940 million

Acronyms
CSO: Combined Sewer Overflow
WWTP: Wastewater Treatment Plant

Note: Includes planned city and regional

capital projects with budgets more than
$200 million.
Labeled projects represent more than $1
billion in budgeted cost.

nyc.gov/onenyc

Many agencies and entities are responsible for the capital spending that maintains and
improves the infrastructure that makes New York City the thriving center of the region.
City agencies with significant capital budgets include the Department of Transportation,
the Department of Environmental Protection, the School Construction Authority, and
the City University of New York, among others. Regional entities such as the Port
Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and
New Jersey Transit support mass transit, roads, bridges and tunnels, and airports and
freight resources; private utilities such as Verizon, Con Edison, and National Grid
provide energy and telecommunications infrastructure; and many agencies have been
involved in the recovery and resiliency efforts across the region since Hurricane Sandy.

Education

Economic Development
City Facilities

Key

Project Name

Lead Agency

1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Bayonne Bridge Navigational Clearance

JFK Airport - Various Projects
La Guardia Airport - Various Projects
Newark Liberty International Airport - Various Projects
Gateway Program: New Hudson River Rail Tunnel Design/Construction
Gateway Program: Hudson Yards Tunnel Right-of-Way Preservation
Moynihan Station Construction Phase II
North River Tunnels Reconstruction
Pelham Bay Rail Bridge Replacement
Portal Rail Bridge Reconstruction
2nd Avenue Subway Phase II Construction
Subway Signal Upgrades - 71st Avenue-Union Turnpike Capacity Improvements
Subway Signal Upgrades - 6th Ave Line Capacity Improvements
Subway Signal Upgrades - Queens Blvd Line Capacity Improvements
Subway Signal Upgrades - Dyre Avenue Line Capacity Improvements
East Side Access to Grand Central Station
Jamaica Station - East Side Access Capacity Improvements
Jamaica Station Bus Depot Renovations
Penn Station Access and Bronx Metro North Stations
PATH Grove Street Capacity Expansion
PATH Harrison Station Replacement/Upgrade
PATH Newark Airport Extension
PATH Systemwide - Various Projects
RFK Bridge Toll Plaza and Ramps Reconstruction
Brooklyn Bridge Rehabilitation
Williamsburg Bridge Reconstruction/Rehabilitation
Kosciuszko Bridge Replacement
Goethals Bridge Modernization/Improvements
Lincoln Tunnel Helix Replacement
Pulaski Skyway Improvements
Belt Parkway Bridges Reconstruction/Rehabilitation
BQE Triple Cantilever Reconstruction/Rehabilitation
Bronx Highways and Parkways Bridges Reconstruction/Rehabilitation
FDR Drive Bridges Reconstruction/Rehabilitation
Henry Hudson Parkway Bridges Reconstruction/Rehabilitation
Van Wyck Expwy - Kew Gardens Interchange Replacement
Major Queens Highways and Parkways Bridges Reconstruction/Rehabilitation
Rainey-Corona Transmission Capacity Improvements
26th Ward WWTP - Various Projects
Bowery Bay WWTP - Various Projects
Coney Island Sewer Upgrades
Gowanus Canal CSO Facility Construction
North River WWTP Cogeneration Upgrades
Southeast Queens Sewer Build-out
Wards Island WWTP Upgrades
Mid-Island Bluebelt Stormwater Improvements
Water Siphons Replacement for Channel Deepening
Citywide Green Infrastructure Program
Delaware Aqueduct Repair
Gilboa Dam Resiliency
Kensico Eastview Connection Tunnel Resiliency
Bellevue Hospital Facility Recovery and Resiliency
Coney Island Hospital Facility Recovery and Resiliency
East Side Coastal Resiliency
Rockaway Boardwalk Reconstruction
Hudson Line Restoration
Hugh L Carey Tunnel Restoration
Queens-Midtown Tunnel Restoration
LIRR East River Tunnel & West Side Yards Resiliency Upgrades
Ocean Bay Apartments Bayside
Red Hook East Restoration
Red Hook West Restoration
Rockaway Reformulation (Jamaica Bay and Atlantic beaches)
East Shore of Staten Island
NYU Langone Resiliency Improvements
Lower Manhattan Comprehensive Coastal Protection
Bronx Community College Upgrades
Brooklyn College Expansion
City College Upgrades
College of Staten Island Expansion and Upgrade
Hostos Community College Expansion
Lehman College Expansion
Medgar Evers College Expansion
Queens College Upgrades
York College Expansion

PANYNJ
PANYNJ
PANYNJ
PANYNJ
Amtrak
Amtrak
Amtrak
Amtrak
Amtrak
Amtrak
MTA
MTA
MTA
MTA
MTA
MTA
MTA
MTA
MTA
PANYNJ
PANYNJ
PANYNJ
PANYNJ
MTA
DOT
DOT
NYSDOT
PANYNJ
PANYNJ
PANYNJ
DOT
DOT
DOT
DOT
DOT
NYSDOT
DOT
ConEd
DEP
DEP
DEP
DEP
DEP
DEP
DEP
DEP
DEP/EDC & PANYNJ
DEP
DEP
DEP
DEP
HHC
HHC
ORR, DPR
ORR, DPR
MTA
MTA
MTA
MTA
NYCHA
NYCHA
NYCHA
USACE
USACE

ORR, EDC
CUNY
CUNY
CUNY
CUNY
CUNY
CUNY
CUNY
CUNY
CUNY

World Trade Center Redevelopment

PANYNJ

1
2
3

Bellevue Hospital Facility - Various Projects

Manhattan Districts Garage Replacement
Bronx Districts Garage Replacement

HHC
DSNY
DSNY

This map illustrates the broad range of major planned City and regional capital projects, as reflected in the agencies projected
capital plans in the next ten years. These reported amounts may not reflect full project costs some have begun construction
before this time period, or may extend beyond ten years to complete.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

38

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

39

New York City Today and Tomorrow

Total world air travel

1955

61

1965

198
697

1975
1990

1,894
2,992

2006

Distance passengers traveled

(billion kilometers)
Hofstra University; International Civil Aviation
Organization; McKinsey Global Institute
analysis

Share of selected
cross-border flows
that are digital
3%

2005

12%

2013

Goods1
3%
39%
Calls 2
51%
63%
Services 3
1 Based on China data.
2 Excludes other VOIP minutes.
3 Based on US data.
Research; Telegeography; OECD; U.S.
Bureau of Economic Analysis; McKinsey
Global Institute analysis

New York City Today and Tomorrow

Global Trends
More than half of the worlds population now lives in cities, and the percentage
continues to rise. By 2050, 66 percent of the worlds population is projected to be
urban dwellers, dramatically reversing the global urban-rural population
distribution of 1950. Cities must take the lead in solving the key challenges of our
time. Growing populations and economies have the potential to open new markets
for New York businesses, though there may also be greater competition from
low-wage nations.
Growth worldwide makes it increasingly important to address air and water quality,
food systems, and our natural resources. Global growth is also tied to rising
greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and its associated sea level rise and global
temperature changes.
Connectivity worldwide fosters interaction and collaboration between distant
populations on a scale never seen before. Yet a world with increased technological,
physical, economic, and telecommunications connections also makes us more
vulnerable to global shocks. These include the risk of terrorism (cyber or physical)
as well as vulnerability to epidemics and economic upheavals taking place in other
parts of the world.
While New York City has little control over these global trends, we can anticipate
them and act now to ensure that we are better prepared and more resilient to their
potential threats. In 2015, the worlds governments are set to establish the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2015-2030, focusing not only on ending
extreme poverty and hunger, but also adding the challenges of ensuring more
equitable economic growth and environmental sustainability. OneNYC follows the
same path, recognizing the critical link between sustainable and inclusive growth
moving forward, not only for our city, but for the world.

World urban and rural population, 19502050

7,000,000
6,000,000
5,000,000
4,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000

Rural Population
1,000,000

Urban Population

0
1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000 2005

2010

2015

2020 2025

2030

2035

2040 2045

2050

United Nations Department of Economic and Social AffairsPopulation Division

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

40

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

41

New York City Today and Tomorrow

New York City Today and Tomorrow

Technology Spotlight
Digital technology and the exponential growth of data are
transforming every aspect of
the economy, communications,
politics, and individual and
family life. The implications are
profound for every sector of
societyincluding government.
The City must respond to these
changes and use new digital
tools to improve services and
create more opportunities for all
New Yorkers.
This plan acknowledges the importance of technology and data
to each of our visions and points
to new ways the City will engage
with residents, develop our policies, and manage our work.

A Growing, Thriving City

A Just and Equitable City

A Resilient City

The tech ecosystem is among the fastest growing and highest paying sectors in New York City, representing 291,000
jobs and $30 billion in wages annually. Supporting this
sector is a critical part of the Administrations approach to
tackling inequality, expanding our economy, and creating
good jobs for all New Yorkers. The key to doing this is
ensuring employers have the workers they need to innovate
and grow. We will advance our competitiveness as the city
of choice for tech firms, and we will prepare New Yorkers
for 21st century jobs.

As the world becomes more digital and technology-dependent, there is a growing gap between technology haves and
have-nots. The City must narrow this digital divide and ensure all New Yorkers can participate fully. We will improve
access and support innovation.

Digital tools can help solve some of the Citys most urgent
resiliency challenges, bolster neighborhood resiliency
and social cohesion, and improve our ability to withstand
disruptive events.

Support expanded access to affordable, reliable,

high-speed broadband for businesses across New
York City

Invest in innovative ways to provide high-speed Internet to homes, business, and the public

Continue to evolve 311s digital capabilities, more easily

connecting residents to services and information
Ensure roll-out of LinkNYC, offering free wireless locations throughout every New York City neighborhood

Leverage digital strategies to develop a comprehensive

and interactive platform to map and aggregate the activities of community-based organizations and government
agencies in local communities across New York City
Through the Neighborhoods.nyc initiative, provide a
baseline set of digital tools that connect residents to government services and each other, and leverage open-data
for information about neighborhood-specific events

Expand the Citys internal data integration

Enable access to flexible, affordable commercial space

for technology companies and the broader innovation
economy, ensuring that the citys emerging sectors have
the physical space to start and scale
Support the creation of an advanced manufacturing
network which would include research and development facilities, workspace for start-ups, fabrication
labs, workforce programs, and community engagement
opportunities

Optimize nyc.gov web content for mobile devices

Review every step of the Citys procurement process for
opportunities to reduce delivery time, reduce costs, and
make it easier for small businesses to help solve complex
urban policy challenges

A Sustainable City

Significantly continue to expand access to computer

science/technology education across New York City public
schools by 2020
Support workforce training programs such as the Tech
Talent Pipelinean industry partnership designed to
deliver quality jobs for New Yorkers and quality talent
for New York Citys tech businesses

Technology can help people and institutions operate more

efficiently and reduce energy needs and emissions. It will
help us stake our claim as both the most sustainable big city
in the world and a leader in the global fight against climate
change.

Effective Government
The technology sector has been a leading innovator in
service delivery. Government can apply these principles to
improve service delivery and increase civic engagement.
Encourage adoption of the tech sectors service design
principles, such as human-centered design, to guide the
development of City policies and service delivery practices
Adopt two-way digital communication, which must play
a major role in all aspects of civic engagement, from
government-owned online properties like nyc.gov to strategic use of non-government platforms and products

Implement an Information & Communication Technology-based civic engagement campaign using real-time
open data tools to encourage voluntary changes in
household energy consumption
Launch a series of mobile applications that will empower
and engage residents to support brownfield cleanup
efforts
Install modern lighting and sensors, which will help
cut down lighting in empty buildings at night. This will
help our city make a serious dent in our greenhouse
gas emissions

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

42

42

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

4343

Vision 1

Our Growing,
Thriving City

Goals
Industry Expansion & Cultivation
New York City will have the space and assets to be a global economic leader and
grow quality jobs across a diverse range of sectors

Workforce Development
New York City will have a workforce equipped with the skills needed to participate
in the 21st century economy

Housing

New York City will continue to be the worlds

most dynamic urban economy, where families,
businesses, and neighborhoods thrive
New York City will

New Yorkers will have access to affordable, high-quality housing coupled with
robust infrastructure and neighborhood services

Thriving Neighborhoods
New York Citys neighborhoods will continue to thrive and be well-served

Culture
All New Yorkers will have easy access to cultural resources and activities

Be home to 9 million people by 2040

Increase median household income

Transportation

Continue to outperform the national economy

New York Citys transportation network will be reliable, safe, sustainable, and accessible,
meeting the needs of all New Yorkers and supporting the citys growing economy

Spur more than 4.9 million jobs by 2040

Ensure the average New Yorker can reach 1.8 million jobs by transit
within 45 minutes by 2040, a 25 percent increase from today
Ensure 90 percent of New Yorkers can reach at least 200,000 jobs by
transit within 45 minutes by 2040
Create and preserve 200,000 affordable housing units and support
creation of 160,000 additional new housing units by 2024
Support creation of at least 250,000 to 300,000 additional housing
units by 2040

Infrastructure Planning & Management

New York Citys infrastructure and built environment will exemplify global
economic, environmental, and social leadership

Broadband
Every resident and business will have access to affordable, reliable, high-speed
broadband service everywhere by 2025

Vision 1

Vision 1

Introduction
nesses thrive, we will simplify and reduce the regulatory landscape through the
Small Business First initiative.

Today, New York City is a global leader with an increasing number of jobs and
growing economic activity that supports families, businesses, and
neighborhoods. As detailed in New York City Today and Tomorrow, our population
and economy are growing, with 8.4 million residents who speak an estimated 200
languages, and a record 4.2 million salary and wage jobs. Within the past year, we
have had the highest twelve months of job growth in over two decades. We see
evidence of our economic strength in the expansion of firms new to New York, such
as Google, Makerbot, and Etsy, and we remain home to more Fortune 500 companies
than any other city in the world. Visitors continue to flock to New York City and
support a vibrant economy, with a record 56 million tourists in 2014.

Unlocking our human capital potential by providing access to skills development

and the opportunity for all New Yorkers to ensure that our businesses have the
workforce they neednot just today, but in the future. We will build on the strategies laid out in Career Pathways for refocusing the Citys workforce development
resources. These initiatives will include establishing a First Look process for City
hiring; targeting training programs to traditionally underrepresented New Yorkers;
and ensuring young New Yorkers are prepared to participate in higher education
and enter the workforce.

Our economy also faces challenges. Growing income inequality, obstacles to

job mobility, a crisis of housing affordability, and aging infrastructure could all
hamper long-term growth. More than half of New Yorkers are rent-burdened,
which means that they spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent. And 21.5
percent live below the poverty lineas defined by the New York City Center for
Economic Opportunity. In todays evolving economy, we must compete with global
and local peers to attract and retain talent by providing diverse opportunities for
employment; training for individuals to prepare them to enter the workforce;
enhancing our rich cultural life and recreation opportunities; and investing in
infrastructure systems that support the city across all boroughs.

Build more housing and

make sure there is an
affordable rental
component throughout.
Build it near [public]
transit where possible
and as green as [is]
economically feasible.
Invest, where possible, in
additional local and
regional [public] transit
to create more areas
where housing can be
linked to jobs.
Mark S., Brooklyn

nyc.gov/onenyc

OneNYC is a plan to address these challenges head-on and foster long-term,

inclusive, and sustainable economic growth that benefits all New Yorkers. Our
citys economic success requires that we create access to opportunity, foster innovation,
and train, retain, and attract talent. We have already started this important work. The City
has enacted Paid Sick Leave so more New Yorkers can care for themselves or a family
member without incurring financial burdens; increased and significantly expanded the
living wage to support our residents in making ends meet; released Career Pathways, a
plan to streamline and expand workforce development programs; and launched Housing
New York, a vision to provide affordable housing to more New Yorkers.

Investing in infrastructure that connects our neighborhoods to jobs, and our city to
the world. The City is committed to expanding transportation and broadband access, and strengthening the systems that connect New Yorkers to economic opportunities. These improvements will better match the geography of our job growth
and housing across the boroughs, providing 90 percent of New Yorkers with access
to at least 200,000 jobs within a 45 minute commute by public transit.
Positioning New York City as a leader in achieving triple bottom line results
through investments in infrastructure and City-owned assets. We will begin to
implement this strategy in our capital planning process, evaluating major investments on the basis of their economic, social, and environmental impacts. This
process will not only support job growth, but also advance our agenda for a more
sustainable, equitable, and productive economy.

Five key pillars drive the Citys economic development strategy:

We will build a stronger, more just New York by:

Maintaining New York City as the global capital for innovation. We will support
our core industries and nurture the innovation economy by investing in new,
specialized space for creative firms; increasing capacity for Class A office space in
central business districts (CBDs); expanding state-of-the-art infrastructure; and
recruiting and building a strong talent base.
Making it easier for businesses to start, grow, and thrive in New York. Small businesses represent 98 percent of all firms in New York City and provide a pathway
to economic mobility for New Yorkers from all walks of life. To help these busi-

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

46

Maintain New York City

as the global capital for
innovation.

nyc.gov/onenyc

Make it easier for businesses Unlock the full potential

to start, grow, and thrive in
of our human capital by
New York City.
providing access to skills
development to prepare
our workforce for jobs
today and in the future.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Invest in infrastructure
to connect our
neighborhoods to jobs and
our city to the world.

Position New York City

as a leader in achieving
triple bottom line
resultsproducing the
highest economic, social,
and environmental
returnsfrom investment
in infrastructure and
City-owned assets.
47

Vision 1

Subway (PATH, NYCT)

45 Minute Commute

Planned Transit Improvements

60 Minute Commute

Planned Ferry Routes (201718)

Potential Select Bus Service Routes

East Side
Access

Long Island
City North

7 Line
Extension

Long Island City

Queens

Long Island City, Queens

Today, the average resident of Long Island City can reach 2.3 million jobs
within 45 minutes by transit. The City, working with the MTA, will propose
transit improvements, housing, and employment centers to leverage
transit connectivity.

Lower Manhattan
Approx. 195,000 Jobs

Downtown Brooklyn
Approx. 120,000 Jobs
Potential Utica Ave
Select Bus Service

Potential Flatbush Ave

Select Bus Service

BRONX
PARK

Transit Access to Jobs

Flatlands
Brooklyn

CR
OS

CROTONA
PARK

SBR
ON

PARKCHESTER
XE

X PY

BRONX
RIVER
HOUSES

5 2

While average access to jobs by public transit is high,

differences among neighborhoods are significant, as
illustrated in the maps at left. As the city grows, higher
housing prices can push low-income New Yorkers
to neighborhoods far from job centers, which only
worsens these differences. More than half of the citys
neighborhoods with lower-than-average household
incomerepresenting 2.3 million residentshave a lowerthan-average number of jobs accessible by transit.

CROTONA
PARK EAST

Improving public transit access to jobs is one of the key

approaches to growth and greater equality featured in
this plan. The City will target a 25 percent increase in
transit access to jobs for all New Yorkers, and will focus
on neighborhoods where jobs access is particularly
low by ensuring 90 percent of New Yorkers can access
at least 200,000 jobs within 45 minutes. Residents of
neighborhoods such as Far Rockaway in Queens and Co-Op
City in the Bronx cannot reach 200,000 jobs within 45
minutes. New public transit and growing jobs in the outer
boroughs will help close this gap.

Metro-North Penn Station

Access
Four new stations along the
Metro-North New Haven Line will
create direct connections to Penn
Station from this area.

LONGWOOD

The average resident of Flatlands can only access 70,000 jobs within
45 minutes by transit. The City, working with the MTA, will propose
improvements to transit service to better connect residents to employment
centers in Downtown Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan, and elsewhere.

Note: Commute time analysis based on 2015 MTA (NYCT, LIRR, MNR, SIR), Port Authority
(PATH), New Jersey Transit (Commuter Rail and Bus), and Westchester County (Bee-Line Bus)
transit services.

SOUNDVIEW
Hunts Point Food
PARK
Distribution Center

Investments in facilities modernand resiliency will ensure

Bization
RO
N
this
major
X R hub of economic activIVE
Rremains competitive
ity and jobs

Supporting growth of jobs closer to housing through

investments in current and future job centers
throughout the boroughs, from the Brooklyn-Queens
Waterfront to Hunts Point

now and into the future.

Creating and preserving housing close to jobs and transit

through the implementation of Housing New York

HUNTS POINT

Improving transit connectivity by expanding the

Citys Select Bus Service (SBS) network, creating a
city wide ferry network, and supporting other
system-wide investments

EAST RIVER

LEHD 2011, MTA, PANYNJ, NJT

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

48

New Affordable Housing

Building on a prior phase of
affordable housing development
in the West Farms neighborhood,
future plans will provide up to
1,031 additional new units of
affordable housing.

XPY
NER E
BRUCK

Preparing New Yorkers to access more jobs in our

economy and advance their careers through workforce
development opportunities across the five boroughs

Flatlands, Brooklyn

nyc.gov/onenyc

In the Bronx River Corridor, new transit, affordable housing, and local
jobs will support thriving families, businesses, and neighborhoods.

This plan features initiatives to improve jobs access for

New Yorkers by:

Neighborhood Spotlight

WEST
FARMS

Mass transit is a vital part of most New Yorkers everyday

lives. New Yorkers rely on public transportation more than
residents of any other U.S. city56 percent of our trips to
work are via public transit, while the next ten largest U.S.
cities average only 11 percent. This reality fuels inclusive
economic growth, supports healthy activity, and avoids
many harmful environmental impacts. While New Yorkers
have a longer average commute time than residents of other
large cities, the average New Yorker can reach over 1.4
million jobs, or nearly 40 percent of payroll jobs, using public
transit in
45 minutes.

Y
R PKW
BRONX RIVE

Commuter Rail (NJT, MNR, LIRR)

SHERIDA
N EXP
Y

30 Minute Commute

Sheridan Expressway
Redevelopment
Planning for a new boulevard,
crossings, and off ramps would improve pedestrian safety, waterfront
access, and provide a direct highway connection to Hunts Point.

Vision 1

Industry Expansion & Cultivation

Vision 1

Industry Expansion & Cultivation

INDICATORS + TARGETS
Spur more than 4.9
million jobs by 2040
Increase the share of
private sector jobs in
innovation industries
from 15 percent today to
20 percent in 2040
Increase median
household income
Continue to outperform the
national economy, measured by growth in NYC
GCP versus US GDP

Goal: New York City will have the space and

assets to be a global economic leader and grow
quality jobs across a diverse range of sectors

NYC Innovation
Economy
Employment Growth

Overview

20%

New York City has seen very strong economic growth over the past five years. We have
gained 422,000 jobs and demonstrated an employment growth rate of 11.5 percent
compared to 6.1 percent across the U.S., with 113,000 private sector jobs added in 2014
alone. Yet, there is an opportunity to catalyze future growth through a more diversified
economy with increased employment across a broader set of industries.

15%

New York City has benefited from, and will continue to grow, sectors in which it is a
global leader, such as finance, insurance, and real estate (FIRE). Diversification will
add to this growth and reduce economic risk for the city as a whole. For example,
finance and insurance account for 30 percent of the citys total payroll and 27
percent of the base, but only 9 percent of employment. There are increasing signs
that this diversification is already occurring. While lower-skill jobs in food services,
retail, and accommodation have increased, so too have high-wage, high-growth
sectors driven by the tech ecosystem, which now accounts for over 291,000 jobs and
$30 billion in wages annually. Furthermore, advances in technology will continue to
drive job growth in the high-skilled innovation industries.

25%

20%

10%

14%

5%

0%
2009

50

2040

A growing population, coupled with changes in the way we live and work, requires
both the expansion of commercial space as well as the development of new models for
the commercial business districts (CBDs) of the future. Todays high-growth
industries are knowledge-economy industries that invest heavily in research and
development (R&D) and intellectual capital, thereby benefiting from opportunities to
cluster and share information. To prepare for future economic growth, the City can
support the activation of space within existing clusters (such as media and finance) as
well as future innovation clusters, which will be dynamic, mixed-use urban business
districts that benefit from sharing knowledge and resources, across the five boroughs.

This report defines innovation industries as those that:

Derive their primary value from intellectual capital and creativity, and thereby
place a strong premium on talent
Invest heavily in R&D of new business models, harness new technologies, or leverage old technologies in new ways
Disrupt the status quo to create new markets, often by collaborating across disciplines or with public or academic partners

These industries include:

To grow a diversified economy that offers quality jobs to all New Yorkers, the City
must unlock the potential for businessesin traditional industries, the innovation
economy, and small businessesto grow and innovate.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

2013

Maintain New York as the global capital for innovation

by supporting high-growth and high-value industries

Source: Moodys

Private jobs in innovation industries grew 15.8 percent from 2009 to 2013. Many of
these jobs provide quality wages and have spurred growth outside the core
Manhattan office markets. Moreover, some innovation industry firms have helped
increase opportunities in traditional industries, such as manufacturing, which are
leveraging new technologies to transform their businesses and create quality jobs.
Although New York City is already a major hub for innovation industries, such as
advertising, media, and technology, we have the opportunity to catalyze growth in
others, such as the life sciences and advanced manufacturing sectors. To achieve this
we must deliver a talented workforce, maintain a strong infrastructure, and ensure
space and access for the specialized facilities these companies require.

nyc.gov/onenyc

15%

Initiative 1

nyc.gov/onenyc

Advanced Manufacturing
(including Clean Tech)

Design

Advertising, Media,
and Arts

E-Commerce

Biotech/Life Sciences

Tech and Information

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

51

Vision 1

Industry Expansion & Cultivation

Industry Expansion & Cultivation

Vision 1

Supporting Initiatives

we are completing a study to identify new real estate development concepts that
allow for live-work arrangements such as live-work apartments, live-work
buildings, or live-work districts.

A. Maintain and grow New York Citys traditional economic sectors

New York Citys traditional sectors are key engines of economic growth, job creation,
tax revenue, and foreign investment. These sectors, which include finance,
entertainment, fashion, and higher education, face a number of challenges as they
seek to expand or maintain their footprints within their existing geographic areas. To
ease these challenges, the City will examine strategies to support office development
in central business districts (CBDs) throughout New York City, including both
traditional and growing CBDs. Strategies for preserving and growing these
commercial districts include zoning mechanisms for supporting new development
and activating existing commercial corridors.
For example, the entertainment industry in New York is critical to maintaining
our economic competitiveness and ability to attract residents, tourists, and
businesses. It is also a key source of direct economic activity and jobs, and is one
of the citys strongest and most unique traditional sectors. Broadway ticket sales
alone were $1.4 billion in 2014. During the 2012-2013 season, the Broadway
industry contributed $11.9 billion to the citys economy and supported 87,000 jobs.
Film and television production in the city are also at an all-time high, currently
generating a direct annual spend of $7.1 billion, $400 million in tax revenue, and
130,000 jobs. With this activity, the need for commercial spaces for these
industries is also at an all-time high. The City will leverage its assets and strategic
partnerships to activate the types of spaces required to maintain and grow the
entertainment industry.
New York Citys fashion industry employs more than 183,000 people, accounting
for 5.5 percent of the citys workforce and generating $11 billion in total wages,
with tax revenues of $1.35 billion. An estimated 900 fashion companies are
headquartered in the city, and in 2013, there were approximately 13,800 fashion
firms with a presence. New York City is home to more than 75 major-fashion trade
shows, plus thousands of showrooms. We can help maintain the citys status as a
fashion-industry leader by supporting the sector and fostering new businesses
across the spectrum from design to manufacturing.
B. Ensure that businesses in emerging sectors are able to find and fit out the
space they need to start, grow, and scale their companies
In addition to support for traditional sectors, the City is studying ways to respond
to changing patterns in the way we live and work. For instance, a hallmark of the
innovation economy is the number of self-employed and freelance workers, with
nearly 834,000 freelancers in 2012. These jobs require workspace, which can be
found through high-cost co-working facilities or by working at home.
Approximately 52,000 individuals or 21 percent of self-employed workers in New
York City worked from home in 2013. With a focus on alleviating barriers to
entrepreneurship and business-to-business or business-to-customer interaction,

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

52

The mechanisms for increasing availability of affordable, flexible commercial

space might include providing a loan guarantee for upgrades to underutilized or
underinvested commercial and/or industrial loft space; strategically activating
City-owned property for targeted commercial uses; designing new zoning
approaches; creating financing vehicles for development; and considering ways to
complement existing incentives.

Employment
Centers Outside of
Manhattan Core

Hutchinson Metro Center

Employment Centers
Outside of Manhattan Core
Potential Rail Corridors/
Stops

125th Street

Existing SBS Corridors

LGA Airport

Planned SBS Corridors

Downtown Flushing

Existing Ferry Network

Long Island City

Queens Center

Proposed Ferry Network/

Stops
NYCT Subway

DUMBO/
Brooklyn Navy Yard
Downtown Brooklyn

Potential Subway
Expansion
Priority Subway Signal
Enhancements

Sunset Park
JFK Airport

St George

The continued growth of

employment centers across
the city is one way in which
the citys economy, strong and
robust in its core and in its
traditional sectors, continues
to diversify across the city and
into new innovative sectors.
While NYC has seen overall
employment growth of nearly
8% since 2009, employment
has grown even faster outside
the Manhattan core, with
growth of 13% in Brooklyn and
over 9% in Queens. The areas
outside Manhattan now make
up a larger share of the citys
employment than they did
before the recession.
Some of the citys more dense
employment centers that are
the focus of targeted investment
and planning are pictured in the
nyc.gov/onenyc

Jamaica

Source: 2011 US Census LEHD

Note: Based on analysis of 2011 LEHD data for census tracts outside of Manhattan core with job density
greater than 50,000 workers per square mile. Highest employment density census tract in Staten Island
included.

Initiative 2
Make triple bottom line investments in infrastructure
and City-owned assets to capture economic,
environmental, and social returns
The City will identify opportunities to maximize economic, environmental, and
social returns (the triple bottom line) in capital planning and investments in Cityowned assets. The initiatives below detail the Citys intent to invest in City-owned
assets, while initiatives related to infrastructure planning are detailed in the
Infrastructure Planning and Management goal.
One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

53

Vision 1

Industry Expansion & Cultivation

Vision 1

East Midtown

Supporting an Advanced Manufacturing

Network

East Midtown has long been the global capital of commerce, but the quality and capacity
of its office space does not meet the demands of modern tenants. Modern tenants seek new
buildings with open floor plans and high floor-to-ceiling heights, but the average age of
buildings in the East Midtown area is over 75 years.

New York City is well-positioned to become a center for innovation in

advanced manufacturing. Our traditional industrial businesses are adopting
new technologies and practices to increase production efficiency and overall
competitiveness, while the startups driving these advancements are benefiting
from New York Citys entrepreneurial talent pool, academic research,
and access to markets. The City will support the creation of an Advanced
Manufacturing Network, which will link traditional and emerging firms to
resources across the tech ecosystem. The City will also invest in
state-of-the-art facilities that will house high-tech equipment, affordable
workspaces, business support services, and workforce training programs.
The centers will help businesses reduce their upfront costs by sharing highcost technologies needed for innovation in todays manufacturing sector,
such as 3D printers and robotics equipment. Such investments will ensure
New York Citys manufacturing firms and workforce remain competitive in
the 21st century economy.

In May 2014, the City announced a two-track approach to protecting and strengthening East
Midtowns role as the worlds premiere business district. The first step was a focused proposal
for the Vanderbilt Corridor between 42nd and 47th Streets. In exchange for permitting
additional square feet for development, the City will provide an option for developers to make
specific improvements in the areas transit-oriented pedestrian circulation and public realm.
This proposal has sincebeen approved by the City Planning Commission and is currently
before the City Council. The first building seeking approval pursuant to this approach is
One Vanderbilt. The developer will provide more than $200 million in public space and
transit improvements for the Grand Central Terminal subway station in return for increased
development rights. The second stage for a broader proposal for the entire East Midtown
district is being examined through a longer-term, stakeholder-driven process. A task force
led by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and Council Member Dan Garodnick will
provide recommendations to the Department of City Planning later this year.

Invest in Fashion Manufacturing and

Innovation Hub

Applied Sciences

The City will help the fashion manufacturing industry, especially the
garment production business, transition to a more sustainable cluster model,
which will offer access to more affordable real estate and workforce training
opportunities to enhance skills. For example, the City invested $3.5 million
to support Manufacture New York to fit-out and modernize a 160,000 square
foot space in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. This hub will include:

Applied Sciences New York City is the ambitious initiative to build and expand world-class
applied sciences and engineering campuses in New York City. The campuses will more than
double the number of full-time applied science graduate students and faculty members and
create a projected 48,000 jobs over the next 30 years. In addition, the campuses will not only
create jobs and enrich the Citys existing research capabilities, but also lead to innovative
ideas that can be commercialized, catalyzing the establishment of an anticipated 1,000+ spinoff companies over the next thirty years. This increases the probability that the next high
growth companya Google, Amazon, or Facebookwill emerge right here in Silicon Alley.

A workforce development center to help train workers to develop fashion

production skills and receive placements in on-site, high quality jobs
A research and development center to help create new materials and
wearable technologies

Laboratory Space for Early State Life Sciences and

Research and Development Companies

A small-batch factory specializing in print-making and sample productions

A design accelerator to create an educated pipeline of fashion and
manufacturing talent

With $1.4 billion in annual National Institutes of Health funding across nine academic
medical centers, New York City is positioned to play a transformative role in early-stage life
sciences R&D. In fact, there has been a 15 percent total increase in life sciences jobs since
2009, bringing the total to more than 13,000 jobs and one million square feet of life sciences
R&D laboratory space. However, this is significantly less than the 50,000 jobs and 10 million
square feet in life science hubs such as Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. To achieve
a critical mass of life sciences activity and to support roughly 10,000 new commercial life
science jobs, we need an additional four to five million square feet of laboratory space. We will
maximize the potential of City-owned assets to catalyze the development of critically needed
wet-lab space in proximity to key anchor institutions and hubs for the sector. Additionally, the
City will consider zoning and other non-capital intensive measures to spur the development
of this type of space.

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Industry Expansion & Cultivation

54

Incubator space containing 12 private studios, classroom space, conference

rooms, a computer lab, an industrial sewing room, storage, and work areas
for 50 designers
The creation of this hub represents the Citys commitment to encourage
innovation and partnership between the public and private sectors. Such
investments ensure that companies at the cutting edge of the fashion
industry can grow and innovate right here in New York City.

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

55

Vision 1

Industry Expansion & Cultivation

Vision 1

Supporting Initiatives

Supporting Initiative

A. Support a state-of-the-art food production and distribution industry

A. Reduce the regulatory burden on small

businesses through the Small Business First plan

Hunts Point Food Distribution Center (HPFDC) is one of the largest food-distribution
centers in the world, occupying 329 acres and housing more than 115 firms. We will
support the modernization and upgrade of Hunts Point to create space for food
retailers and wholesalers serving the city. Currently, 60 percent of the citys produce
and 50 percent of meat and fish pass through the HPFDC, which directly employs
8,000 people and is responsible for many other indirect jobs and positive economic
spillover effects in the Hunts Point Peninsula and throughout the South Bronx. By
investing in modernizing and improving resiliency for the public markets and other
HPFDC properties, Hunts Point will be better prepared for power outages, coastal
flooding, job losses, and other disruptions that could come from extreme storm events
to the citywide food distribution system. Moreover, at the adjacent Hunts Point
Wastewater Treatment Plant, the New York City Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) is working to replace sludge digesters with a new design that could
potentially take the food waste from HPFDC and use it as a source of energy for a
local microgrid. Additionally, the City will work with the New York State Department
of Transportation (NYSDOT) to make efforts to reconfigure the Bruckner-Sheridan
Interchange and Sheridan Expressway to improve truck access to the HPFDC.
HPFDC will anchor a world-class food cluster in Hunts Point Peninsulawith
economic benefits for the South Bronx as wellthus strengthening the entire
citywide food-distribution system.
B. Activate the Citys industrial assets to support the creation of quality jobs
The City will renovate and redevelop City-owned industrial assets to maximize their
economic development potential as well as their positive outcomes. The City will
prioritize the creation of high-quality jobs as well as the activation of job-intensive
uses within its industrial properties.

Initiative 3

Brooklyn Navy Yard

The City has made a $76.8 million capital investment to upgrade
Building 77, a one million square-foot building in the Brooklyn Navy
Yard (BNY). The investment, along with an additional $63.2 million
from other sources, for a total of $140 million, will transform this underutilized warehouse into a modern facility to accommodate both
active manufacturing and technology-based businesses. This rennovation will increase an additional 3,000 jobs will be created through
this renovation, accounting for more than a 40 percent increase in
employment at BNY. Not only will this increase capacity at BNY,
which has had a 100 percent occupancy rate for over a decade, the
City will also expand the on-site job training center in partnership
with the local philanthropic community. The companies at the Yard
will have the space they need, as well as a talented workforce with
the skills for a 21st century economy.
Building 77 is a big part of the BNYS current expansion, the largest
since World War II. Other significant projects include:
1. Green Manufacturing Center: A $67 million, 250,000 squarefoot adaptive reuse of a former machine-shop building
2. Steiner Studios: New York Citys anchor for the film and television industry will create a next-generation media campus complete with pre-and post-production studios
3. Admirals Row: A site that will house a 74,000 square-foot grocery
store, topped by 127,000 square feet of light-industrial space,
89,000 square feet of additional retail space, and a 7,000 squarefoot office/community facility
All initiatives underway underscore BNYs mission to support the
growth of well-paying, modern industrial jobs and ensure positive
community impact. Through the work of its Employment Center,
BNY will ensure these opportunities are available to local residents.

Foster an environment in which small businesses can succeed

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

56

Small Business First is a comprehensive plan to

reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses
in New York City. It will leverage a $27 million
investment over the next five years to simplify the
regulatory hurdles many small businesses face in
opening and operating. It will improve
communication between business owners and City
government; streamline licensing, permitting and
tribunal processes; provide support and resources
to help businesses understand and comply with
City regulations; and ensure assistance is accessible
to all communities across the five boroughs.
Small Business First includes thirty initiatives
developed as a direct result of conversations with
stakeholders, advocates, small business owners,
community leaders, and elected officials
representing a diverse slate of city neighborhoods.
In total, more than 600 unique comments and ideas
were solicited, detailing the specific needs of small
businesses in communities across the five
boroughs. As a result, the Small Business First
initiatives will include:
Consolidating locations for businesses to find and
process applications, permits, and information
across agenciesboth in person and online
Creating one placeboth in-person and online
for business owners to settle the majority of
fines and violations
Helping businesses navigate regulatory processes such as providing pre-inspection walkthroughs to help them comply before receiving
fines or violations

Small businesses are critical to the citys growth, providing entrepreneurial and
employment opportunities to New Yorkers; delivering important local services; and
attracting residents and visitors by adding to the urban fabric that makes New York
City so compelling. Recognizing the importance of small businesses to the Citys
economy and character, New York City will seek to address the challenges they
experience in starting and expanding. In recent years, small businesses (with fewer
than 100 employees) and very small businesses (with fewer than 20 employees) have
grown more rapidly than large businesses, in terms of percentage change in number
of establishments. Small businesses, especially neighborhood retailers, support
economic mobility for a diverse range of New Yorkers, from immigrant families to
low-income entrepreneurs looking for a pathway to the middle class.
nyc.gov/onenyc

Industry Expansion & Cultivation

Translating resources and information materials

into multiple languages

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

57

Vision 1

Workforce Development

Vision 1

Workforce Development

Talent Needs and Qualifications

Goal: New York City will have a workforce

equipped with the skills needed to participate in
the 21st century economy
INDICATORS + TARGETS
Increase workforce
participation rate from
current rate of
61 percent
Increase the number of
individuals receiving Citysponsored, industry-focused
training each year to 30,000
by 2020
Increase the number of
New York City public
school graduates attaining
associates or bachelors
degrees

Overview

Industry
Partnerships

Employer
Demand

All able New Yorkers should have the opportunity to participate in the
workforce, with access to stable, high-quality employment.
During the recession, New York City workers experienced flat or declining wages,
except for those in select high-wage sectors. However, since 2014, more workers
have started to see wage gains, due to increased employment and demand for labor
across a range of sectors. Nonetheless, these gains have not fully offset the wage
stagnation that occurred during the recession. For example, in 2014, inflationadjusted average annual wages were 2.1 percent lower than in 2007 for private,
non-financial workers. Consequently, low-income New Yorkers continue to struggle
with the citys high living costs. Without the qualifications to advance to mid-wage
jobs, these individuals and their families are likely to remain in poverty. Recognizing
that high-, mid-, and low-skill jobs are all part of a diverse, healthy economy, the
City is committed to supporting job quality across all sectors, as well as increasing
wages and access to Paid Sick Leave and Family Leave for low-wage jobs.

Career Pathways workforce

development feedback loop

58

Employment

Career
Pathways

Labor
Supply

The City additionally recognizes that postsecondary attainment is critical to

improving workforce participation and alleviating poverty. Workers with
higher educational attainment demonstrate lower unemployment rates and higher
median weekly earnings. For example, workers with a bachelors degree had an
unemployment rate of 4.0 percent, compared to 7.5 percent for workers with a high
school diploma and 11.0 percent for workers with less than a high school diploma.
Likewise, based on median weekly earnings, workers with a bachelors degree made
more than twice as much as workers with less than a high school diploma. By
investing in increasing postsecondary attainment, we can empower our residents to
join the workforce and thrive.

Initiative 1
Train New Yorkers in high-growth industries, creating
an inclusive workforce across the city
The Career Pathways report identifies six target sectors for the Citys workforce
development efforts, including Healthcare, Technology, Industrial/Manufacturing,
Construction, Retail, and Food Service, which account for about half of all jobs in
New York City. These sectors offer economic mobility and/or significant potential
for both employer and worker benefits through improvements in job quality. They
were chosen based on analysis of tax revenue, recent job growth, forecasted job
growth, total employment, jobs multipliers, wages, and wage distributions.
Healthcare and Technology are high-growth sectors that offer higher-wage, middleskill jobs. The Industrial/Manufacturing and Construction sectors represent
lower-growth sectors that offer relatively well-paying jobs that do not necessarily
require high educational attainment. Finally, the Retail and Food Service sectors
represent high-growth sectors that employ a large part of the workforce, thus
providing the opportunity to aid significant numbers of New Yorkers through
improvements in job quality.

The City can leverage its purchasing power and investments to train and
employ New Yorkers, including those investments envisioned by OneNYC.
Each year, the City spends billions of dollars on infrastructure, goods, and services.
We can promote targeted hiring to employ and train New Yorkers of all skill levels
and qualifications, including those who experience the greatest challenges to stable
employment. We will provide these individuals with enhanced training and support
to increase their participation in the labor market and build relevant skills.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Skills

Job-Relevant Training and Education

The Citys new Career Pathways strategy aims to create a more inclusive
workforce, comprised of individuals from a range of backgrounds in all five
boroughs. Through Career Pathways, the City is committed to providing New
Yorkers with opportunities to enter the workforce and achieve economic stability,
regardless of their starting skill level or educational attainment. To realize this
vision of a more inclusive workforce, the City will support training programs that
give people who historically struggle to enter the labor market the skills needed for
entry-level work, as well as support the career advancement of low- and middle-skill
New Yorkers. The Career Pathways strategy rests on the creation of a more
comprehensive, integrated workforce development system and policy framework
that supports agencies in effectively coordinating to help workers gain skills and
progress in their careers.

nyc.gov/onenyc

Jobs

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

59

Vision 1

Workforce Development

Workforce Development

Vision 1

Initiative 2

Supporting Initiatives
A. Establish and expand Industry Partnerships

Leverage OneNYC investments to train and employ New

Yorkers of all skill levels

Reflecting our commitment to enhanced industry-focused training, we will create

four new Industry Partnerships focused on the Industrial/Manufacturing,
Construction, Retail, and Food-Service sectors. The program will be modeled
after the Citys two existing Industry Partnerships in Technology and Healthcare,
specifically the Tech Talent Pipeline and New York Alliance for Careers in
Healthcare programs. Partnerships are teams of trusted industry experts focused
on addressing the mismatches of labor supply and demand in each sector. They
formalize feedback loops between education, training, and employers, and
mobilize outside resources to address the needs of supply and demand. The
Partnerships will convene public and private stakeholders to develop curricula
and training programs that match industry needs. They will be located within
City government or be competitively contracted.

OneNYC envisions major investments in housing and infrastructure. These

investments present a valuable opportunity to support training and employment for
New Yorkers, which advance their careers and build a more inclusive workforce that
creates pathways for those who have historically experienced high rates of
unemployment.

Supporting Initiatives
A. Leverage City investments to create jobs and training opportunities for
New Yorkers, and encourage targeted hiring
Workforce Skills Training

B. Use Common Metrics for workforce programs

The City will pursue a system-wide effort to align definitions and data among
workforce development agencies and build a shared system to collect data across
all workforce programs. This will allow for evaluation of programs and
longitudinal study of the impact of training and investments.
C. Create bridge programs to prepare low-skill job seekers
Bridge programs serve individuals not yet ready for college, training, or careertrack jobs, typically scoring below tenth-grade literacy levels. The Career
Pathways program will develop bridge programs to help New Yorkers obtain the
academic credentials, experience, and technical skills required to secure entrylevel work and advance into skilled training.

In addition, the City will support the use of Project Labor Agreements to increase the
number of New York City residents that have access to middle-class jobs in the
unionized construction industry. For example, the City recently launched a new New
York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) $3.5 billion Project Labor Agreement, through
which it is expanding its commitment to linking NYCHA residents, minorities,
women, veterans, and high school students to the unionized construction industry.

D. Ease the path to employment for formerly incarcerated people

People with a criminal history are often excluded from employment opportunities
because they are required to disclose their background on job applications, thus
may miss the chance to gain an interview and be considered for hire. A policy
adopted by City government, and other cities around the nation, removes this
upfront disclosure requirement so that an individuals full range of skills and
attributes can be considered before making a hiring decision. The City supports
pending local legislation to extend this policy to private sector employers.

There need to be more

internship opportunities
for those just starting
out and training
programs that are
extremely focused on
entering the workforce
for people who cant
find work that focus[es]
on specialized, specific
skills required to land
jobs in certain areas.
Jesse W., Manhattan

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The City will expand targeted hiring programs that encourage targeted hiring
and establish a First Look process that requires employers receiving City
contracts to review and consider local qualified workers. In pursuing targeted
hiring, the City will build on the model of the Sandy Recovery Hiring Plan, which
ensures housing recovery projects create construction jobs and training
opportunities for New Yorkers who were economically impacted by Hurricane
Sandy. An online portal will support this and other targeted hiring programs to
facilitate interaction and data exchange, and provide feedback regarding hiring
and recruiting. The portal will create a real time loop that allows the City to use
employer input to better prepare and assist candidates.

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B. Capitalize on the Career Pathways Construction Industry Partnership to

create and expand construction training and employment opportunities for
traditionally underrepresented New Yorkers
The City will establish a new Construction Industry Partnership to help qualified
residents from targeted neighborhoods connect to construction jobs. The City
will work with labor unions, construction firms, contractors, and developers to
improve referral and recruiting systems that link New Yorkers to construction
jobs. The model will be built on current successful pre-apprenticeship training
programs such as the Edward J. Malloy Initiative for Construction Skills, a
partnership among construction unions, the City, and union construction
contractors to connect New York Citys youth to pre-apprenticeship programs. As
part of this effort, the City will support construction training programs to help

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Workforce Development

Vision 1

Vision 1

Supporting Initiatives

traditionally under represented populations enter and thrive in this industry.

These training programs will benefit inexperienced young adults, veterans,
women, NYCHA residents, and low-income individuals, as well as
underemployed construction workers. It will include pre-apprenticeship training
for workers entering the field, including both adults and out-of-school/out-ofwork youth, as well as skills-upgrade training for existing workers. The
Partnership will also explore opportunities to expand access to design,
construction management, and other construction-related careers.

A. Significantly expand access to computer science/technology education

across New York City public schools by 2020

C. Support the creation of, and training for, green jobs

The City will create jobs to maintain growing investment in green infrastructure.
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) plans to hire 260
maintenance and horticultural workers by June 2018 to monitor and maintain the
agencys growing number of bioswales and other stormwater-management tools
in public areas, including the right-of-way, parks, schools, and NYCHA properties.
DEPs goal to have 9,000 bioswales in place by June 2018 is the first milestone in
its plan to decrease impermeable surfaces and improve stormwater management
in New York City. These entry-level jobs will provide workers with opportunities
for further professional advancement within DEP, and be coupled with a separate
City program to train 10,000 building operators in the latest energy-efficiency
principles and practices by 2025. The program will help operators develop their
skills and gain access to new work opportunities and, at the same time, help
reduce the citys emissions and better manage its energy demands. While this
program will focus on providing green operations and maintenance training
opportunities to non-union workers, the City will collaborate with Union 32BJ
and Local 94 to develop and share best-in-class curricula specific to New York
Citys built environment. The program will also support the development of
energy benchmarking and monitoring tools to ensure that we can track progress
of greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and key performance indicators.

Career and technical education in schools

Stephanie R, Queens

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CTE programs are valuable, high impact programs on par with college
preparatory programs and a critical part of the current New York City workforce
development plan, codified in the Career Pathways report. These programs, which
are formalized academic and technical education opportunities, prepare enrolled
students for a seamless transition into postsecondary opportunities in two- or
four-year degree programs, further training, apprenticeships, and entry-level
work. Approximately 120,000 New York City public high school students take
part in CTE programs each year. To address challenges related to space and access
to necessary technology, DOE will invest in building sustainable systems that
strengthen current offerings and add capacity within existing and new CTE
programs to ensure high-quality instruction aligned with industry expectations.
We will also develop and launch new, leading-edge CTE programs within existing
schools in order to benefit more students.

Ensure all New York City students have access to an

education that enables them to build 21st century skills
through real-world, work-based learning experiences

C. Expand Transition Coordination Centers to every borough by 2020 to

improve postsecondary outcomes for students with disabilities

We are committed to preparing our students for the 21st century global economy
through greater access to educational opportunities in computer science and related
disciplines; Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs; bilingual learning
environments; support for college- and degree-attainment; and connections
between schools and relevant businesses and industries to provide students with an
on-ramp to a career.

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Recognizing the high demand for talent and education in the technology sector,
we have made great strides in expanding access to educational opportunities in
computer science and related disciplines. The Department of Education (DOE) is
launching a comprehensive, standards-aligned computer-science and softwareengineering education program, the Software Engineering Pilot, for grades 6
through 12. The goals of the program, launched in 2013 are to increase the number
of high school graduates ready to enter new and emerging high-tech fields,and
develop students computational thinking and problem-solving skills in realworld contexts. The Department of Small Business Services (SBS) launched the
Tech Talent Pipeline to support the growth of the citys businesses and prepare
New Yorkers for 21st century jobs. We are committed to expanding these efforts
even further. We have convened an advisory committee to define an ambitious
vision for technology education in our schools, along with specific programs and
goals to ensure our students have the skills they need to succeed in a 21st century
economy. This group is working to develop a detailed strategy and will be
releasing plans later this school year.
B. Strengthen and expand Career and Technical Education programs

Initiative 3
Our schools must be able
to provide not only
books, but Internet
access, and informationliteracy instruction if we
hope to have successful
students who are ready
for college and careers
upon graduation.

Workforce Development

Given the focus on developing opportunities for all students to access work-based
learning opportunities, it is critical to identify and enable students who may not
be able to access these traditional opportunities. To empower these students to
pursue postsecondary opportunities, we will consider expanding our Transition
Coordination Centers, which provide disabled students with work-based learning
opportunities, assessments, and professional learning experiences. Currently,

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Vision 1

Workforce Development

Vision 1

Workforce Development

Initiative 4
Increase postsecondary attainment

these centers serve only a small fraction of the populationbetween 500 and 800
of the 235,000 students receiving special-education services annuallyand are
available at one location in the city.

Supporting efforts to increase postsecondary attainment is key to the Citys goal to

lift New Yorkers out of poverty and strengthen an inclusive workforce. To achieve
this goal, we are committed to increasing the number of New York City public
school graduates attaining associates or bachelors degrees. This initiative
complements other strategies to lift New Yorkers out of poverty, as part of a
complete set of actions that the City will pursue to reach this goal.

D. Explore the opportunity to create bilingual learning environments to

promote multilingualism among New York City students
The 21st century global economy demands a bilingual learning environment for all
New York City students. At the same time, the population of English-Language
Learners (ELLs) is growing and would be better supported in a bilingual learning
environment. The State and City have undertaken multiple initiatives to address
these challenges and better prepare our students based on their language- and
literacy-learning needs. We are constantly re-evaluating an ELL initiatives to
include more innovative models and expand on others that have been proven to
promote academic success. As part of DOEs commitment to student achievement
and increasing access to multilingual programs across the city, we will open 40
dual-language programs during the 2015-2016 school year.

Strategies to increase postsecondary attainment begin in high school, where the City
will work to increase access to college-specific advising. Efforts to improve advising
are intended to promote high school graduation and college matriculation. Based on a
study by the Research Alliance for New York City Schools, 59 percent of public school
graduates enrolled in postsecondary education programs in 2006: 16 percent in the
City University of New York (CUNY) 4-year, 13 percent in CUNY 2-year, and 30
percent non-CUNY. The City will take a comprehensive approach to advising,
ensuring that it continues beyond high school, to college. In college, the City will
expand programs designed to assist students in completing their degrees.
Increased advising enables students to better access the myriad resources available to
them in both high school and college, as counselors are often the primary source of
information about the resources and services available to students. While progress has
been made to improve the ratio of guidance counselors to students in New York Citys
public schools, there is still a significant need for counselors who have been trained to
advise students on postsecondary options. In many schools, guidance counselors have
caseloads of up to 500 students, and not all schools have designated college counselors.

The City has recognized that expanding tech education across our school system cannot
be done without the help of industry partners who demand specific skills in our 21st century economy. As such, the Department of Education has already instituted the following
programs and intends to expand its strategy with private sector partners:

For New York City public high school students, the DOE is partnering with the
Goddard Riverside Community Center to train new counselors and educators on the
college advisement process. This and other efforts are intended to support a target
of one trained counselor for every 35 high school seniors.

A. Preparing 100 high school teachers to teach a new AP Computer Science Principles
course in partnership with the University of California at Berkeley and the Educational
Development Corporation, and funded by the National Science Foundation

Once in college, students may require additional help completing their degrees. Of
New York City public high school graduates who started at CUNY in 2006 and 2007,
53 percent completed the CUNY 4-year program and 13 percent completed the
CUNY 2-year program. At CUNY, Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP)
assists students in earning associate degrees within three years. ASAP participants
are more than two times as likely to graduate as their peers. ASAP also increases
credits earned, lowers the cost per degree, and raises the number of students
transferring to four-year colleges. Building on the success of this program, we are
committed to expanding ASAP to serve 13,000 students over the next three years.

B. Preparing 50 middle and 130 high school teachers through the Blended Learning
Institute on Exploring Computer Science and Project GUTS (Growing Up Thinking
Scientifically) curricula in partnership with code.org
C. Expanding access to successful computer-science/coding curricula and programs run
with partners such as CSNYC and Microsoft (e.g., Technology Education and Literacy in
Schools, Bootstrap, ScriptEd)
D. Ensure that every New York City high school has at least one university and/or industry
partnership so that all students have robust college and career experiences throughout
their high school experience

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The success of these programs will help to build a well-prepared workforce, and
enable more New Yorkers to participate in the Citys economic prosperity through
quality jobs and careers.

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Vision 1

Housing
Goal: New Yorkers will have access to affordable,
high-quality housing coupled with robust
infrastructure and neighborhood services
INDICATORS + TARGETS
Accommodate 8.4 million
households within the
region by 2040, an increase
of 1.1 million households
Finance the new construction of 80,000 affordable
housing units and preservation of 120,000 affordable
housing units by 2024
Support creation of 160,000
additional new housing units
by 2024 and at least 250,000
to 300,000 additional housing units by 2040

Neighborhood planning studies in

support of Housing New York

Potential Rail Corridors/Stops

Existing SBS Corridors
East Harlem
Manhattan

Existing Ferry Network

Housing is in high demand and short supply, as the population continues to grow
and housing production lags behind demand. Despite a total supply of 3.4 million
housing units, the largest New York Citys housing stock has ever been, the vacancy
rate was only 3.45 percent in 2014, well below the legal definition of a housing
emergency (a vacancy rate below 5 percent).

Proposed Ferry Network/Stops

Long Island City Core

Queens

Priority Subway Signal Enhancements

NYCT Subway

East New York

Brooklyn

Bay Street Corridor

Staten Island

Initiative 1

Housing production across the metropolitan area has also

lagged behind demand, adversely affecting the regions
competitiveness as employers across diverse sectors seek to
locate in areas that provide varied housing options for their
workforce. As the region continues to grow, reaching 22
million residents in total by 2040, the City will seek to
coordinate with regional partners to stimulate the production
of housing to meet demand and relieve the burden on
families of all income levels.

= rent-burdened household

Flushing West
Queens

Potential Subway Expansion

In 2014, almost 56 percent of New York City renter households were rent burdened,
defined as paying more than a third of their income toward housing costs. More than
30 percent of renter households were severely burdened, defined as paying more
than half of their income toward rent. This trend is a result of stagnating wages and
increasing costs over the past 20 years. As described above, the creation of new
housing supply at all income levels will help to alleviate this pressure and contribute
to housing affordability in the city. The initiatives below support housing
preservation and production, emphasizing Housing New Yorks focus on affordability
and the Citys commitments to support overall housing production. Additionally, we
are committed to pursuing strategies for mitigating homelessness, beginning with
the provision of support services for the citys most vulnerable populations.
Initiatives discussed in Vision 4 address our commitment to strengthening the
capacity of homeowners, landlords, renters, and tenants affected by Hurricane
Sandy.

56 percent of renters are rent burdened and three in 10

households are severely rent-burdened, paying half or more
of their income to rent and utilities

Sherman Creek/Inwood
Manhattan
Jerome Avenue Corridor
The Bronx

Neighborhood Study Areas

Planned SBS Corridors

Overview

Rent Burden

= severely rent-burdened household

Housing

Vision 1

Source: DCP

Create and preserve 200,000 affordable housing units

over ten years to alleviate New Yorkers rent burden and
meet the needs of a diverse population. Support efforts
by the private market to produce 160,000 additional
new units of housing over ten years to accommodate a
growing population.
The City is committed to an ambitious goal to alleviate New York Citys housing
affordability crisis by creating and preserving 200,000 units of affordable housing over
the next ten years. With this as a cornerstone of the citys mission, we will produce
opportunities to create housing, and engage communities in planning processes to
accommodate growth in neighborhoods across our city.

= unburdened household

Source: New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey, 2014

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Vision 1

Housing

Vision 1

Housing

Housing 9 Million New Yorkers by 2040

To accommodate a population of over nine million New Yorkers by 2040, the city
will need at least 3.7 million housing units throughout the five boroughs. The citys
population growth is driven by its desirability as a place to live and work. Without the production of new housing, this population growth drives housing prices
upward, as new New Yorkers compete with current residents for a limited supply
of existing housing units. To ensure all New Yorkers have access to housing they
can afford, we must not only produce and preserve affordable units but increase the
overall supply of all types of new housing.

build on the strengths of neighborhoods to improve quality of life, especially when

aligned with targeted investments in public and private infrastructure.

Housing New York lays out a number of strategies to achieve these goals. These include engaging communities in neighborhood planning processes in all five boroughs
to coordinate land-use and zoning changes, maximizing the use of City-owned land
for new development of affordable housing, and effectively using City financing tools
to expedite development of new housing and ensure the continued long-term affordability of existing affordable units.

Housing New York, the Citys ambitious ten-year housing plan, forms a foundation for
creating and preserving 200,000 affordable housing units over the next ten years.
The City will also support creation of 160,000 additional new units over the same
period. This level of production will accomplish three key objectives to alleviate New
York Citys housing crisis: accommodate a growing population, ease supply constraints, and offset loss in the housing market as units are taken offline, demolished,
or converted to non-residential units. To meet demand and continue to alleviate
the housing crisis, the City estimates it will need to support creation of 250,000 to
300,000 new units from 2025 to 2040.

Additionally, the City will:

Pursue large-scale development on sites that may have been previously overlooked
or present more complex opportunities for redevelopment, such as Sunnyside Yards
Align new housing development with investments in public transit, to help New
Yorkers reach critical services and their places of employment
Support the growth of employment clusters in areas accessible to significant populations, providing New Yorkers with access to good jobs within a suitable commute

Like New York City, other mature major U.S. and global cities are continuing to
accommodate population growth and manage affordability challenges through increased density, new housing typologies, expansion into surrounding land area, and
smart infrastructure and technology investments. Many of these strategies point the
way for our future growth.
London plans to accommodate population growth from 8.2 million residents in
2011 to 10.1 million residents in 2036 by developing significant areas of vacant or
underutilized land in coordination with transportation improvements, intensifying uses in town centers, and pursuing regional coordination.
San Francisco anticipates growth in the Bay Area to 9.3 million residents by 2040,
from 7.1 million people in 2010. Regional housing production efforts will focus on
housing for low-and middle-income households, concentrating development in existing neighborhoods that can accommodate growth with access to public transit,
housing, jobs, and services, while preserving surrounding natural resources.
Projecting a population of 6.5 to 6.9 million by 2030, from 5.5 million in 2014, Singapore plans to meet this demand by intensifying land use in new developments,
recycling land currently occupied by low-intensity uses, and creating additional
developable area through infill.
New York City can accommodate the number of units planned and future units
required to meet the need. The locations most likely to be suitable for substantial
numbers of new units are key areas close to public transit. Increased density can

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Vision 1

Housing

Vision 1

Supporting Initiatives

Program will serve households at a range of income levels, and will be permanently
affordable, as part of the Citys effort to preserve communities and neighborhood
affordability.

A. Maximize the use of City-owned land for new housing

The New Infill Homeownership Opportunities Program (NIHOP) seeks to
promote creation of mixed-income communities with affordable homeownership
opportunities for moderate-and middle-income households in new one- to
four-family homes and small (less than 15 units) condominiums/cooperatives.
The City will target small developers and local community development
corporations to participate in the program and work with financial institutions to
develop homes in neighborhoods that lack affordable homeownership
opportunities. We will also launch the Neighborhood Construction Program
(NCP), an initiative to aggregate sites to develop affordable housing in order to
achieve economies of scale in the remediation, development, financing, and
operation of scattered infill lots for rental housing. Both NIHOP and NCP have
been designed to encourage the development of small, previously difficult- todevelop infill sites, and to offer opportunities for small developers, local nonprofits, and community development corporations directly or through
partnerships to build their development capacity.
B. Conduct collaborative, holistic neighborhood planning to support new
mixed-income housing creation with supporting infrastructure and services
Over the course of the next ten years, we will work with communities to identify
areas across the five boroughs where coordinated planningincluding changes to
land use and zoning, and improvements to infrastructure and servicescan
promote substantial opportunities for new housing that complements and
enhances neighborhood character. The Department of City Plannings (DCP)
borough offices will coordinate closely with community organizations, local
residents, and sister agencies to conduct neighborhood planning initiatives
around new and existing housing, and plan for additional transit and service
improvements. DCP will engage communities at the early stages of this process to
collect and share data on land use, housing, infrastructure, and services, while
soliciting guidance from local residents and businesses, community organizations,
and elected officials about their concerns and first-hand experiences to identify
existing community needs, set priorities, and shape the plans. All land use actions
initiated as a result of these community planning processes will be subject to a full
public review process, which will provide additional opportunities for input from
Community Boards and local elected officials.
C. Establish a Mandatory Inclusionary Housing Program to promote economic
diversity and affordable-housing development
The City will establish a new Mandatory Inclusionary Housing Program to create
new housing affordable to local communities. The Mandatory Inclusionary
Housing Program will be applied in conjunction with land use actions that promote
increased housing capacity in order to create opportunity for economic diversity in
neighborhoods. The housing created in the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing

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D. Expand opportunities for minority- and women-owned enterprises and

expand the pool of developers building affordable housing
The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is committed
to promoting the participation of Minority- and Women-Owned Business
Enterprises (M/WBE) in the development and management of affordable housing
subsidized under City-sponsored programs. Through theBuilding
Opportunityinitiative, HPD seeks to build the capacity of M/WBE through
professional development, networking, and mentoring programs; improve access
to capital for M/WBE developers with low-cost financing options for siteacquisition and predevelopment costs; and enhance the ability of M/WBE
developers to compete more effectively for HPD support by providing targeted
new construction and preservation opportunities.
Jerome Avenue streetscape

The neighborhood
planning process
A multi-agency effort led
by the Department of City
Planning is engaging local
residents, businesses, and
institutions in a comprehensive
planning process of a two-mile
stretch of Jerome Avenue
in the Bronx, to identify and
evaluate opportunities to
provide and support new and
existing affordable housing;
access to jobs and training;
economic development and
entrepreneurship; brownfield
clean-up; cultural amenities;
pedestrian safety; parks;
schools and daycare; and retail
and local services. The study
and resulting community plan
will promote coordinated
investments in infrastructure
and services to shape a resilient,
sustainable community, and
will include land use and
zoning changes, and the
application of a Mandatory
Inclusionary Housing Program
within the area to promote
affordable housing.

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E. Support and expand efforts to preserve affordable units through

neighborhood planning and outreach
Effective preservation strategies will vary by neighborhood and should be tailored
to each planning effort. This will require analyzing data on housing and market
conditions to identify community needs, developing localized preservation
strategies, and engaging communities to implement these strategies. For example,
in a community facing rising rents due to market pressures, the City may be most
effective in helping owners keep properties affordable by using tax incentives or
financing tools to incentivize energy retrofits that would reduce utility costs. In a
community experiencing high rates of physical distress, the City may need to
focus efforts on expanding its Proactive Preservation Initiative (PPI) through
HPD evaluations. PPI targets deteriorating properties for increased code
enforcement, and works with lenders and regulators to encourage owners to
make necessary repairs in a timely fashion.
F. Foster large-scale development at potential major-site assemblages
As the citys population grows within its geographic limits, the availability of
developable land will continue to decline. The rising cost of developable land, in
turn, becomes a driving factor of the affordability challenge facing real estate
development. There are potential development opportunities throughout the five
boroughs where surface or subterranean infrastructuresuch as rail-yards and
trackscan be built upon. At Sunnyside Yards alone, up to 200 acres are potentially
available for such development. While overbuild development must be evaluated
for technical feasibility and cost effectiveness, the Citys ability to identify feasible
opportunities could make hundreds of acres of otherwise unavailable property
across the five boroughs potential sites for transit-oriented development, improving
connections to, and quality of life for, surrounding neighborhoods, and promoting
affordable housing and economic development opportunities.
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Vision 1

Housing

Vision 1

Housing

Initiative 2
Support efforts to create new housing and jobs
throughout the region

B. Create a more streamlined process for intake, assessment, and rehousing to

end veteran homelessness
The City has committed to the White Houses goal of ending homelessness among
veterans by 2016. We will create a housing plan for every homeless veteran in the city,
regardless of discharge status, within two weeks of their entry into the system. We
will also connect all single adult male veterans entering shelters with a Supportive
Services for Veteran Families Program provider. We will conduct multi-agency case
conferences to overcome barriers to housing, and prioritize veterans for housing
based on each veterans preference, housing needs, eligibility, and vulnerability.

The City recognizes that, as part of a regional economy and labor force, addressing
housing challenges will require collaborative action by partners throughout the
region if the economy of the whole region is to grow together in the coming years.
Providing housing and convenient transit options in and around New York City will
strengthen the regions future economy, while also increasing locational options for
the regions workforce to live.

Supporting Initiative

C. Develop affordable housing appropriate to community needs, including

housing for families, supportive housing, and senior housing

A. Collaborate with regional municipalities and housing agencies on

shared priorities
DCP will establish a unit that will address regional and long-range planning
issues. The unit will analyze regional population, economic and land use trends.
The unit will work with other municipalities and local governments throughout
the metropolitan region, as well as their local planning departments, to coordinate
regional planning initiatives. The unit will identify challenges that face the region
as a whole and help shape regional responses to leverage strengths and address
challenges of mutual interest.

Camba Gardens Apartments in

Wingate, Brooklyn

D. Expand rental assistance and aftercare to support individuals transitioning

from shelters to permanent housing
We will expand the Living in Communities program to provide rental assistance
and support to over 6,000 households annually, ensuring existing shelter
populations have stable housing. Additionally, the City will connect homeless
families to existing permanent subsidized housing through NYCHA and the
Section 8 Program.

Initiative 3
Expand housing and related services to support the citys
most vulnerable populations

E. Expand housing options for people with disabilities by increasing oversight,

targeting placement strategies, and accessing housing subsidies

Our most vulnerable residents need safe housing and supportive housing services.
We will expand and streamline programs to help individuals and families find
housinga critical element of a stable life. Affordable housing is essential to meeting
the needs of New York Citys homeless population of over 57,000 individuals
including nearly 1,000 veterans (over half of whom are in shelter)and the citys
growing senior population. Youth who age out of foster care, and formerly
incarcerated people, too often encounter barriers that prevent them from
transitioning successfully to independent living. Leveraging Housing New York, the
City will provide community-based housing resources to these vulnerable
populations to promote strong, safe neighborhoods and livable communities.

We will help people with disabilities access housing subsidies by improving

coordination across government agencies and removing barriers to the Citys
affordable housing resources. The City will expand the role of ADA and Section
504 coordinators to full-time positions to ensure a more active and coordinated
response to the housing needs of people with disabilities.
F. Advocate for state and federal funding to increase supportive
housing production
The City will increase targets for the production of supportive housing and
advocate for increased funding from programs such as the Medicaid Redesign Team
and a NY/NY4 agreement with the State. We will continue to focus on the creation
of supportive housing that focuses on the particular needs of ex-offenders, youth
aging out of foster care, and people with chronic illness and disabilities.

Supporting Initiatives
A. Strengthen community-based homelessness prevention systems
We will enhance and expand the citys homeless prevention services through
community networks and neighborhood organizations, while strengthening
coordination across government agencies at city, state, and federal levels.

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This effort will leverage federal and state rental subsidies that help seniors afford
their rent and will include zoning and regulatory amendments to facilitate the
development of senior housing units.

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Vision 1

Vision 1

Thriving Neighborhoods

Thriving Neighborhoods
Goal: New York Citys neighborhoods will
continue to thrive and be well-served

particular, this will include identification of areas where zoning discourages

vibrant retail and mixed-use development, including reducing burdensome
parking requirements and allowing for high-quality retail space on ground floors,
while preserving the full potential for housing above. Finally, we will develop
recommended design guidelines for City-sponsored mixed-use development to
maximize the competitiveness and flexibility of ground-floor space.

Overview
New York City is a city of neighborhoods. When New Yorkers describe where they
live, they often name their neighborhood. For residents to succeed, neighborhoods
require basic services, healthy environments, a good quality of life, and connections to
the citys job centers. As New York Citys population continues to grow, we will make
strategic investments to bring necessary public-transit access, quality affordable
housing, retail, and services to both growing and underserved neighborhoods.

B. Maximize the use of available financing tools that assist the commercial
components of mixed-use projects to support vibrant mixed-use
neighborhoods
To support vibrant mixed-use communities and strong commercial corridors that
provide neighborhood services, the City will use a variety of funding sources to
finance new retail space in underserved areas. It will also leverage federal programs
such as New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) to maximize investments. Furthermore,
we will conduct commercial needs assessments to assess demographic, economic,
and physical factors and create customized programs to help small businesses adapt
to such changes. These efforts promote mixed-use projects that serve neighborhood
goals, small business, and affordable housing opportunities.

Initiative 1
Support creation of vibrant
neighborhoods by alleviating
barriers to mixed-use development
and utilizing available financing tools
Neighborhood planning, including zoning changes
and maximizing available financing tools, can open up
a wide range of opportunities for mixed-use
communities, These tools are effective in providing
space for neighborhood services, including local
retail, while also encouraging new housing.

Sheridan Expressway:
Transportation for Businesses and Residents
The City will continue to work with the New York State Department of
Transportation (NYSDOT), local businesses, and the community on the future of
the Sheridan Expressway. We will pursue implementation of the modify-combined
plan put forward in the Citys 2013 Sheridan Expressway-Hunts Point Land Use
and Transportation Study. The plan involves reconfiguring the Bruckner-Sheridan
Interchange, constructing on- and off-ramps at Oak Point to provide direct truck
access between the Bruckner Expressway and the Hunts Point Industrial Area,
transforming the at-grade portion of the Sheridan Expressway into a local boulevard
and implementing targeted safety improvements at area intersections. The plan
would reduce truck traffic on local streets and decrease overall congestion. This
will improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety and air quality; enhance truck access
to the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center; better connect local residents to new
parks and the South Bronx waterfront; and support development. The immediate
next step to advance these improvements is for NYSDOT to restart and complete an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on modifications to the Bruckner-Sheridan
interchange, the Oak Point ramps, and the Sheridan Expressway.

Supporting Initiatives
A. Pursue neighborhood planning strategies that
expand opportunities for mixed-use development,
especially the attraction of retail and services to
underserved neighborhoods

Brooklyn Weekend Walks

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With input from communities and residents, the City

will initiate strategies to create mixed-use
communities that include housing, retail, and other
commercial uses that together support the vitality of
neighborhoods. For example, creation of appropriate
commercial space can encourage location of retailers
providing access to fresh food and necessary supplies
for residents, as described further in Vision 2. In

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Vision 1

Thriving Neighborhoods

Thriving Neighborhoods

Vision 1

Planning for Vibrant Neighborhoods

Initiative 2

The City seeks to overcome disparities in access to economic opportunity, transportation, city and community-based resources, parks and public space, and broadband across neighborhoods. The Citys efforts will reflect several critical neighborhood-planning principles, captured under the Thriving Neighborhoods goal. These
principles include supporting vibrant mixed-use communities that align public transit, housing, and jobs while offering residents access to essential retail and services,
especially in currently underserved communities; proactively planning for current
and future growth; and engaging New Yorkers in the planning process. Reflecting
and building on these principles, OneNYC includes a number of neighborhood-focused initiatives and sub-initiatives throughout the plan:

Make strategic investments for livable neighborhoods

The City will seek to align investments in infrastructure and services to support the
livability of neighborhoods slated for growth. Across the city, there are
neighborhoods where the hard work of planning and consensus-building for new
housing development has already been completed and area-wide rezonings and
large-scale development plans will foster new mixed-income housing and
supporting uses. However, in some of these areas, the potential for new housing can
only be fully realized after improvements to infrastructure and regulatory changes
to allow for new mixed-use development. In these neighborhoods, and others going
forward, agencies will work with local elected officials, residents, businesses, and
community organizations to make targeted infrastructure investments to make it
feasible for thousands of new affordable housing units and accompanying retail,
services, and community facilities to be built. Examples of these types of
investments are found in initiatives throughout OneNYC, as noted on the next page.

Vision

Goal

Initiatives/Sub-Initiatives

Workforce
Development

The City will bring workforce training programs to traditionally overlooked populations and support
the creation of Transition Coordination Centers in every borough to improve postsecondary
outcomes for students with disabilities.

Housing

The City will conduct collaborative neighborhood planning to identify areas across the five boroughs
where land-use and zoning changes, and infrastructure and service improvements, can promote
substantial opportunities for new housing that complements and enhances neighborhood character.

Transportation

The City will work with the MTA and others to improve existing transit services and invest in a
major expansion of the transit network in order to better serve neighborhoods and provide reliable
and convenient transit access to employment.

Broadband

The City will support expanded access to affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband service for
residents and businesses by 2025.

Culture

The City will ensure high-quality cultural facilities and programming in all neighborhoods.

Early Childhood

The City will enhance its Neighborhood Health Hubs with dedicated space for womens health to
reduce infant mortality and offer high-quality, full-day Pre-K to all children.

Integrated
Government & Social
Services Delivery

The City will provide all New Yorkers with access to high-quality City and community-based
resources through the Community Schools expansion, Neighborhood Health Hubs that co-locate
health and mental health services with social services and City agencies, and digital platforms.

Healthy
Neighborhoods,
Healthy Living

The City will improve access to affordable, healthy food and physical activity opportunities in all
neighborhoods.

Healthcare Access

The City will establish health clinics in high-need neighborhoods and co-locate behavioral health
services with primary care.

Criminal Justice
Reform

The City will make neighborhoods safer through increased use of technology and data as well as
neighborhood engagement.

Water Resources

The City will offer high-quality water services in all neighborhoods, as well improve gray and
green infrastructure to address recurrent flooding in certain neighborhoods.

Public Realm

The City will support quality parks and public space in low-income, growing, and high-density
neighborhoods through the Community Parks Initiative and other efforts while pursuing a Parks
Without Borders strategy to enhance neighborhood access and connectivity to parks.

Coastal Resilience

The City will reduce flooding risk in waterfront neighborhoods by strengthening the citys coastal
defenses against flooding and sea level rise.

Social and Economic

Resiliency

The City will make our neighborhoods safer by strengthening social and economic resiliency and
enhancing community-based organizations capacity to support residents with services and information.

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Vision 1

Vision 1

Culture

Cultural Resources and Poverty:

New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Grants and Poverty Rates, 20132014

Goal: All New Yorkers will have easy access to

cultural resources and activities

INDICATORS
Increase in number of public
cultural and civic events in
community districts with the
highest rates of poverty and
lowest rates of public cultural
and civic programming

Culture

Cultural Program Grantees

Cultural Program Sites

Overview

30-60% in Poverty

As one of the main drivers of tourism to New York City, culture is a central pillar of
economic development. Cultural institutions attract tourists, provide thousands of
jobs, and contribute to resident well-being and quality of life.

15-20% in Poverty

20-30% in Poverty

10-15% in Poverty
Less than 10% in Poverty

Every year, people come from all over the world to visit our world-class museums
and attend one of the thousands of theater, music, and dance performances that
occur annually across the city. According to NYC & Company, the City saw a recordsetting 56.4 million tourists, almost half of whom27.6 millioncame specifically to
enjoy New York Citys cultural life. Visitor spending in general generated nearly $38
billion in 2013, supporting nearly 370,000 leisure and hospitality jobs.
Moreover, our world-class institutions, of all scales and unique local offerings,
underpin the fabric of our neighborhoods and attract artists and creative individuals
to the city. This combination of home-grown talent and the newly arrived has
spurred creation of new galleries, music venues, dance spaces, and theaters.
Cultural activities and spaces further underpin a high quality of life for residents,
supporting the citys ability to retain and attract talent. New York Citys rich cultural
attractions figure in newcomers decisions to move and stay here, and factor among
the neighborhood amenities that inspire residents to live in certain areas. Access to
culture is critical to ensuring the well-being of residents, improving social
connections, lowering stress, improving school effectiveness, raising community
awareness, and enhancing civic engagement.
However, the boroughs other than Manhattan, and the low-income areas within
these boroughs, are home to fewer grantee cultural organizations and facilities that
drive programming, suggesting missed opportunities in supporting quality of life,
jobs, and tourism in these areas (see Map). Across New York City, community-based
cultural organizations and facilities face challenges in providing local cultural
programming to residents due to limited funding and capacity. Parks, recreational
centers, and public spaces often serve as convenient sites for neighborhood cultural
programming, yet have suffered from inadequate investment as well as unclear
permitting processes.

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 20092013

5-Year Estimates

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University of Pennsylvanias Social Impact of the Arts Projects preliminary map of NYC Department of Cultural Affairs grantee sites against
rates of poverty in NYC is only a first step in a much larger interrogation
of the social impact that culture has in NYCs neighborhoods.

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Vision 1

Culture

Vision 1

Culture

We are committed to addressing these challenges and ensuring the vitality of the
arts in New York City, as we have been throughout the course of New York Citys
history, demonstrated by the following recent and ongoing initiatives:

Center for Arts and Education

(Casita Maria)

Supplying financial support and technical assistance to New York Citys cultural
community, including 33 City-owned institutions that comprise the Cultural Institutions Group, and grants to more than 1,100 other cultural non-profit organizations
through the Cultural Development Fund
Commissioning public art through the Percent for Art program, which has commissioned more than 300 works of art at public building sites throughout New York
City since its inception thirty years ago
Providing affordable artist workspace through programs like Spaceworks, which
subleases affordable spaces to artists at below-market rates
Recently-initiated projects to continue this commitment include:
Providing 1,500 units of affordable live/work spaces, and 500 below-market workspaces, for artists by 2024
Collaborating with the University of Pennsylvanias Social Impact of the Arts
Project to conduct a study of the impact of cultural engagement on neighborhoods in order to help align policies with target neighborhoods
Casita Maria, Dancing in the Streets

Initiative 1
Ensure well-used, high-quality cultural facilities and
programming in all neighborhoods
Supporting Initiatives
A. Provide funding and capacity-building support to local cultural
organizations to create public art and programming in underserved areas
The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) will explore strategies to build upon
the existing Community Arts Development Program (CADP) to develop a capacitybuilding program for public art and programming. This includes workshops and
grant support for community-based cultural organizations that serve
neighborhoods identified by the City as sites for cross-agency coordination and
investment, including those home to Community Parks Initiative sites. DCLA will
build upon the existing CADP, which offers workshops on expanding organizational
capacity, to include capacity-building around commissioning neighborhood-based
public art projects. In conjunction with this program, additional funding would
enable DCLA to initiate a new competitive process for capacity-building grants
aimed at supporting staff at cultural organizations to interface with other
neighborhood civic groups.

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Center for Arts & Education (Casita Maria) is a

venerable settlement house, founded in East Harlem
in the 1930s, which followed the Latino immigrant
community to the South Bronx in 1960. Casita Maria
weathered the economic collapse of the area in the
1970s, when its neighborhood was devastated by an
arson epidemic, unemployment, street gangs, and
drug use. Recognizing that the South Bronx has been
a hub for the cultural innovation and hybridization
that has influenced American popular culture for
decadesJewish culture in the 1930s, the emergence
of Latin music as Caribbean immigrants moved in,
doo-wop in the 50s and 60s, and rap and hip hop in
the 1980sCasita decided to move the arts to the center of its identity as a social-service organization and
use the arts to change the way people think about the
South Bronx. According to Executive Director Sarah
Calderon, People from outside the area, but also local
residents, have internalized its identity of helplessness
and hopelessness. What this area needs is respect.
Casita has chosen the areas rich cultural legacy as a
strategy for cultivating that respect, including bringing Dancing in the Streets, a producer of adventurous
free public performances in unexpected places like
grain silos, beaches, parks, rooftops, and fire-escapes
to the middle of the street, into its building as a resident company. Casitas building, which is shared with
a public school, also includes a gallery and theater.
The two organizations have produced the South
Bronx Culture Trail, which maps historic cultural
sites and venues from the first Latin record store to
the Fort Apache police station. Last fall, they began to
breathe life into the Trail with tours and live performances on the fire escapes, stoops, and sidewalks of
Hunts Point and Longwood. Dancing in the Streets
will continue to animate the Trail for at least another
year with mambo dancers, conga players, stickball
games, and a salsa concert in a walking and dancing
celebration of the neighborhood featuring professional and neighborhood residents.

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Vision 1

Culture

Vision 1

Museum of Contemporary African

Diasporan Arts (MoCADA)

B. Facilitate cultural partnerships, such as artists-in-residence, in public agencies

Funding for cultural partnerships enables agencies to further their missions,
promote community engagement, support residencies and project production, and
encourage public dialogue around social questions and issues City agencies work to
address. Several City agencies, including the Department for the Aging, Department
of Probation, and Department of Sanitation, have already engaged in cultural
partnerships in recent years and attested to the value these partnerships have
created for their agencies. Other agencies, including the Office of Immigrant Affairs,
Administration for Childrens Services, and the Economic Development
Corporation, have also expressed interest in engaging cultural partners.
C. Streamline the permitting process in order to increase access to public
spaces and facilities for community events
There is widespread demand among New York City residents for use of public
spaces and facilities for community events. Fragmented permitting processes and
information across agencies that offer these services, however, make it difficult to
meet this demand. This will enhance access to public facilities and spaces by
improving information-sharing and process-coordination across agencies for event
permitting. DCLA will form a citywide task force dedicated to improving existing
processes. Creating a unified coordination and communications strategy will make
it easier for residents to navigate the permitting process and increase awareness of
the availability of spaces for hosting community events.

Soul of Brooklyn

D. Increase use of parks and public spaces by expanding cultural, educational,

and civic engagement programming available to the public
Many public spaces and parks are underutilized, particularly in low-income
neighborhoods. This would aim to increase resident use of parks and public
spaces by providing grant funding to community-based cultural organizations to
develop dynamic cultural and civic programming in these venues. Such
programming could include public visual art, live music and dance, and
information-sharing on community issues. Priority would be placed on cultural
and civic programming conducted in public spaces such as community parks,
plazas, and streets, to reach the greatest number of people, facilitate community
interaction, cultivate pride of place, and promote physical exercise and
community stewardship. As such, the initiative would seek to build upon and
coordinate with the publicly-sited programming efforts currently in development
as part of the Community Parks Initiative.

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Culture

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Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan

Arts is a community-based museum located in
Brooklyns Fort Greene area. MoCADA established a
collaborative of 32 African diaspora arts organizations
called Soul of Brooklyn that has built partnerships
with local businesses in central Brooklyn neighborhoods around arts programming as a means of promoting their businesses and the enormous diversity
of art rooted in the African diaspora. The keystone of
Soul of Brooklyn is its annual Block Party, a summer
event that draws some 20,000 people. MoCADAs
second project, #SoulofBK, will bring arts programming to public spaces in four public-housing developments in Brooklyns Fort Greene and surrounding
neighborhoods on a monthly basis. The series began
in February with a screening of the award-winning
feature, Middle of Nowhere, a film that explores the
effects of incarceration on women whose loved ones
have been sent to prison. The screening, co-sponsored
by the Ingersoll Homes Tenant Association, was
attended by a balance of residents and non-residents,
and was followed by a discussion with CNUS, a think
tank of formerly incarcerated professionalsworking for justice. Upcoming programs include a jazz
performance, screening of the Harry Belafonte biopic
Sing Your Song (with Belafonte present), a dance performance with the street dance king of Brooklyn,
and participatory arts projects in the public-housing
tenant gardens led by MoCADA teaching artists. The
programming is designed to weave together MoCADAs commitments to the cultural interests and
needs of public-housing residents, breaking down the
boundaries that may isolate them from the surrounding neighborhoods them, the museums exploration of
the rich complexity of African-rooted expression, and
dialogue about the difficult issues facing the large and
complex black community of Brooklyn.

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Vision 1

INDICATORS + TARGETS
Increase overall transit
capacity into the Manhattan
core by 20 percent by 2040
Double the number of
cyclists, tracked by the NYC
Commuter Cycling Index,
by 2020
Increase the share of cargo
moved within the region via
rail and water

Vision 1

Transportation

this challenge, forecasts show demand at these airports increasing from about 117
million passengers today to 150 million by 2030.

Goal: New York Citys transportation network

will be reliable, safe, sustainable, and accessible,
meeting the needs of all New Yorkers and
supporting the citys growing economy

New York Citys freight system also faces significant challenges. Although New York Citys
port and rail connections fueled the citys rise in the 19th and 20th centuries, almost all of
the nearly 400 million tons of cargo that enters, leaves, or passes through the city every
year are now transported by truck. This creates a host of challenges, from air quality to
costs for businesses, to security and resiliency, to quality of life concerns for residents.
And those trucks put a tremendous amount of wear and tear on the Citys roads,
which are used by millions of vehicles each day. Our streets, bridges, and highways
are among the oldest in the country and are in need of near constant repair and
rehabilitation. A sustained commitment to maintaining our road network is essential
to supporting the movement of people and good across the five boroughs.

Overview
Our transportation network is the lifeblood of the citys neighborhoods and our
economy. Every day the citys public-transit system enables millions of New Yorkers
to get to work and school, access services and shopping, and enjoy the life of the city.

Initiative 1

Throughout its history, New York Citys economic growth has been supported by
investment in its transit system. Despite the importance of the transit network, the
first phase of the Second Avenue Subwayscheduled to open in late 2016will be the
first major capacity expansion of the system since the late 1930s. Today, a growing
number of subway lines, such as the 4/5/6, are at capacity during peak periods. Transit
hubs serving the region, such as Penn Station (Amtrak/NJT/LIRR) and the Port
Authority Bus Terminal (PABT), are also strained. These capacity issues are not
limited to Manhattan and traditional central business districts. Growth throughout the
five boroughs, both to dispersed centers of employment and communities
experiencing commercial and residential growth, like DUMBO, Williamsburg, and
Long Island City, is creating new challenges, a telling sign of the need for better
service and connections to emerging job clusters throughout the city.
Reliable and convenient transit access to employment and other activities remains
stubbornly out of reach for too many New Yorkers. This problem is particularly
acute for low- and moderate-income residents in areas poorly served by the subway
or buses. For seniors and those with disabilities, this can affect their ability to simply
get groceries, or see family and friends.

Support full funding of the MTA capital plan

A modern and reliable regional transit system is essential to New
Yorks future growth and realizing the goals of OneNYC. Thus, the
City strongly supports the full funding of the Metropolitan
Transportation Authoritys (MTA) 201519 Capital Plan. As the
citys transit riders, toll payers, and taxpayers already support the
much of the MTAs operations, we will continue to look to every
level of government to support the modernization and expansion
of New Yorks transit system, which is a key economic driver of
the downstate New York region.

Subway capacity expansion

For New Yorkers who are active, biking offers a convenient travel option for work
and other trips. As biking creates no carbon emissions, it also supports the Citys
sustainability goals. New York Citys Commuter Cycling Indicator, an indicator
developed by DOT that makes use of the most robust data availalbe to estimate levels
of cycling within the central areas of the city over time, has almost quadrupled since
2000. This growth has been facilitated by a dramatic expansion in the Citys bike
network to 980 lane miles. However, many neighborhoods outside Manhattan and
inner Brooklyn and Queens still lack significant bike infrastructure.

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The City will also work closely with the MTA to identify
significant savings and improve operational coordination in areas
of common interest, such as bus rapid transit, other bus services,
and Access-a-Ride. Any savings we achieve together can be leveraged to create new
capital support for the MTA.
To support the goals on OneNYC, the City calls for the inclusion of the following
additional capital projects and initiatives in the MTA capital plan:
The development of a strategy to accelerate the installation of Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC), a technology that allows the MTA to operate
more frequent service on existing subway lines. CBTC improves safety, expands
capacity, increases reliability, shortens travel times, and enables the installation
of count-down clocks. To keep up with growing ridership on our subways, CBTC
must be more quickly deployed on congested routes

New Yorks three main airportsJFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Libertyconsistently

rank as the most delay-prone in the nation. During peak hours, the Federal Aviation
Administration caps take-offs and landings in an effort to control delays. Adding to

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Transportation

A study to explore the expansion of the subway system south along Utica Avenue in

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Vision 1

Transportation

Vision 1

Over the next four years, the City will address eight of these bus hot spots. The City
will also continue to expand transit signal priority (TSP), a system that improves bus
reliability by giving buses an early green light or extra green time at intersections.
The City will implement two new TSP corridors per year over the next four years (in
addition to the nine corridors already being planned, and three already in operation).

Brooklyn, one of the densest areas of the city without direct access to the subway
Entrance upgrades at a number of subway stations in high-growth areas to relieve crowding and provide access for the disabled beyond those already included in the MTA plan
A transfer connection at the Livonia Ave/Junius St stations between the L and the
3 lines, which would improve subway options for residents of Canarsie and East
New York

Increase camera enforcement of bus-lane rules. Bus lanes are an essential tool for
moving buses through congested city streets and getting bus riders where they need
to go more quickly. Effective enforcement of bus lanes requires cameras in order to
keep the lanes free from traffic. The current State legislation authorizing enforcement
of bus-lane rules with cameras expires this year. Working with our elected representatives in Albany, the City will work to expand use of bus-lane cameras to keep buses
moving and thus provide faster trips for tens of thousands of New York City bus riders.

The development of a strategy to upgrade the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) Atlantic Branch to subway-like service after the completion of East Side Accessincluding adoption of the subway fareand a timeline for implementation
Improvements to the LIRR and Broadway Junction stations and necessary enhancements, including streetscaping and pedestrian improvements, to strengthen
connections in a potential high growth area with transit capacity

Provide real time bus information to more riders. Working with the MTA, the
City will install 250 real time bus information signs at key SBS and local bus stops
in 2016 and 2017. These displays will provide better information to bus riders,
especially those without smartphones.

Initiative 2

Leverage the commuter rail system to better serve New York City communities. The City will work with the MTA to better leverage the commuter rail
system to provide improved transit connections within the city. The City will
continue to support the building of new accessible stations in the Bronx as part of
the Metro-North to Penn Station project, which will bring commuter rail service to Co-Op City and other Bronx communities currently without rapid transit
access. The City will also work with the MTA on a study of the conversion of the
Atlantic Branch to a more frequent and affordable shuttle service between Atlantic Terminal and Jamaica, which would provide a new transit option to residents
of Crown Heights, East New York, and Jamaica. Finally, the City will advocate for
changing commuter-rail-fare policy for intra-city trips, including the expansion
of City Ticket, which would make the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North an
affordable option for travel within the city.

Improve existing transit services

Supporting Initiatives

Select Bus Service

Transportation

A. Relieve congestion on major subway corridors. In addition to accelerating the

installation of CBTC on key subway lines, as detailed in Initiative 1, the City will
also continue to work with the MTA to move forward on design and construction
of Second Avenue Subway Phase II, and move forward on the planning and
design of Phase III. When completed, these phases will extend the line north to
125th Street and south to Houston Street, dramatically relieving congestion on the
over-crowded 4/5/6 subway lines.
B. Improve and expand bus transit throughout the city
To improve bus service throughout New York City, we will:

Initiative 3

Expand the Select Bus Service (SBS) network to 20 routes citywide by 2017.
The MTA and New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) will significantly expand the reach of SBS, bringing faster and more-reliable bus service to tens
of thousands of daily bus riders. The City and the MTA will initiate service on three
new SBS routes in 2015 and five new routes in both 2016 and 2017. The next routes to
launch in 2015 are 86th Street in Manhattan, Utica Avenue in Brooklyn, and Flushing
to Jamaica via Main Street in Queens. The City has also begun work on a transformative new bus rapid-transit route on Woodhaven Boulevard which will reduce travel
times by 25 to 30 percent for more than 30,000 daily bus riders. The SBS program has
been successful in reducing travel times and increasing ridership.

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Plan for major expansions of the transit network

Supporting Initiatives
A. Develop a regional transit strategy to address the growing number of
commuters from west of the Hudson River

Improve local bus service. NYCDOT will work with the MTA to identify key congestion points along busy local bus routes, and to develop and implement solutions.

Port Authority Bus Terminal

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86

Over a quarter of a million workers commute every day from counties in northern
New Jersey to Manhattanand this number is expected to increase over the
coming decades. The bus and rail infrastructure that handles most of this
commuter load is already at capacity. The City will work with Amtrak, the MTA,
New Jersey Transit, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

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Transportation

Vision 1

Transportation

Vision 1

6
1

Improving Transit Access to Jobs

The initiatives described within this goal will improve existing transit service and provide support for major expansions to the transit network. While
increasing access to jobs for all New Yorkers, these improvements will
particularly impact those whose poor access by public transit affects their
economic outcomes.

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The neighborhoods highlighted in the above map are those in which median household income for a family of four is below the citywide average
of $52,259 and access by public transit to jobs is comparatively poor. Many
workers in these communities do not have access to a car and rely exclusively on mass transit to get to work.

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To improve access to employment in these priority areas, the City will implement a program of public transit and bike improvements, including new
Select Bus Service (SBS) routes and expanded ferry service. The City will
also work with the MTA to improve and expand the transit network. These
initiatives are described in more detail in Initiatives 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this goal.

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Including existing SBS routes, these projects will improve transit service in
25 priority communities, contributing to the target of providing 90 percent of
New Yorkers with access to more than 200,000 jobs by transit in 45 minutes.

r
do
r ri

32

34
33
32

Priority Subway Signal Enhancements

31

NYCT Subway

30

NYC median income is $52,259 (2013)

2
Weighted average jobs accessible via transit within 45 minutes
1

la
Hy

vd
Bl

5-Year Estimates, Economic Opportunity and

New York City Neighborhoods
NYU Rudin Center Analysis

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DRAFT 04/20/2015 06:19 PM

File: 159_TransitEquity-Hybrid-150420_v2.ai

Transit
Network
Expansion
Projects

Existing Transit Capacity

Increased Capacity with

Expansion Projects
MetroNorth Tunnel

MetroNorth Tunnel

This map shows two types

of projects:

Amtrak Empire Service

2nd Ave Subway

1. Major transit projects

already under construction by the MTA and
PANYNJ.

Lexington Ave

Lexington Ave
Central Park West

Central Park West

60th St. Tunnel

7th Ave

Existing Amtrak service

not shown

60th St. Tunnel

7th Ave

42

42

nd

2. Major capital projects

that are essential to the
future growth of the
city and are called for in
OneNYC.

63rd St. Tunnel

63rd St. Tunnel

St

nd

NJT- Amtrak Tunnel

53rd St. Tunnel

53rd St. Tunnel

St

NJT- Amtrak Tunnel

33rd St - Path Tunnel

33rd St - Path Tunnel

14

th

14

th

Amtrak-LIRR Tunnel

St

Amtrak-LIRR Tunnel

St

Steinway Tunnel

Steinway Tunnel
Ca

na

WTC Path Tunnel

Ca

na

lS

lS

WTC Path Tunnel

14th St Tunnel

14th St Tunnel
Joralemon Tunnel

Major Transit
Projects Under
Construction
1. 2nd Avenue Subway (Phase 1)
Who: MTA-CC
What: Tunneling and station work to
extend Q line service to 96th Street.
2. East Side Access
Who: MTA-CC
What: Provide LIRR access to Grand
Central Terminal via the 63rd Street
Tunnel, increasing frequency and providing direct access to East Midtown.
3. Advanced Subway Signals
Who: MTA-NYCT
What: Installation of new communications and signal equipment to
increase reliability and frequency on
the 7 line.
4. Moynihan Station Expansion
Who: Amtrak
What: Initial design and construction
to convert the Farley Post Office into
a new passenger rail station while
improving Penn Station as a major
component of the Gateway Project.
5. WTC Transportation Hub
Who: PANYNJ
What: Replacing World Trade Center
PATH station with a new transportation hub that provides connections to
subway and ferry services.

Joralemon Tunnel

New York Citys

Priority Transit
Projects
1. 2nd Avenue Subway (Phase 2)
Who: MTA-CC
What: Extension of the Second
Avenue Subway from 96th Street to
125th Street, with new stations at
106th, 116th, and 125th Streets.
2. Metro-North Railroad Penn
Station Access
Who: MTA-CC
What: Creation of a new connection from the Metro-North New
Haven Line to Penn Station, with
four new stations in the Bronx.
3. Port Authority Bus Terminal
Who: PANYNJ
What: Design of a new terminal
and supporting facilities to accommodate future bus demand and
improve the customer experience.
4. Gateway Program
Who: Amtrak
What: Construction of two new
Hudson River rail tunnels and other improvements to double train
capacity into Penn Station.

Williamsburg Bridge

Williamsburg Bridge
Rutgers Tunnel

Rutgers Tunnel

Cranberry Tunnel

Cranberry Tunnel
Manhattan Bridge

Manhattan Bridge

5. Penn Station Terminal

Redevelopment
Who: NJT/MTA
What: Design of a new modern
train station to replace the existing
outmoded facility, alleviating
overcrowding and improving the
passenger experience.
6. PATH Newark Airport Extension
Who: PANYNJ
What: Extension of PATH service
to Newark Liberty Airport to
provide a one-seat ride from Lower
Manhattan.
7. Atlantic Avenue Conversion
Who: MTA-LIRR
What: Study of the conversion of
the commuter rail line between
Atlantic Terminal and Jamaica
Station into subway-like passenger
service.
8. Utica Avenue Subway
Extension
Who: MTA-CC
What: Study of the extension
of the Eastern Parkway Line to
provide service on the 3 and 4 lines
along Utica Avenue in Brooklyn.

9. Advanced Subway Signals

Who: MTA-NYCT
What: Installation of CBTC, new
communications and signal equipment to increase reliability and
capacity on the E,F,M and R lines.
10. 2nd Avenue Subway (Phase 3)
Who: MTA-CC
What: Design of the extension
of the Second Avenue subway
south to Houston Street, with new
stations at 55th, 42nd, 34th, 23rd,
14th, and Houston Streets.
Other Subway Enhancements
Who: MTA-CC
What: Study of new transfer between the L and 3 lines at Livonia
Avenue, improvements at Broadway Junction, and acceleration of
advanced subway signals on other
key congested subway lines (not
shown).

Clark Tunnel

Montague Tunnel

Overall Available Capacity Used

At Rush Hour

Clark Tunnel

*Existing guideline capacity adjusted

for typical performance based on
average headways or trips completed.

12%

90% or more utilized

50-75%

75-90%

0-50%

Montague Tunnel

Available
Capacity

Overall Available Capacity Used

At Rush Hour
90% or more utilized

50-75%

75-90%

0-50%

88%

Existing
Passengers

New York City subway ridership has reached record highs.

In 2014, the system recorded over 6.1 million trips in a single
day, the highest daily figure since recording began in 1985.
Commuter rail tunnels under the Hudson River, which are
over 100 years old, are also carrying a record number of passengers. High transit ridership is putting tremendous strain
on the subway and commuter rail systems.
The first map shows that subway and commuter rail lines
are at 88 percent of passenger capacity overall entering the
Manhattan central business districts during rush hour, with
many lines (shown in dark red) at over 90 percent capacity. In
some cases lines are operating at over 100 percent, with trains
tightly packed and passengers often waiting for several trains
to pass before being able to board.

Available
Capacity
35%
65%

Existing
Passengers

The second map shows estimated capacity with the set of

major expansion projects described in Initiative 3, including
Amtraks Gateway Project, current and future phases of Second Avenue Subway, acceleration of advanced subway signal
system improvements to expand the capacity of existing lines,
as well as the East Side Access project currently underway.
With completion of these projects, lines would be at 65 percent passenger capacity overall entering Manhattan during
rush hour, allowing over half a million more passengers to
reach places of work in the central business districts during
the average work day. Many lines would achieve significant
improvements to their capacity as shown by the number of
dark green lines on the map.

Transportation

Vision 1

Vision 1

(PANYNJ) to develop an integrated strategy to

address this challenge, including:

others in 2018 (Lower East Side and Soundview). The City has also committed
capital funding for the construction of landings.
D. Expand and improve service to and within Staten Island

The Gateway Project, an initiative to build two new

commuter rail tunnels under the Hudson River and
dramatically expand rail capacity into Penn Station

Improving connections to Staten Island will support recent revitalization along

the North Shore and strengthen the connection of the South Shore to the rest of
the city, an essential link in expanding economic opportunity and building
resiliency for those communities. The City will work to expand service through:

Long- and short-term interventions to improve access,

connectivity, amenities, and circulation in Penn Station

BRONX
Soundview

SOUNDVIEW

QUEENS
Astoria
E 90 th

Legend

ASTORIA

Existing
East River Ferry
Staten Island Ferry

Long Island
City North

E 62 nd

Roosevelt
Island South

MANHATTAN

Hunters Pt South
Greenpoint

E 34 th

North Williamsburg

EAST RIVER
FERRY
(EXISTING)

Stuyvesant Cove

LOWER
EAST SIDE
Grand

South Williamsburg

BBP Pier 1-DUMBO

Wall St/Pier 11

Planned 2017
Rockaway
South Brooklyn
Astoria
Planned 2018
Soundview
Lower East Side

BBP Pier 6 - Atlantic

Whitehall

Governors
Island
Red Hook

St George

BROOKLYN
Rockaway

Brooklyn Army
Terminal

STATEN
ISLAND

Modernization of the Port Authority Bus Terminal

and other bus facilities. The City will also work
with the PANYNJ to develop a cost-efficient strategy to modernize the PABT

Enhancements to east/west transportation along the North Shore. In the short term,
this includes a package of bus service improvements, including additional Transit
Signal corridors, real time information signs, and treatments for bus hot spots

B. Study new subway routes in underserved

communities and other improvements to the
subway network

More frequent service on the Staten Island Railway (SIR). New train cars will improve service for existing ridership, while enhanced off-peak service will benefit
residents of Staten Island as well as visitors to Staten Islands neighborhoods and
new attractions and amenities

The City will work with the MTA to study a Utica

Avenue extension from the Eastern Parkway Line
(3/4 train). The Utica Avenue corridor is a prime
candidate for the next generation of subway
expansionit is one of the densest areas in the city
not directly served by the subway and is served by
the second busiest bus route in the City, the B46.
The City will also work with the MTA to explore
creating new system transfers, such as a transfer
between the L and 3 trains at Livonia Avenue.
These new connections will reduce travel times
and expand travel options for thousands of subway
riders. Finally, the City will work with the MTA to
identify strategies to improve and expand station
entrances at subway stops experiencing growing
ridership. As subway ridership continues to climb,
we must take action to reduce over-crowding
within subway stations, especially at choke points
like stairways and fare-gate areas.

Citywide Ferry System

Initiative 4
Expand the Citys bike network
Supporting Initiatives
A. Continue to expand the Citys bike-lane network, especially to neighborhoods
with limited bike infrastructure

Expanded Bike Lane Network

C. Expand the ferry network

Bay Ridge

Geography is modified to show service more clearly.

Some landings shown do not yet exist or need upgrades to become operational.

Bicycling as a way to get around the five boroughs continues to grow in popularity.
Between 2013 and 2014, the Citys In-Season Cycling Indicatora measure of bike
volumes on major bike routes into the Manhattan CBDrose by 4 percent.
Overall, cycling has increased a staggering 337 percent since 2000. To support this
growth and the Citys goal of doubling the Cycling Indicator by 2020, the City will
continue to invest in new bike infrastructure. Over the next four years, the City
will add another 200 miles of bike lanes, including 20 miles of protected lanes,
bringing the total to 1,180 lane miles. The City will work collaboratively with
communities to continue expanding the bike network outward from the
Manhattan core and inner Brooklyn. The City will also explore ways to better
measure bike ridership in areas outside of the Manhattan CBD.
B. Improve bike access on bridges

ROCKAWAY

SOUTH BROOKLYN

Transportation

The City will launch an expanded citywide ferry

network to improve transit connections between
the citys waterfront communities; this service will
be fully accessible to New Yorkers with disabilities.
Three new routesRockaway, South Brooklyn, and
Astoriaare scheduled to launch in 2017, with two

Safe and convenient bridge access for bikes is crucial to making New York City
more bike-friendly. In 2015 and 2016, the City will improve bike connections
between Brooklyn and Queens with the construction of a two-way bike path on
the Pulaski Bridge and the installation of protected bike lanes on the John Jay
Byrne Bridge on Greenpoint Avenue. The City will also improve bike connections

New York City Ferry Service

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Vision 1

Transportation

Vision 1

to the High Bridge in Upper Manhattan to coincide with its reopening this
summer. Moving forward, DOT is evaluating potential designs for improved bike
routes on the Grand Street Bridge in Brooklyn and the Honeywell Street Bridge in
Queens. The City is also initiating a study of bike access to the 15 Harlem River
bridges, which will recommend a program of both short- and long-term
improvements. Finally, the City is working with the MTA to pilot external bike
racks on buses that cross bike-inaccessible bridges and to explore options for
adding pedestrian and bike paths on the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.

C. Improve convenience and reliability of modes of transit for New Yorkers

with disabilities
Working with the MTA, the City will expand use of the yellow and green taxis
including the growing number of wheelchair-accessible taxisto provide faster and
more convenient paratransit services to New Yorkers with disabilities. The City and
the MTA will work to increase the proportion of paratransit trips made by yellow and
green taxis over the next four years. And to improve the quality of life for the taxi
drivers providing these services, the City will create new relief stands and rest areas in
all five boroughs. The City will also explore the feasibility of installing public toilets
and benches at some stands.

C. Expand bike share

NYCHA, Citi Bike

and DOT
New York City Housing
Authority (NYCHA) is part
of a collaboration with Citi
Bike and NYCDOT to place
bike share stations at public
housing complexes. NYCHA
residents receive a discounted rate on the annual fee
charged by Citi Bike. Having
bike share stations located nearby provides more
mobility options for NYCHA
residents and the local community. There are currently
43 Citi Bike stations serving
NYCHA developments,
with 11 more planned for the
summer of 2015.

In 2015, the City and its partner, New York City Bike Share, will expand Citi Bike
to Long Island City in Queens, and to additional parts of Williamsburg,
Greenpoint, and Bedford Stuyvesant in Brooklyn. This expansion will include
1,000 new bikes and over 90 stations. In 2016 and 2017, Citi Bike will add another
5,000 bicycles and increase its service areas to additional areas of upper
Manhattan, central Brooklyn, and western Queens.

Initiative 6
The City will make the trucking sector greener and more
efficient, and continue to expand freight movement via
rail and water where possible

Initiative 5

Supporting Initiatives
A. Encourage water and rail freight to the New York region through projects such
as the Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel and Brooklyn Marine Terminals

Expand the accessibility of the citys transportation

network to seniors and people with disabilities
Red Hook Container Terminal Operations

Supporting Initiatives
A. Increase accessibility of the pedestrian network to people with disabilities
The City will identify a range of measures to increase the accessibility of our
streets to New Yorkers with disabilities. These measures include the expansion of
Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) and sidewalk-repair programs, development
of accessible design guidelines for all New York City street projects, and a pilot
program to explore ways technology can improve accessibility. New technology,
such as smartphones, opens up opportunities to assist pedestrians with
disabilities, particularly the vision-impaired, in navigating the citys streetsin
addition to other efforts like DOTs upgrading of pedestrian ramps.
B. Improve accessibility to bus services for transit users with disabilities

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The City will continue to protect and invest in deep-water marine terminals in
Brooklyn and Staten Island. The City has already invested $100 million in upgrades and
a rail link to the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT), a long underutilized facility.
In the immediate term, SBMT will focus on non-containerized cargos primarily used in
the construction industry and roll-on/roll-off cargos such as automobiles. In the longer
term, and in conjunction with the Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel, additional facility
upgrades at SBMT and improved distribution facilities East of Hudson, could allow the
SBMT to handle container ships, which carry most of the worlds ocean freight. By
directly serving New York at a point that is already in the market, truck trips will be
reduced and air quality improved. The City will also support state and federal efforts to
dredge primary and secondary waterways in order to better facilitate waterborne
freight movement and water-dependent uses along the waterfront.
To realize the inherent environmental and cost advantages of using rail, the City will
continue to work with PANYNJ to advance the Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel connecting
New Jersey and Brooklyn. Specifically, the City supports a two-track, double-stack
rail freight tunnel as this configuration offers the largest capacity and greatest
redundancy. When completed, this tunnel will result in a meaningful shift in the
Citys dependence on truck service for freight. PANYNJ estimates that construction
of the tunnel would reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 80,000 to 110,000

Buses are a critical transportation link for older residents and New Yorkers with
disabilities. In 2015, the City will roll out a second phase of its Safe Routes to
Transit initiative to address accessibility problems at 25 bus stops located under
elevated train lines. At these bus stops, buses cannot pull to the curb, leading
passengers to wait and then board from the street. This initiative will build
sidewalk extensions on boarding islands at these stops so that passengers are safe
and the bus ramps can be properly deployed.

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Vision 1

Transportation

Vision 1

This work is complemented by the Citys efforts to establish an industrial business

improvement district in the adjacent Springfield Gardens neighborhood.

metric tons by 2035. Such a tunnel would also greatly expand East of Hudson freightrail capacity, and support domestic rail needs as well as container activity at SBMT.
In the meantime, the City will support the PANYNJs efforts to enhance the capacity
of freight movements by rail barge across the Hudson River, increasing opportunities
now for shippers in Brooklyn, Queens and beyond.

Initiative 7
Expand airport capacity

B. Reduce the impact of the trucks that must bring freight the last mile to market

Off-hour truck delivery

The City will increase off-hour deliveries by food- and retail-sector trucks, with a
focus on large buildings, high-pedestrian areas, and bicycle-conflict areas such as
Midtown and Lower Manhattan, Downtown Brooklyn, and Downtown Jamaica. By
shifting deliveries to over-night and early-morning hours, the City will decrease
both congestion and truck emissions. As part of this effort, we will work with the
trucking industry to explore and pilot low-noise truck technologies.

Baggage claim at LaGuardia Airport

Mobile applications are now available to match suppliers who need to move goods
with truckers who are already on the road and have room to pick up additional
cargo, thus reducing new truck trips on our streets by consolidating loads. The
City will launch a pilot project to encourage the use of these platforms.

To facilitate the delivery of construction-related cargo by water, such as building

components, turbines, and generators, the City will create designated roll-on/roll-off
and lift-on/lift-off staging areas for maritime cargo in each borough, making it easier
and cheaper to bring these essential construction supplies into New York City.

Initiative 8
Provide reliable, convenient transit access to all three of
the regions major airports

C. Expand JFK Airports air freight activity

Though they are all served by transit, none of New Yorks major airports offers a
one-seat transit connection to the Citys central business districts (CBDs). This lack
of access impacts air travelers and airport employees, and increases congestion on
the regional highway system.

The City is working with PANYNJ to improve JFKs air-freight facilities. Over the
past decade, cargo volumes at JFK have declined by almost a third. Today, over
15,000 people at JFK work directly in air cargo related jobs. Regionally, the air
cargo industry supports over 50,000 jobs, $8.6 billion in sales, and almost $3
billion in wages. The City remains committed to supporting the air cargo industry
and will work with PANYNJ to increase the capacity of our air freight systems to
expand JFKs share of the air-freight market.

The City will continue to work with the MTA and others to improve existing bus
connections to LaGuardia in the short term, while working with PANYNJ, the MTA,
and the State of New York to develop a plan for better long-term transit. Similarly, it
will continue to support PANYNJs project to extend Port Authority Trans-Hudson
(PATH) to Newark Airport, which will add airport access from Lower Manhattan.
Finally, the City will work with PANYNJ and the MTA to explore additional ways to
improve existing bus and rail connections to JFK, such as adding more frequent
shuttle service on the Atlantic Branch of the Long Island Rail Road after East Side
Access is complete.

In March 2015, the City adopted a new rule allowing industry-standard 53-foot
tractor trailers to access JFK. The City is also working with the PANYNJ to build
new facilities. Over the past two years, a truck stop has opened on-airport, and a
new animal handling facility (for which the City provided financing) is under
construction. The next two years will see the construction of a new state-of-theart cargo handling facility.

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To maintain our competitiveness as a center of tourism and the global economy, the
City will work with PANYNJ, New York State, and the Federal Government to
expand flight capacity and improve airport facilities and terminals at the regions
airports, particularly LaGuardia and JFK. Working with PANYNJ and the airline
industry, the City will support the expansion of Terminal One, Terminal Eight, and
Terminal Four at JFK and the complete reconstruction of the Central Terminal at
LaGuardia Airport, an outdated facility that is long overdue for replacement.
Additionally, the City will encourage the Federal Aviation Administration and
PANYNJ to continue to implement NextGen technology, a series of upgrades to the
regions air traffic control system that will improve safety and enable more-efficient
take-offs and landings.
The City supports expanding flight capacity at JFK, but only in a manner that is
sensitive to the environment and the quality-of-life concerns of adjacent
communities. The City will work with PANYNJ as it completes a study of capacityexpansion options, including the addition of a fourth runway. This study should
take into account the noise, air quality, and greenhouse gas emission impacts of
different expansion options and ways to mitigate these impacts.

The City will work with large fleets to create a Smart Fleet rating system, similar
to the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) standard for
buildings, but based on truck safety, noise reduction, energy efficiency, and
emissions-control technology. The City will then publicly recognize fleets that go
above and beyond in using safe, quiet, and green trucks for their deliveries.

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Transportation

y
n Rive
r Pkw

Hu
tch
ins
o

Bridge Rehabilitation/Reconstruction

Hu

Less than $100 million

$100-500 million

Exp

an

Sherid

dso
n

NYC Major Roads

Gra
nd
C

Pkw
y

Major Streets Reconstruction

o nc
ou
rs
e

Great Streets Reconstruction

r Expy

Bruckne

He
nr y

The City is responsible for the operation and

maintenance of a complex network of roads, bridges, and
highways that connect the five boroughs. Much of this
infrastructure is agingthe four East River Bridges, for
example, are all over 100 years oldand requires
continual reinvestment to remain in a state of good repair.
Over the next ten years, the City will undertake dozens of
major capital projects to restore our network of roads and
bridges, including significant rehabilitation of major
roads essential to the Citys economic vitality. For
example, sections of the critical FDR Drive will be
rehabilitated along with the esplanade that sits above it.

Highway Structure Rehabilitation/Reconstruction

More than $500 million

Dr

Improve the citys roads, bridges,

and highways

Department of Transportation Street, Bridge,

and Highway Reconstruction Program

Initiative 9

Transportation

Vision 1

FD

Vision 1

Cr

Queens (12)

Brooklyn (21)

Staten Island (17)

Manhattan (17)

Citywide (18)

B
Querooklyn
ens Exp
y

Bronx (8)

ntic

Atla

Ave

4t

Av

Note: Number represents the number of projects

Belt

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Pkw

Source: NYCDOT, Division of Finance, Contracting, and Program Management

Note: Highway Structure Rehabilitation/Reconstruction occurs at multiple points
along each highway

The Triple Cantilever in 1948 and today

98

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an

wy
Pk

Additional Major Streets Resurfacing

and Reconstruction

ss

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Blvd

In Staten Island, the City will undertake 17 projects to

fully rebuild city streets, including sections of Father
Capodanno Boulevard, Victory Boulevard, and Arthur
Kill Road. Together, these projects will ensure our road
and bridge network can continue to safely support the
movement of people and goods across the city.

Queens

Van W y ck Exp y

In Brooklyn, the City will rehabilitate and reconstruct the

21 interconnected bridge structures that carry the
Brooklyn Queens Expressway from Atlantic Avenue to
Sands Street, including the triple cantilever stacked
section of highway completed in 1948, topped by the
iconic Brooklyn Heights Promenade. With no
reconstruction work in recent history, the triple
cantilever is in need of major repair with many
components experiencing significant deterioration. In
Queens, the City will repair multiple structures carrying
and crossing both the Van Wyck Expressway and the
Cross Island Parkway. In addition, the City is initiating a
series of robust safety improvements along sections of
Queens Boulevard, a Vision Zero Priority Corridor, as
part of the Administrations Great Streets initiative. In the
Bronx, the Great Streets initiative will implement safety
and quality of life improvements for users along the
Grand Concourse, a major thoroughfare in the borough,
while the City will also undertake the rehabilitation and
reconstruction of highway structures along the Bruckner
Expressway and the Hutchinson River Parkway.

99

Vision 1

Vision 1

Infrastructure Planning & Management

Infrastructure Planning & Management

Goal: New York Citys infrastructure and built
environment will exemplify global economic,
environmental, and social leadership

Additionally, the Citys massive infrastructure program creates a wide range of jobs
and economic activity. We will leverage these investments to create employment and
career opportunities for New Yorkers, targeted to those who have historically
experienced high rates of unemployment. These commitments are carried out
through targeted training programs and Project Labor Agreements, discussed earlier
in the Workforce Development goal.

Overview
Infrastructure is the foundation of our regional economy and provides for the
everyday needs of all New Yorkers, yet much of New Yorks core infrastructure is
aging and outdated. Many systems, including transit, sewers, and schools, were built
decades ago and are at capacity, straining to meet the demands of a growing
population and a modern, thriving economy. Fixing our infrastructure requires
significantly more funding and a renewed national commitment to cities, as well as
smarter, more efficient infrastructure planning and project delivery.
The physical legacy of disinvestment during the fiscal crisis of the 1970s stands as a
testament to the urgency of achieving a state of good repair. The City spent the
next three decades trying to catch up, investing billions of dollars to rehabilitate
infrastructure and buildings. We need a near-term infusion of funding from all levels
of government in order to prevent history from repeating itself and to allow us the
opportunity to expand infrastructure systems that catalyze economic expansion and
neighborhood revitalization.

School Construction Authority

A growing city needs more room for children to learn
in facilities that meet their educational needs. To address increasing demand in high growth areas across
New York City, the City will add over 30,000 new classroom seats during this plan, as well as investing in new
technology and the improvement of aging facilities.

While more investment is required, we will take significant steps to improve our use
of existing funds through integrated capital planning, improved project delivery, and
asset management. Current investment plans would benefit from better
coordination with our regional partners, including State government, public
authorities, utilities, and other private entities. The City is committed to taking a
leadership role in coordinating these investments and incorporating them into our
own strategic planning process.

The School Construction Authoritys (SCA) current

inventory of facilities includes over 190 buildings that
are at least 100 years old. The needs for improvements
in these schools identified by the SCA are based on
several factors, including the annual Building Condition Assessment Survey of all schools, which provides
an evaluation of the condition of building systems.
The SCA uses this evaluation of what is required to
maintain a state of good repairin conjunction with
recommendations from facility personnel, school
administration, and the communityto develop the
projects to be included in its Capital Plan.

As it currently stands, many capital projects come in over budget and behind
schedule. This is partially due to reasons outside of our control, such as the
complexities of construction in a dense city. However, we can do better in a
number of areas, including reforming City and State laws, streamlining rules for
public procurement and construction, streamlining permitting processes,
improving capital project tracking and accountability, and enhancing the Citys
technology and data systems.

In its upcoming Capital Plan, the SCA will create

thousands of seats in areas of current overcrowding
and projected enrollment growth, and will take significant steps to address the pre-kindergarten need.

Our overall goal is to ensure New York Citys infrastructure is the product of best
practices and is consistent with our Citys reputation as a global leader in economic,
environmental, and social policy. In this vein, we are fully committed to reforming
the processes that support each stage of the infrastructure lifecycle.

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Vision 1

Infrastructure Planning & Management

Vision 1

Initiative 1

Initiative 3

Secure funding sources that are equitable, sustainable,

and dedicated to our core infrastructure

Enhance capital project delivery

Capital projects often take too long and cost too much. While many of the reasons
for this are outside of the Citys control, there is much we can change to improve the
situation, particularly in rules and processes. Over the next several months, the City
will establish a task force to identify strategies for accelerating investment programs
and modernizing project delivery, procurement, and payment processes to greatly
reduce the time between project approvals and completion.

Over the next decade, the City will continue to advocate for a robust federal
commitment to funding urban infrastructure, while exploring new streams of
dedicated revenues.

Supporting Initiative
A. Leverage land-use actions to encourage infrastructure investments

Supporting Initiatives
A. Reform state laws to enable design-build

City policy, such as rezonings, create economic value for property owners, some
of which should be recaptured in order to fund the infrastructure improvements
needed to accommodate growth and development. For instance, as part of the
zoning changes associated with the planned One Vanderbilt office tower, the
development firm SL Green Realty Corporation has committed to spend $210
million on improvements to the Grand Central Terminal and subway station.
Investments in infrastructure can in return enhance real estate values and thus
lead to increased tax revenue for the City.

City construction is governed by state laws, some of which are outdated and
undermine timely capital project delivery. In 2014, we were pleased to see the
joint bidding law passed in Albany, which increases the pace and lowers the cost
of upgrading our underground infrastructure--what EB White described as the
ganglia of subterranean power lines, steam pipes, gas mains, and sewer pipes.
The City also supports an amendment to the New York State Construction Law
authorizing the use of the design-build method of project delivery. Currently, the
City is required to contract separately and sequentially for design and
construction services. Design-build saves a great deal of time by requiring the
procurement of only one contract for both phases and allowing these phases to
overlap. New York State is using a design-build contract for the Tappan Zee
Bridge rebuild, which may save taxpayers as much as $1 billion. New York City
agencies should be able to use similar cost-saving measures for their projects.

Initiative 2
Maximize the economic, environmental, and social
benefits of infrastructure investments
Every City agency strives to achieve economic, environmental, and social benefits
with its investmentsthe triple bottom line. New methodologies have emerged to
help inform investment decisions. The City should maintain a focus on achieving a
state of good repair for its infrastructure assets while prioritizing projects that are
socially, fiscally, and environmentally advantageous, as exemplified by the emissions
reductions, energy cost savings, and jobs created through retrofits to public
buildings under One City: Built to Last.

B. Expand the Accelerated Work Program

Last spring, the City created the Underground Infrastructure Taskforce to
improve the response protocol for gas leaks and find ways to advance the
replacement of older gas pipes and water mains. In cooperation with private
utilities, the City piloted the Accelerated Work Program in 2014, which identified
locations where water- and gas-main work could be coordinated. The City will
continue to expand the program in 2015. The Department of Environmental
Protection will spend $100 million to replace old water mains on an accelerated
schedule. Thanks to the Accelerated Work Program, private utilities will be
replacing their gas pipes at many of the same locations using the same contracts.
As a result these streets will be dug up only once.

The City already collects a wealth of data that could be harnessed to inform
infrastructure investment decisions based on triple bottom line criteria. Over the
next year, we will review current indicators and identify data gaps that would
support more sophisticated prioritization methodologies.
We will also facilitate interagency and intergovernmental collaborations in order to
realize higher economic, environmental, and social returns (the triple bottom line).
These efforts will include improvements to the Citys geographic information
systems (GIS) and data-sharing platforms that will also increase the transparency of
our infrastructure programs and facilitate greater partnerships with our
infrastructure partners in state and federal government.

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C. Improve project scoping and design to improve green-building and save costs
Spending more time and effort on the early phases of any project pays great
dividends during the design and construction phases. However, due to funding
structures for capital projects, the scoping of a project is often short changed.

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Vision 1

Infrastructure Planning & Management

Vision 1

Infrastructure Planning & Management

Several years ago the City created a program to fund early and enhanced project
scoping. This program has proven to be successful and will be expanded to build
on the progress already made.
We will take a more integrated approach to planning and design in general, and
bring more of a design focus to capital planning and budgeting. Moreover, we will
make a conscious effort to focus on citywide goals and values during each publicproject design phase. Led by the Department of Design and Construction, the City
will plan, design, and construct the Citys infrastructure and public buildings to
integrate green building and energy-efficient goals in a cost-effective manner.
D. Modernize project delivery requirements and project management processes
The City is investigating additional ways to reduce construction costs and shorten
project schedules. As a whole, the Citys project delivery requirements must be
modernized to meet national and global project management lifecycle standards.
Developing citywide project management knowledge and frameworks to address
scoping, design, procurement, construction, payments, change orders, and
permitting will reduce project costs, schedules, and risks. We will create a higher
level of transparency and accountability for capital projects, and revamp the
online Capital Projects Dashboard for internal tracking and public information.
The Mayors Office of Contract Services is also reviewing every step of the City
procurement process for opportunities to reduce delivery time and reduce costs.

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Infrastructure Planning & Management

Vision 1

Infrastructure Planning & Management

Vision 1

Projects located in
Upstate New York
Delaware Aqueduct Repair

Bronx Community College Upgrades

Grand Concourse Reconstruction (Phases 3 and 4)

Major Planned City Projects

2014-2025

Kensico Eastview Connection

Tunnel Resiliency

Lehman College Expansion

Ashokan Dam Upgrades

Catskill Aqueduct Rehabilitation

The City will soon release its Ten-Year Capital Strategy, providing a blueprint for capital spending over
the next decade that will be critical to improving New
Yorkers lives in the years to come. A selection of major
planned projects, including transportation, parks, water,
sewers, hospitals, and schools, economic development
and resiliency projects are highlighted on the map at
right.OneNYC and the Ten-Year Capital Strategy are
aligned to ensure funding for OneNYC goals.

Filtration Avoidance Determination

P.S. 106 Bronx Addition

Hostos Community College Expansion

Bronx Districts 9,10,11 Garage Replacement

City College Upgrades

Bronx Highways and Parkways

Bridges Reconstruction/Rehabilitation

North River WWTP Cogeneration Upgrades

Henry Hudson Parkway Bridges
Reconstruction/Rehabilitation

Gilboa Dam Resiliency

Cannonsville Hydroelectric
Facility Construction

Metropolitan Hospital Recovery and Resiliency

Coler Hospital Recovery and Resiliency
FDR Drive Bridges Reconstruction/Rehabilitation
Hunts Point Lifelines
Hunts Point Modernization
Hunts Point WWTP Digester Replacement

Bellevue Hospital Facility - Various Projects,

Bellevue Hospital Facility Recovery and Resiliency
P.S./I.S. 342 Manhattan (Riverside Center) Construction
Beacon High School Construction

Wards Island WWTP Upgrades

High Line Phase 2 Construction of Section 3

Willets Point Highway Access Improvements

Hunters Point South Phase 2
Affordable Housing Development

The Clinton School Construction

Major Queens Highways and Parkways

Bridges Reconstruction/Rehabilitation
Queens College Upgrades

Gansevoort Marine Transfer Station Construction

Brooklyn Bridge Rehabilitation
The Peck Slip School Construction

P.S. 315 Queens Construction

Manhattan Districts 6,6a,8

Garage Replacement

Queens Boulevard Reconstruction

I.S. 311 Queens Construction

Williamsburg Bridge Reconstruction/Rehabilitation

Lower Manhattan Comprehensive Coastal Protection
Red Hook Integrated Flood Protection System

East Side Coastal Resiliency

BQE Triple Cantilever Reconstruction/Rehabilitation
Southeast Queens Sewer Build-out
York College Expansion

Water Siphons Replacement

for Channel Deepening

CUNY

DEP

Less than $100 million

DOC

DOT

$100-500 million

DSNY

DPR

More than $500 million

EDC

NYCHA

HHC

SCA

Medgar Evers College Expansion

Brooklyn College Expansion

Atlantic Avenue Pedestrian Safety

Upgrades (Phases 1 and 2)

Stapleton Phases 2 and 3

Affordable Housing Development
P.S./I.S. 338 Brooklyn Construction
P.S./I.S. 437 Brooklyn Construction

College of Staten Island

Expansion and Upgrade

Beach Channel Drive Bulkhead Repair

Rockaway Boardwalk Reconstruction

4th Avenue Safety

Improvements (Phases 1 and 2)

Note: Partial list of City-led projects

Mid-Island Bluebelt
Stormwater Improvements

Projects Not Shown

P.S. 62 Staten Island

Construction

Breezy Point Double Dunes

Citywide Green Infrastructure Program

Belt Parkway Bridges Reconstruction/Rehabilitation

NYCHA Recovery and Resiliency Investments

Coney Island Hospital Facility

Recovery and Resiliency
Coney Island Sewer Upgrades

Citywide Parks Initiative

Coney Island West

Affordable Housing Development

Parks without Borders

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Vision 1

Vision 1

Broadband

Broadband
Initiative 1

Goal: Every resident and business will have access

to affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband
service everywhere by 2025
INDICATORS + TARGETS
Increase the percentage of
New Yorkers with affordable, reliable, high-speed
Internet access at home
Increase the percentage of
New Yorkers with access
to free public Wi-Fi within
1/8th mile from home
Substantially increase
access to fast, affordable,
reliable connections of 1
gbps (gigabits per second)
or higher

Promote competition in the residential and commercial

broadband markets
The City will create new or expanded franchises and alternative service models to
expand infrastructure, produce more competition, and increase affordability by
2025in addition to holding incumbent providers accountable for their legal
obligations and negotiating for additional upgrades when those franchises come up
for renewal in 2020.

Overview
High-speed Internet access is not a luxury, but an essential service that New Yorkers
depend on to communicate, make a living, and access essential goods and services.
Without broadband, families and businesses are unable to fully participate in many
aspects of contemporary life. Lack of broadband negatively affects the civic,
economic, and social engagement of community residents; makes it difficult for
startups and small businesses to succeed and scale; and impedes neighborhood
development, job creation, and the economic health of the city. Twenty-two percent
of New York City households do not have Internet service at home, with major
disparities in households above and below the poverty line. 36 percent of households
below the poverty line do not have Internet access at home, compared to 18 percent
of households living above the poverty line.

According to the Federal Communications Commission, broadband providers

appear to invest more heavily in network upgrades and offer faster Internet speeds
in areas where they face competition. The City will therefore seek to increase the
diversity of residential and commercial broadband service options through new
technologies, combined with novel approaches to the exercise of existing franchise
authority, establishment of new franchise authority, creative investment of City
resources, and/or creative uses of regulatory authority. The City will explore
avenues for increasing competition, including maximizing non-exclusive franchises,
supporting hyper-local residential and commercial networks, and facilitating the
transition of companies that have, to date, solely focused on infrastructure to
Internet service providers.

Commercial high-speed connections are often priced out of reach of small

businesses and startups. The average cost of monthly gigabit speeds for
commercial users is $8,000 in New York City, outpacing those in peer cities like
Chicago, and far outstripping costs in cities that have made recent investments in
broadband infrastructure.

Initiative 2

Sluggish Internet speeds and capacity can also create barriers to local economic
development and weaken New York Citys global competitiveness. Despite recent
investments by Verizon to build a citywide fiber-optic network, many New Yorkers
cannot access or afford this high-speed service. And while businesses located in
Manhattans commercial corridors generally enjoy high-speed connections, there
are insufficient options in the neighborhoods in other boroughs where growth in key
sectors is taking place. Large healthcare and research centers are also finding
Internet speed and access to be a barrier to their operations and growth. This poses
a risk that critical New York City economic sectors might lose competitive ground to
national and international cities.

Provide high-speed, residential internet service for lowincome communities currently without service
The City will invest in networks providing high-speed residential access either free
or at low-cost for low-income communities. Investments may be targeted at
particular locations such as communities identified for economic and housing
development, or may be focused on particular types of housing, such as public or
subsidized properties. Sites may also serve as nodes in a citywide network consisting
of LinkNYC and other wireless corridors and networks.
The City expects to realize cost savings resulting from greater efficiencies, such as
the use of smart building technologies and resident utilization of e-services. The
City will also develop revenue modelsgrounded in advertising, branding
opportunities, premium paid service, and other strategies that will ensure networks
are ultimately self-sustaining.

The City has, to date, taken significant steps toward building its capacity to meet this
goal, creating new positions focused on telecommunications infrastructure and
policy, and establishing the Broadband Task Force, an advisory body composed of
experts in broadband technology, real estate development, venture capital and
digital equity.

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Vision 1

Broadband

Vision 1

Broadband

Initiative 3
Increase investment in broadband corridors to reach
high-growth business districts, with a focus on outerborough neighborhoods

accessed by residents and users across all five boroughs. To ensure all networks meet
the benchmarks set by LinkNYC, the City will standardize the speed, security,
interoperability, and price features across networks, and manage the technical
integration between these networks.

The City will invest in new technologies to support innovation economy business in
key commercial corridors. This will address the relative lack of high-speed fiber or
wireless options for businesses in the boroughs outside of Manhattan, high prices
and their combined impact on economic growth and development across the City.
Selection criteria will include demonstrated need for and potential benefit from
robust broadband by businesses in considered areas, and/or demonstrated
engagement from community-based organizations and other stakeholders to help
drive the adoption and implementation process.

WiFi coverage within 1/8th of a mile of

New Yorkers homes

Initiative 5
Explore innovative ways to provide high-speed Internet
to homes, businesses, and the public
The City has released a Call for Innovations targeting the needs of underserved
residential and commercial customers, identifying public and private infrastructure
that might be leveraged to meet these needs, and requesting suggestions for
innovative models to provide service to low-income households and startups. These
policy and project proposals will inform City efforts to increase access, affordability,
and adoption.

Initiative 4
Promote seamless user experience
across public networks to create
high speed access across the
boroughs

Finally, the City will conduct research on the latest broadband developments and
trends to help inform the Citys strategy on connectivity.

The City will ensure a successful citywide rollout of

LinkNYC network, which will consist of up to 10,000
structures across the five boroughs, offering 24/7 free
Internet access up to gigabit speeds, as well as a range
of other services.
The City will leverage existing public and commercial
wireless networks and corridors and the backbone
created by LinkNYC, with a goal of covering a critical
mass of the Citys public spaces with free Wi-Fi by
2025. Today, there are 1,050 documented public
hotspots across the five boroughs; the City will enable
a dramatic increase in this number.
Through these initiatives, the City will support a
seamless user experience across all five boroughs,
leveraging LinkNYC and other wireless hotspots. As a
result of rising usage levels, the potential advertisingbased revenue modelssimilar to the LinkNYC
modelis sure to grow, which will promote the
sustainability of these networks over time.
All networks in public spaces can be woven together
to ensure a seamless user experience that can be
Rendering of LinkNYC structure

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Vision 2

Vision 2

Vision 2

Goals

Our Just and

Equitable City

Early Childhood
Every child in New York City will be nurtured, will be protected, and will thrive

Integrated Government & Social Services

All New Yorkers will have access to high-quality, conveniently located, communitybased City resources that promote civic engagement and enable them to thrive

Healthy Neighborhoods, Active Living

New York City will have an inclusive, equitable

economy that offers well-paying jobs and
opportunities for all New Yorkers to live with
dignity and security

New Yorkers of all ages will live, work, learn, and play in neighborhoods that
promote an active and healthy lifestyle

Healthcare Access
All New Yorkers will have access to the physical and mental healthcare services that
they need

Criminal Justice Reform

Among large U.S. cities, New York will continue to be the safest and will have the
lowest rate of incarceration, with a criminal justice system that leads the nation in
fairness and efficiency

Vision Zero
New Yorkers will continue to embrace Vision Zero and accept no traffic fatalities on
New York City streets

New York City will

Lift 800,000 New Yorkers out of poverty or
near poverty by 2025
Reduce overall premature mortality by
25 percent by 2040 and dramatically
decrease racial and ethnic disparities
Increase median household income
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Vision 2

Nearly half of New York City

residents live in or near poverty

We will lift 800,000 New

Yorkers out of poverty or
near poverty by 2025
This can be achieved through a broad set of anti-poverty initiatives including raising the
minimum wagea particularly effective tool for reducing poverty and income inequality.

Scheduled and proposed minimum wage

increases and anti-poverty initiatives will help us reach
more than half of our goal
Minimum wage is already scheduled to increase to $9 per hour in January 2016
(phased in from 2013 to 2016)
Governor Cuomo has proposed raising the minimum wage to $11.50 per hour
Early impact of anti-poverty initiatives (detailed below)

23.6%
Near Poverty

15.8%
Poverty

5.7%
Extreme Poverty

Near poverty defined as below 150 percent poverty threshold;

poverty defined as $31,156 threshold for a family of four;
extreme poverty defined as below 50 percent poverty threshold
The CEO Poverty Measure, 2013

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45.1%
Total

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

We will fight to raise the minimum wage to more than

$13 per hour in 2016, indexed to inflation so it rises to
$15 in 2019
We will not wait. OneNYC anti-poverty initiatives will
continue to move us toward our goal while we push to
secure the right starting wage for New York City
Pre-K for All to provide early education and help parents re-enter the workforce
Educational programs to prepare students for college and career success
Workforce development programs to build skills and find New Yorkers
quality jobs
Better transportation to increase accessibility to work
Healthy environments and access to quality healthcare to help New Yorkers
stay in the workforce
Affordable housing to reduce living costs for a range of households
IDNYCalready issued to more than 100,000 New Yorkersto access
government and community services
Accessible broadband to enable full participation in the citys civic and
economic life

Vision 2

Vision 2

Introduction
To truly achieve our aspirations, New York City must be
a place where all can participate and contribute.
Regardless of background or circumstance, all
residents must be able to fully engage in the
economic, civic, and social life of the region.
Equity is imbued in all the visions of OneNYC. Vision 1 of
this plan, for example, lays out a strategy for an inclusive
workforce that ensures all New Yorkers have the skills
they need to access well-paying jobs; Vision 3 aims to
improve greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, floodcontrol, and parks across all the boroughs; and Vision 4
sets out a plan for all of our neighborhoods to be ready to
withstand and emerge stronger from the impacts of
climate change and other 21st century threats.
Soccer game at Brooklyn
Bridge Park

Equity must inform all of our planning, policymaking, and governing. Through
this lens we assess who will benefit, who is burdened or needs help, and whether the
actions we undertake broaden the participation of underrepresented groups, reduce
disparities, and expand opportunities for all New Yorkers. Where someone starts
out in life should not determine where they end up. Equal opportunity and the
genuine possibility of upward mobility are our nations signature ideals, and New
York City has long been a place where these ideals can be achieved. Remarkable
stories of extraordinary individuals who beat the odds and achieved their dreams
provide inspiration to new generations of people seeking a better life for themselves
and their families.
But we know there is a gap between our ideals and the real-world experiences of many
New Yorkers. Too often, a persons home address, parents income, race, or other
demographic traits can weigh on his or her life outcomesfrom educational
attainment to future earnings, and even life expectancy. We must change these
underlying odds.

A commitment to reduce poverty

In 2013, 45.1 percent, or 3.7 million, of our residents were living below 150 percent
of the CEO poverty line, meaning they were in poverty or near poverty.
The economic insecurity of people living in or near poverty plays an outsized role in
undermining individual potential, and compounds other challenges. The hungry
student has difficulty focusing in the classroom; poor living conditions produce
health challenges; and financial stresses can lead to depression, which in turn can
affect the wellbeing of a familys children. What might appear to be an issue specific
to education, health, safety, or another concern is often rooted in something more
basic: not having enough money.

Center for Economic

Opportunity (CEO)
Poverty Measure
The CEO poverty rate is an
alternative, more comprehensive
poverty metric than the official,
federal poverty rate. It measures
the cost of living in New York City
and the resources available to
households after tax and social
policy are taken into account.
CEO has developed a variety of
models that estimate the effects
of taxation, nutritional and
housing assistance, work-related
expenses, and medical out-of-pocket
expenditures on total family
resources and poverty status.
The most recent data available is
from 2013.
1. The poverty threshold for a
family of four in 2013 was
$31,156. The threshold to
move out of near poverty, 150
percent of the threshold, was
$46,734 for a family of this size
2. The most recent CEO poverty
rate for New York City is 21.5
percent, and the near poverty
rate is 45.1 percent
3. As of 2013, the poverty and
near poverty rate has remained
essentially unchanged since 2011

A higher minimum wage would be a powerful force in reducing poverty. In his

2015 State of the City address, the Mayor stated the Citys goal to raise the
minimum wage to more than $13 per hour in 2016, and to index it so that it is
expected to rise to $15 per hour by 2019. If this were to happen, and OneNYC
anti-poverty initiatives are implemented, 800,000 New Yorkers would be lifted
out of poverty or near poverty by 2025. The change would be transformative.

Ensuring all New Yorkers live a long and healthy life

We are committed to ensuring every New Yorker has the opportunity to live
a long and healthy life. Premature mortalitydeath before the age of 65is closely
tied to poverty and a lack of access to critical services.There are significantly more
premature deaths among certain racial/ethnic groups and in certain neighborhoods.
In 2013, the age-adjusted premature mortality rate per 100,000 deaths was 276.1 for
black Non-Hispanic New Yorkers, 188.2 for white Non-Hispanic New Yorkers, 160.3
for Hispanic New Yorkers, and 98.5 for Asian New Yorkers.
As a City, we are committing to reduce the premature mortality rate by 25
percent by 2040, so as to dramatically decrease disparities among racial/ethnic
groups. OneNYC targets causes of premature death such as infant mortality,
chronic diseases, gun violence, and traffic fatalities. We will promote the
health, safety, and wellbeing of all of our residents.

Premature death by neighborhood

Rate per 100,000
75.6 - 137.8
137.9 - 171.7
171.8 - 226.5
226.6 - 367.1
Unpopulated areas

Concurrent with the publication

of this plan, CEO is releasing
its annual poverty report, this
year covering the period of 2005
through 2013.
See www.nyc.gov/ceo.

DOHMH, Bureau of Vital Statistics

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Vision 2

18

0T

ST

BRONX
PARK

Equity benefits us all

New York Citys economic and cultural leadership over time wont last if we do not
make progress toward greater equity. Research is beginning to show that inequality
can stymie economic growth. It can also undermine the social cohesion necessary to
create resilient communities. We will all bear the consequences of inequality as our
budgetary and social costs rise in areas such as healthcare and criminal justice. It is
in our shared long-term interest to have a just city.

Neighborhood Spotlight
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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

CROTONA
PARK EAST

While the fight for a higher minimum wage goes on, New York City will not rest.
Dozens of initiatives across all four visions in OneNYC are aimed specifically at
reducing inequality and promoting opportunity. This plan describes the actions the
City will take even as the effort to enact a fair minimum wage continues, and
ultimately succeeds.

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Hunts Point Down to Earth

PARKCHESTER
Farmers Market and The
Point/Corbin Hill Farm Share
Pop up fresh food markets will
increase residents access to fresh
and healthy foods

EX
PY

BRONX
RIVER
HOUSES

All New Yorkers deserve a chance to reach their potential, and over the next two
decades, we will work as a city to ensure access to these opportunities. New York
City will persist in its historic legacy as a city for everyone.

Taking action now

In the Bronx River Corridor, investments into pedestrian safety, community resources, and access to fresh and healthy food will provide
residents with the resources needed to fulfill their potential.

KWY
IVER P
BRONX R

The city benefits from everyones contributions. We all gain when a child discovers a
passion for dance watching his first neighborhood performance; when a middleschooler can post to GitHub from her home because of broadband access; when a
high school student receives guidance to apply for financial aid and realizes he can
afford college after all; and when a parent goes to her job confident her toddler is
safe in affordable childcare. City investments can make all of these things
possibleand the future artistic works, entrepreneurial ventures, and productive
workforce these investments create enrich our city and drive it forward.

Vision Zero Priority Corridors

and Intersection
Safety improvements at Hunts
Point and Bruckner Boulevards
will increase pedestrian and
bike safety

Vision 2

Early Childhood

Vision 2

Early Childhood
Initiative 1

Goal: Every child in New York City will be

nurtured, will be protected, and will thrive

Nurture and protect all infants so they thrive during

their first year of life and beyond

Overview
INDICATORS + TARGETS
Reduce infant mortality rate
by 20 percent to achieve
a historic low of 3.7 infant
deaths per 1,000 live births
citywide by 2040, and
dramatically decrease the
racial/ethnic disparity
All four-year-olds receive
access to free, full-day,
high-quality pre-kindergarten

Infant mortality rate

by race/ethnicity
Per 1,000 live births, 2013
Black
Non-Hispanic

8.3

Puerto
Rican

Other
Hispanic

4.8

4.3

Asian / Pacific
Islander

3.1

White
Non-Hispanic

3.0

The City is determined to close the opportunity gap that exists for young New
Yorkers, starting from the birth of every child. The infant mortality rate (IMR)an
indicator of the entire populations health and wellbeingwas the lowest in New
York City history in 2013, at 4.6 deaths per 1,000 live births. However, despite a
declining rate that is nearly 25 percent below the U.S. average, there are significant,
and in some cases widening, disparities between neighborhoods. According to NYC
Vital Statistics data, in 2013 infant mortality rates were nearly double in areas with
very high poverty compared to areas with low poverty (5.2 infant deaths per 1,000
live births vs. 2.8, respectively).
Among racial ethnic groups, the disparity is the starkest between black and white
babies. The 2013 infant mortality rate for black babies, 8.3 infant deaths per 1,000
live births, was the infant mortality rate for white babies more than 20 years ago.
Among Hispanics, the 2013 infant mortality rate for Puerto Rican babies, 4.8 deaths
per 1,000 live births, was over 1.5 times the rate for white babies, and was the infant
mortality rate for white babies nearly a decade ago. Other Hispanic babies had an
infant mortality rate of 4.3 deaths per 1,000 live births, a little under 1.5 times higher
than the rate among white babies in 2013.
To address infant mortality disparities, the City proposes achieving a historic low of
3.7 infant deaths per 1,000 live births citywide by 2040 and dramatically decreasing
the racial/ethnic disparity. The City will reach its commitment by targeting key
neighborhoods with high infant mortality rates and implementing social and
structural supports before, during, and after pregnancy.
High-quality early childcare and early childhood education lead to improved
academic and life outcomes. High-quality pre-kindergarten promotes cognitive and
academic gains that persist into adulthood, reduces involvement with the criminal
justice system, increases high school graduation rates, and increases college
attendance rates. When a child attends pre-kindergarten, his or her chances of
reaching advanced reading levels by the third gradea critical indicator of future
successincreases by 18 percent. Studies have found that students who are
proficient readers by third grade are more likely to graduate high school and enter
college. However, not all families have the chance to provide pre-k for their fouryear-olds. In New York City, such strides have been made. Pre-K for All, launched in
January 2014, has helped bridge this gap for families with four-year-olds.

Supporting Initiatives
A. Create neighborhood spaces dedicated to advancing womens health
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) will explore
enhancing its Neighborhood Health Hubs (described further in goal on Integrated
Government & Social Services) with designated space for womens health

Infant mortality rate by mothers racial/ethnic group and education

Per 1,000 live births, 2013
Less than high school graduate

12

High school graduate

10.2

10

More than high school

7.8

7.2
6.4

5.3

5.1
4.4

4.3

3.9

3.6

3.5

3.2

3.3

4.3

4.6
3.5

3.0

2.0

Citywide

Non-Hispanic
Black

Non-Hispanic
White

Asian & Pacific

Islander

Puerto Rican

Other Hispanic

DOHMH, Bureau of Vital Statistics

DOHMH, Bureau of Vital Statistics

nyc.gov/onenyc

Disparities in the infant mortality rate arise from inequities including, but not
limited to, adverse working and living conditions, inadequate healthcare,
socioeconomic position, and discrimination. Thus, the City proposes a series of
projects that address these root causes of poor pregnancy outcomes and promote
safety in the first year of life in order to reduce the number of infant deaths.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

120

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121

Early Childhood

aY

oSe. Sleep a
pa
Cl
r

t.

St

Vision 2

Your baby sleeps safest alone

on her back in a crib or bassinet free of toys,
blankets and pillows.
EvEry yEar about 50 babiEs in nyC diE from a slEEp-rElatEd injury.
Bill de Blasio
Alcalde
Mary T. Bassett, MD, MPH
Comisionada

To learn more, call 311 or visit nyc.gov

and search infant safety

Bill de Blasio
Mayor

Bill
de Blasio
Department
of
Administration
Mayor
Health & Mental
for Childrens
Mary
T. Bassett, MD,Services
MPH
Hygiene
Commissioner
Mary T. Bassett, MD, MPH
Gladys Carrin, Esq.
Commissioner

Commissioner

Bill de Blasio
Mayor
Mary T. Bassett, MD, MPH
Commissioner

Safe Sleep
Campaign
Approximately 80 percent of
all infant deaths due to injury
are related to the infants
sleep position and environment. The City has launched
the Safe Sleep Campaign to
make parents and other caregivers aware of the potentially
fatal risks of sharing a bed
with an infant, and how to
prevent injuries and deaths
associated with other unsafe
sleep practices, such as excessive bedding, bumpers, and
toys in cribs. City hospitals
and community health centers
are leading these efforts.

Initiative 2

promotion. Located in seven low-income, underserved areas, these hubs would

provide access to comprehensive womens health and baby-friendly care, which
would help address infant mortality. Possible features include space for
supportive group work (e.g., parenting support and coaching, smoking cessation),
and exercise studios and equipment. In addition, the space would support healthy
birth outcomes by reducing stress and providing a physical space for women to
breastfeed, rest, exercise, and connect with each other. These structural supports
are often missing in communities with poor birth outcomes and high infant
mortality rates.

Offer free, full-day, high-quality

pre-kindergarten for every fouryear-old to ensure all New York
children have the opportunity to
enter elementary school with a solid
foundation for future success

City programming in these spaces would also provide women with information
and resources they need to stay healthy before, during, and after pregnancy, and
offer them the support their young infants need. Some of the DOHMHs key
initiatives to support infants and healthy mothers include breastfeeding and safe
sleep education, cribs for families that cannot afford them, home visitation during
pregnancy and early childhood, and promotion of womens health, including
increasing access to contraception to help plan pregnancies.

Pre-K for All is New York Citys truly universal full-day

pre-kindergarten system. As of December 2013, fewer
than 27 percent of four-year-olds in the city had access
to full-day pre-kindergarten. Launching Pre-K for All
in January 2014, the City committed to ensuring all
four-year-olds whose families are interested in full-day
pre-k could participate in a high-quality program by
the 2015-2016 school year.

Children at a New York City public school

B. Expand the number of baby-friendly hospitals to promote access to

breastmilk for newborns
The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global program sponsored by
the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Childrens Fund
(UNICEF) to encourage and recognize hospitals and birthing centers that offer an
optimal level of care for lactation based on the WHO/UNICEF Ten Steps to
Successful Breastfeeding for Hospitals.
Breastfeeding has been shown to have many health benefits for infants, including
reducing the risk of ear infections, diarrhea, and pneumonia. Moreover, it helps
reduce infant mortality because it helps increase the likelihood of survival for
premature infants. Research shows that infants born at facilities that provide
recommended care for lactating mothers and babies, such as those that have
incorporated the WHO/UNICEF Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, are more
likely to initiate breastfeeding, exclusively breastfeed, and continue to do so for
longer periods of time.

Playground at PS 347 - The American Sign Language and English

Lower School

Full-day pre-kindergarten
enrollment
Number of four-year-olds

53,230

Of the 40 maternity facilities in New York City, 17 hospitals and one birthing center
are participating in the New York City Breastfeeding Hospital Collaborative, an
initiative to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates. Of these 18 participating
facilities, three are Baby-Friendly Designated, and seven are in the final phase of
designation. Under this initiative, the City will pursue and encourage physical
interventions in hospitals that will transform newborn nurseries into smaller
observational areas, assuring adequate space for newborns to safely sleep in the
same room with their mothers; establish space for breastfeeding education and
support, including a private place to breastfeed for mothers whose infants are in the
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; and establish a central place to store infant formula
for mothers who are not exclusively breastfeeding.

nyc.gov/onenyc

Early Childhood

Vision 2

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

+173%

In conjunction with its commitment to offer a highquality, full-day pre-k seat to every four-year-old, the
City will continue to focus on developing high-quality
early childhood programs through teacher recruitment
and training as well as through increased support for
students whose native language is not English, students
with disabilities, and students from high-need areas.

19,500

2013-2014
DOE

nyc.gov/onenyc

122
Source Name

In September 2014, the City opened 245 new full-day

sites in all five boroughs. Recognizing the critical role
teachers play in early childhood education, the City
committed to recruiting high-quality pre-k teachers
with early childhood certification, as well as
supporting several hundred teachers in earning their
certification through a partnership with City
University of New York (CUNY). It also trained more
than 6,000 lead teachers, assistants, and
paraprofessionals. Programs are expected to support
all children in gaining the foundation needed to realize
their potential. These programs focus on curriculum,
instruction, and family engagement on the skills and
knowledge reflected in the comprehensive state pre-k
learning standards, known as the New York State
Prekindergarten Foundation for the Common Core.

2014-2015

The Center for Economic Opportunity and the

Department of Education are collaborating with Westat,

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

123

Early Childhood

Vision 2

Vision 2

Early Childhood

Metis Associates, and Branch Associates, with supplemental support from the New York
University Institute for Human Development and Social Change, to undertake a
rigorous two-part research study of this work. It will include an evaluation of the
effectiveness of the implementation process and an impact study assessing the
kindergarten readiness of children in pre-k. The research is designed to inform future
years of program delivery as well as lay a foundation for future longer-term research.

TALK
TO YOUR BABY

Given the research that demonstrates how critical early childhood learning is, the
City will explore the possibility of expanding pre-kindergarten to three-year-olds.
Like Pre-K for All for four-year-olds, this program would help close the opportunity
gap among New York City students and will enable new parents to re-enter the
workforce earlier.

Initiative 3
I am a social worker and
my husband is a postal
workerWe do not
qualify for affordable
childcare, so between
childcare, afterschool,
rent, and clothes, we
barely have money for
food. I visit the local
pantry at my church to
get help with food. Our
school-age children
attend public school, but
I pay $1,800 a year for
afterschool for one child,
$3,000 a summer for day
camp, $30,000 in rent,
and $18,200 on daycare
for my two-year-old.
Sanaya B., Manhattan

Develop a comprehensive plan for high-quality early

childcare
Childcare is a major expense for working families in New York City. Studies show
that providing increased access to high-quality childcareand lowering the cost of
childcarecan significantly increase mothers employment rates and incomes. It can
also help businesses retain employees and, in turn, provide job stability. However, in
2014, New York was the least affordable state in the nation for childcare, with the
average price of center-based, infant childcare about 15 percent of the median
annual state income for married couples, and 54 percent for single mothers.

ANYTIME. ANYWHERE.

A 2011 Center for Urban Future (CUF) report found that only one in four low-income
children under the age of six was being served by center-based childcare programs
across the five boroughs. In addition, waiting lists for childcare centers in some parts
of the city were long, with as many as 40,000 parents in line for childcare services.
Several city neighborhoods, most notably the South Bronx, northern Manhattan, and
parts of Central Brooklyn, were underserved in subsidized and affordable childcare.

FOR TALKING TIPS

search nyc.gov/TalkToYourBaby, or text Talk to 877877
Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt-out.

124

Bill de Blasio
Mayor
Mary T. Bassett, MD, MPH
Commissioner
in partnership with the NYC Childrens Cabinet

Talk to Your Baby Campaign

On April 1, 2015, the City launched Talk to Your Baby, which is a campaign to encourage early
childhood language development and establish strong bonds between parents and children.
The campaign promotes talking, reading, and singing to babies to help build their brain.
Children of low-income parents typically hear 30 million fewer words by the time they reach
age four. This word gap persists over time, having a negative impact on their language development, school readiness, and academic achievement later in life. By providing parents with
free books and other information and resources, we are providing them with simple tools to
improve the lives of their children. Just like we encouraged thousands of new parents to sign
up for pre-kindergarten, we can get thousands of parents to start talking, reading, and singing
to their babies.These efforts are led by the Childrens Cabinet, the Mayors multi-agency
initiative intended to increase communication and coordination among City agencies and
develop strategies for a holistic approach to child safety and wellbeing.

Currently, the Administration for Childrens Services (ACS) runs the Early Learn
initiative, which provides center-based and family-based early care and education to
more than 29,000 children from six weeks through four years of age. Early Learn is a
model for early care and education that brings together Head Start, childcare, and
pre-k services, and provides quality early learning opportunities at 350 centers in
the highest need areas.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

#TalkToYourBaby

Talking, reading and singing build your babys brain.

As part of an effort to expand early-care and education programs, ACS is conducting

a large-scale community needs assessment to better understand the changing needs
of New York City communities. The City will use the findings to develop a plan to
close the gap in access to childcare. In drawing up the plan, the City will consider
subsidies, property and zoning concerns, and economic development initiatives to
increase the availability of group childcare in underserved communities.
nyc.gov/onenyc

THEIR
BRAIN
DEPENDS
ON IT

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

125

Vision 2

Vision 2

Integrated Social & Government Services

Integrated Government & Social

Services
Initiative 1

Goal: All New Yorkers will have access to highquality, conveniently located, community-based
City resources that promote civic engagement
and enable residents to thrive

Transform schools into community schools

Overview
New York City is home to a world-class government and non-profit programs that
provide social services, civic engagement opportunities, and resources for improving
residents lives. Participation in these services and civic engagement opportunities,
however, is often inhibited by a variety of barriers, including inaccessible or
inconvenient locations, lack of information, timing constraints, immobility, lack of
language options, and lack of broadband access. In addition, in many cases, people
need help identifying their needs and which services can best help them.
We are working to give New Yorkers the right services at the right times in a
coordinated and integrated manner through both physical and digital approaches.
This involves meeting people where they are in their communitiestheir schools,
health providers, librariesand providing them with a one-stop shop that
addresses their service and information needs. In addition, we need to invest in a
data platform that helps us identify the services that New Yorkers need most.
The City is looking to build on existing successes and work toward establishing
physical hubs, which will provide a cohesive range of social and community services.
Hubs allow access to City government and community information, and civic
engagement opportunities specific to those neighborhoods. We will use existing
government-owned and non-profit-owned real estate to the greatest extent possible
and build on local initiatives.

Salom Urea de Henrquez

Campus School
Located in Washington Heights, the Salom
Urea de Henrquez Campus School is a
Community School founded in a partnership
between The Childrens Aid Society, Community School District 6, local community-based
partners, and the City of New York. Most
students qualify for free school lunches, and a
large number are English Language learners.
The school is as a prototype for community
schools across the country.
Working with school staff, an on-site Community School director coordinates the activities
and services offered to students. These services
include afterschool, holiday, and summer
programs; medical and preventative health services; and family and community engagement
and development opportunities (such as a
family resource room, vocational and educational training, and Advocacy and leadership
opportunities).
The school has offered mental health support
to students and families in neighboring
communities after major tragedies such as 9/11,
and emergency community support like water
and cooling stations after incidents such as
prolonged blackouts.

With the expansion of the Department of Educations (DOE) Community Schools

and the launch of the Department of Health and Mental Hygienes (DOHMH)
Neighborhood Health Hubs, we have already begun to break down service silos.

Community Schools are an effective model for engaging communities,

delivering services, and improving student performance. The City is
laying the groundwork for expanding the Community Schools initiative,
which began transforming 128 schools in 2014, with the goal of
eventually making every school a Community School.
Students face a number of challenges in the classroom and at home that
impede their ability to succeed academically. The Community Schools
model identifies student needs and connects students with services to
address these needs. The Community Schools whole child, whole
community approach recognizes that, by intervening in this way,
schools can help every student achieve his or her full potential.
At Community Schools, students receive high-quality academic
instruction, families access social services, and communities are invited to
share resources and address their common challenges. Community
Schools establish strong partnerships among principals, parents, teachers,
and community-based organizations (CBOs). These partnerships offer a
coordinated approach to increasing learning opportunities, student
wellness, readiness to learn, personalized instruction, community
partnerships, and family engagement. At each Community School, the
services providedsuch as extended days, school-wide vision and dental
screening, and mental health servicesare tailored to the specific needs of
the community in which the school is located.
As of spring 2015, 128 Community Schools are already under development.
As a result of this unprecedented commitmentand of the network of
Community Schools currently being run by non-profits across the city
New York City has become a national leader in the Community Schools
movement, an educational movement focused on addressing students
diverse needs, empowering parents to be active participants in their childs
education, and engaging entire communities around student success.
Over the next three years, we will implement a number of key systembuilding initiatives to strengthen these schools, including developing a
data framework, engaging parents and communities, building capacity,
and fostering collaboration among City agencies. The City has already
begun investigating how best to expand the existing Community Schools

nyc.gov/onenyc

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Vision 2

Integrated Government & Social Services

Vision 2

Initiative 3

network beyond our initial cohort of 128 schools, with the aim of ultimately
transforming every school into a Community School. Given the large number of CBOs
across New York City, there is ample opportunity to expand the network of partners.

Enhance the digital capabilities of NYC 311 to provide

easier connections to government and community
services and information

The first cohort of Community Schools will provide important information on

strong practices and lessons learned. We will draw on this experience when we
release the next competitive RFP for 100 additional City-supported Community
Schools, which will occur in 2017 or 2018.

We will continue to make it easier for residents to find information, enroll in

programs, and provide feedback to the City online. Today, too much information is
presented by individual agencies, which means residents must know the Citys
organizational structure in order to discover relevant opportunities. We will make it
easier for New Yorkers to search for and find relevant services and opportunities.

Initiative 2
Establish Neighborhood Health Hubs that co-locate
clinical health and mental health services with
social services and City agencies to foster improved
coordination

This enhanced digital platform will provide the same information available at the
physical hub offices, without residents needing to visit an office to access
information. Some of the tools that help residents discover relevant information and
engage online have already been announced, including LinkNYC, which will offer
up to a gigabit of free wireless in 10,000 locations, and Neighborhoods.nyc, which
will provide domain names for community groups to develop a single neighborhood
digital presence for civic engagement, online organizing, and information sharing.

Community health and service offerings are often fragmented, duplicative, and have
persistent service gaps. Too often, despite an array of services provided by many
dedicated organizations, there has not been the kind of impact needed to
significantly improve population health.
Historical Neighborhood
Health Hub

Integrated Government & Social Services

311 is the single most recognizable and easy-to-access customer service tool for all
New Yorkers. The digital capabilities of 311 will continue to be enhanced to provide
easier connections to services and information and to simplify customer
engagement. Customers will be able to create and manage their own accounts and
relationship with the City and collaborate on content. They will also be able to
unlock access to service requests and access data currently not available in the
existing 311 system. Human Resources Administration (HRA) call centers will be
merged with 311 to provide one-stop shopping for customers with multiple
questions or needs. The expansion of social media and mobile app offerings will
streamline the customer experience.

Thus, the DOHMH will launch Neighborhood Health Hubs, which aim to eliminate
health disparities and promote health equity. These health hubs revitalize a 1920s
idea whereby CBOs, providers of medical and mental health services, and other New
York City government agencies co-locate to provide coordinated services to
neighborhood residents. The aim is to foster cross-sector work that addresses the
root causes of health inequitiessuch as violence, low income, and low educational
attainmentin communities with the greatest burden of disease, while building on
the wealth of existing assets in those neighborhoods.

We will continue to develop other ways to enhance the digital experience of New
York City residents so they can receive services and information in a more efficient
and simple manner.

DOHMH will begin by establishing at least seven Neighborhood Health Hubs in

neighborhoods with high health disparities. The first site is expected to be in East
Harlem. These Neighborhood Health Hubs will be located inside DOHMH District
Health buildings.
Building on this health hub model, additional City agencies are exploring new ways
to co-locate their staffs with one another and with non-profit organizations. Not
every access point to the government needs to be a City office. We will explore ways
to embed staff from agencies in other institutions, including existing non-profits that
already serve as trusted community providers. Staff can provide information and
help residents navigate and enroll in available programs and services, register to
vote, and access other civic services. In conjunction with the multi-service centers,
these access points can reduce the challenges that residents have to get what they
need, when they need it.

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129

Integrated Government & Social Services

Vision 2

Vision 2

Integrated Government & Social Services

Initiative 4
IDNYC
On January 12, 2015, the Mayor launched
a major municipal identification (ID)
initiative, IDNYC, to ensure every New
Yorker has access to the opportunities,
security, and peace of mind that comes
with having government-issued photo
identification. There is a critical need for
this program because approximately half
of New York City residents age 16 and
over do not have a New York State Driver
License. The IDNYC card is helping
more New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, homeless status, or gender
identity, access public- and private-sector services, programs, and benefits.
The IDNYC card is broadly accepted
across the city and provides eligibility for
City services, entry to City buildings and
schools, recognition by City agencies such
as the NYPD, and opportunity to open bank
accounts at select financial institutions.
The vision for the IDNYC card is to create a single card for each New Yorkers
wallet. This card integrates the various
forms of identification issued by local
government, giving it dynamic value and
expansive functionality. To supplement
the cards value as a form of identification, the City has developed a set of key
partnerships with libraries, cultural institutions, and other organizations. Learn
more at www.nyc.gov/idnyc.

Mayor de Blasio at an IDNYC enrollment center

nyc.gov/onenyc

Expand the Citys internal data

integration capacity to help ensure
clients receive the right resources
and service at the right times
The challenges faced by social service clients can cut
across the purview of different City agencies. Many
times, however, different agencies are unaware that
they are working with the same clients. Technologyenabled tools can help agencies better support
individuals and families to achieve better results. For
example, auto-notifications can alert caseworkers from
different agencies that they share common clients
(subject to privacy protections), which can help them
coordinate support. With greater investments in
integrated data systems, the City will also be able to
better track the results of its programs. By examining
the short- and long-term outcomes of interventions
and services, we will be able to, over time, reallocate
resources toward the most effective approaches.

Brooklyn Public Library Central Library Branch

Analytic tools can improve decision-making across a

range of disciplines. In criminal justice, smarter use of
data can not only inform criminal justice processing
and programming decisions, but also be used to share
data to improve residents health and safety. These
tools are detailed further in the section below on
Criminal Justice Reform.

NYC Library Systems

New York Citys three library systems, comprising 210 branches across all five boroughs, offer
free quality services to students, families, job-seekers, seniors, and anyone in need of information or assistance as centers of learning and civic engagement. In addition to their important
traditional servicescirculating millions of books and supporting research by students and
scholars alikethe libraries are expanding their roles and working in increasingly close
partnership with the City to support the changing needs of our neighborhoods and residents.

To advance these and other solutions, the City aims to

enhance its data platforms to be able to personalize and
improve its social services work. By integrating data
about the Citys people, places, and program activities,
the City can conduct more powerful analyses and do a
better job of sharing information among agencies about
both community needs and specific individuals and
families. This enhanced analytic capability will help us
connect residents with the right services when they
need them. It will also help us track the relative impact
of the Citys funding streams and programmatic models
so we can make more evidence-informed decisions
about what works. Our initial scoping work for this
intelligent service platform will begin this year.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

130

The library systems are assisting new immigrants by providing English Speakers of Other
Languages (ESOL) classes, citizenship education, and support for immigrant small business
owners and entrepreneurs in coordination with the Department of Small Business Services.
The libraries are critical partners for the Department of Education in supporting students
and families through early education services, after school programming, and homework
support. Libraries are also helping us close the digital divide by offering Internet access
in their buildings and lending Wi-Fi hotspots and other mobile devices for families to use
at home. Libraries help strengthen our communities by offering cultural and recreational
neighborhoods, and serving as resident service centers in times of emergency.
The library systems are also critical partners on major citywide initiatives including
IDNYC, Pre-K for All, and OneNYC. Together, we are ensuring that all people have access
to the many resources and opportunities our City has to offer.

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131

Vision 2

Healthy Neighborhoods, Active Living

Vision 2

Healthy Neighborhoods, Active Living

Goal: New Yorkers of all ages will live, work,
learn, and play in neighborhoods that promote an
active and healthy lifestyle

Adults eating five or more daily servings of

fruits or vegetables by neighborhood
Percent, 2011-2013
Quartiles
4%-7%

INDICATORS + TARGETS
Increase the average
number of servings of fruits
and vegetables that adult
New Yorkers eat per day by
25 percent, from 2.4 to
3 servings, by 2035
Increase the percentage
of adult New Yorkers who
meet physical-activity
recommendations from
67 percent to 80 percent
by 2035
Increase the percentage of
New York City public high
school students who report
meeting recommended
levels of aerobic physical
activity from 19 percent to
30 percent by 2035
Decrease asthma emergency
department visits by
children by 25 percent,
299 per 10,000 to 224 per
10,000, by 2035

Overview

8%-10%

The access New Yorkers have to nutritious food and beverages, opportunities for
physical activity, and quality housing play a large role in determining their physical
and mental wellbeing and their ability to fulfill their potential. Many New York City
neighborhoods have considerable room for improvement in promoting good health
and wellbeing, with large disparities in opportunities for healthy living and health
outcomes between high-poverty and low-poverty neighborhoods. We will
implement several initiatives to ensure all New Yorkers live in neighborhoods and
housing that promote healthy lives.

14%-21%

Improve food access, affordability, and quality, and

encourage a sustainable, resilient food system
Quality food is fundamental to a healthy life. However, the Citys current food
system does not allow for equitable access to nutritious food. There are broken links
between food production, sales to distributors and wholesale buyers, and delivery to
consumers that result in inequitable distribution of and access to healthy food.

Our goal is to increase the average number of servings of fruits and vegetables adult
New Yorkers eat every day by 25 percent, from 2.4 to 3 mean servings, in the next
One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

132

A. Increase the share of regional food in the New

York City food system through investments in the
regional food distribution system
Our region produces high-quality, nutritious foods,
including fruits and vegetables, legumes, meat, and
dairy. Farmers in the region are interested in selling
more products in the New York City market, but face
distribution and other barriers. By investing in the
regional food distribution system, we can increase the
availability of local food for the citys consumers
across the income scale, while also enlarging the
market for local and regional farmers in the city.

DOHMH, Community Healthy Survey

Moreover, approximately 1.4 million New Yorkers, or one in six, report they are food
insecure, a result of unemployment, poverty, and other household characteristics.
Food insecure families may worry that food will run out before they have enough
money to buy more, eat less than they should, or be unable to afford to eat balanced
meals. The availability, quality, and affordability of food affect the quality of New
Yorkers diets. Cardiovascular disease, which is often connected to poor diet, is the
leading cause of death for men and women in New York City.

Supporting Initiatives

no population

Initiative 1

Increased fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with a decreased risk of

chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. Not all New
Yorkers consume the same amount. The 2013 Community Health Survey reported
the lowest levels of consumption were among black and Hispanic New Yorkers,
those with low education levels, and those living in high-poverty neighborhoods.

nyc.gov/onenyc

11%-13%

twenty years. The City will undertake a variety of

initiatives aimed at promoting access to nutritious,
quality food for all New Yorkers, especially those
most in need.

Increasing the amount of food from the region has

broader benefits. It will reduce greenhouse gas
emissions from shipping food from far away, make
our food system more resilient to climate change and other potential disasters,
and create jobs locally and across the region.
To increase access to good quality food produced in the region, the City will work
with the State on the Regional Food Hubs Task Force, which was launched in
March 2015. We will act on its recommendations to increase the amount of
regionally-produced food coming into the city through investments in the food
system. Furthermore, upstate farmland that feeds the city and protects our water
supply is disappearing. We will work with the State to conserve the regions
agricultural land for farming.

Make it appealing for

supermarkets to open in
high-population areas so
people can have access to
nutritious foods at
reasonable prices.
Phyllis G., Manhattan

nyc.gov/onenyc

B. Expand and improve quality of New York City school food

The Citys public school system has 1.1 million students, about 75 percent of
whom qualify for free lunch. Providing over 160 million meals a year, the NYC
Department of Education (DOE) runs the largest school food-service program in
the United States. This program has enormous reach and buying power such that
its potential to transform the eating habits, nutrition, and food security of young
New Yorkers is monumental.

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Healthy Neighborhoods, Active Living

Vision 2

Start with our children.

We need to educate
students about how to
foster good mental,
physical, and
environmental health.
Kate G., Manhattan

Vision 2

To ensure no public school student goes hungry, and that all are ready to learn, we
will work to increase participation in school meal programs.
We must also improve the lunchroom experience and environment for students.
To promote participation in meal programs, and healthy choices, we will begin by
renovating 45 middle and high school cafeterias over five years with new
furniture, paint, and improvements to serving lines.

to their area. We will work with community

organizations to bring new community-based
farmers markets to underserved neighborhoods.
These initiatives will be complemented by an
annual distribution of in Health Bucksvouchers
that can be used to purchase fresh fruits and
vegetablesto provide additional buying power
for local and fresh foods among low-income
consumers.

To improve the quality of food served, the City will continue to increase
procurement of sustainable, healthy, and local food and supplies. We will promote
food and environmental education by increasing student engagement with
gardensboth by working to increase the number of school gardens and
facilitating school partnerships with existing gardens. By investing in the quality
of our school food, we will continue to provide nutritious meals to families and
children that need them, and help build healthy eating habits in New Yorkers at a
young age, promoting a lifetime of healthy eating.
C. Ensure all communities have access to fresh food retail options, with a
special focus on traditionally underserved neighborhoods

To improve the availability of healthy food in retail settings, we will expand on the
Citys work to attract new supermarkets to underserved neighborhoods and
encourage renovations and upgrades of existing small or independent grocery stores.
We will also work with the private and non-profit sectors to explore innovations
and business growth in food retail, including health- and community-focused
grocery stores, restaurants, and corner stores. Improving the nutritional quality and
affordability of the food available citywide will encourage better health outcomes
for all and will have positive effects on job creation and economic development.
In addition, we will support and expand initiatives to provide fresh food options
to underserved neighborhoods. For example, we will support and expand fresh
food box programs that bring an affordable basket of fresh fruits and vegetables
to community settings such as childcare centers. This means ensuring the
non-profit providers of these programs have the resources they need to be
viable and expand; and that we help community settings get a program like this

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

D. Support community gardens and urban farms

in select neighborhoods in the city

New Yorker enjoying locally-grown fresh produce

New Yorkers see significant disparities in their neighborhood food options. A

survey of the food stores in the Crotona-Tremont neighborhood of the Bronx in
2012 found that for every supermarket in the neighborhood, there were four fast
food restaurants and ten bodegas. We have an opportunity to work with the
private sector to improve the food marketplace and access to healthy food for
those in need.

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134

Building Healthy Communities

Building Healthy Communities is a place-based initiative that
recognizes a communitys health is not limited to access to medical care. Physical health, mental health, and quality of life are
critical elements for improving social wellbeing. Vibrant public
open spaces are a crucial feature of livable urban neighborhoods. Parks, pedestrian plazas, community gardens, and recreation centers are essential community resources where people
come together to play, learn, grow food, exercise, and relax.
Yet many of our most densely populated and highest poverty
neighborhoods have historically been neglected in public
investment in the preservation, rehabilitation, and activation of
open spaces and playgrounds. Many of these same communities
continue to report high rates of crime and equally high rates of
obesity and diabetes.
Over the next three years, Building Healthy Communities aims
to address these inequities and improve community health
outcomes in our neediest neighborhoods by increasing access
to physical activity and nutritious and affordable food, and promoting public safety in 55 of the citys neighborhoods that were
targeted by the Department of Parks and Recreation in its Community Parks Initiative. Leveraging the capital investment of the
Community Parks Initiative, Building Healthy Communities will
activate the neighborhood parks and surrounding open spaces,
including streets, sidewalks, schools, and community gardens
offering physical activity programs, cooking classes, nutrition
education, and farmers markets. This initiative supports our
efforts across Vision 2 and Vision 3.

nyc.gov/onenyc

Urban agriculture plays a small but critical role in

communities underserved by quality, affordable,
fresh food. Urban farming provides opportunities
for residents to engage in growing local produce,
educates children about nutrition, and offers
training in food preparation, gardening, and
retailing skills. By offering young people jobs in
the youth markets and providing formal
horticulture training for community members,
urban agriculture also provides opportunities for
workforce development.
To encourage the growth of the urban farming
sector, the City will support community gardens
in neighborhoods with necessary infrastructure.
We will also support these gardens with
assistance in selling produce at farm stands and
teaching nutrition and cooking. We will work to
support school gardens, and educate students
about nutrition, gardening, and science.
We will also support larger-scale urban farming
ventures, and establish food-producing gardens at
NYCHA sites through its Gardening and
Greening program. We will study additional
emerging urban agriculture opportunities, such
as vertical farming projects, to activate
underutilized light industrial space and offer
related community programing.

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Vision 2

Healthy Neighborhoods, Active Living

Vision 2

Initiative 2

recreational facilities are more likely to use them and be more active; and making
stairs accessible and attractive is associated with increased stair use. By increasing
access to physical activity space in and around schools, to commercial and
community recreational facilities, and to accessible stairs, the City will increase
opportunities for physical activity for all New Yorkers. And we will work to reduce
inequities in access to environments that support physical activity by focusing
these efforts on low-income neighborhoods.

Create environments that encourage New Yorkers to be

physically active regardless of age
Physical activity is beneficial for overall health and wellness, leading to lower risk of
developing chronic diseases, greater cardiorespiratory fitness, stronger muscles, better
bone strength, and higher self-esteem. Still, 33 percent of all adults and 43 percent of
older adults in New York City fail to meet physical activity recommendations, putting
them at higher risk for heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and falls.
Girls running and playing

Supporting Initiatives
A. Increase opportunities for physical activity in and around schools

Residents living in poor or predominantly minority neighborhoods are less likely

to have clean, safe, and attractive places to be physically active. Consequently,
physical activity levels are often correlated with income, race, and neighborhood.
In New York City, 37 percent of residents in very high-poverty neighborhoods fail
to meet physical activity recommendations compared to 29 percent in low-poverty
neighborhoods.
A strong body of evidence demonstrates how ones physical environment
influences physical activity. For example, residents in neighborhoods with

Level of physical activity by age

Inactive

Percent, 2013

Insufficiently active
Sufficiently active

80

As children spend about half of their waking hours in school, schools are uniquely
positioned to play a role in improving physical activity levels of students.
To encourage active play at school, the City will explore enhancing existing
school yards by painting colorful ground markings including games, tracks, and
other creative designs. Painted ground markings have been shown to be a lowcost but effective way to increase physical activity.
Open, accessible, and attractive
stairs promote stair use. The NYC
Health Departments Riverside
Health Center received a LEED
innovation credit entitled Design
for Health through Increased
Physical Activity for including
active design features such as the
enhanced stairs, a physical exercise room and bicycle racks, and
shower facilities for staff

75
72

70

57

50

33

30

27

24

20

10
0

1
18-24 years

1
25-44 years

45-64 years

New Yorkers, on average, spend over 90 percent of their time indoors. As the City
constructs and renovates buildings, we will take advantage of the opportunities to
apply Design Guidelines for Healthy Living building elements such as secure
bicycle storage, accessible stairs, indoor and outdoor recreation space for building
users, and building exteriors that contribute to making the streetscape welcoming
for pedestrians. The City will expand the scope of Department of Design and
Construction (DDC) projects to incorporate Design Guidelines for Healthy Living
strategies such as stair improvements, bicycle storage, and fitness rooms.

We will continue to explore incentives for residential building owners receiving

City financing for new construction and substantial rehabilitation to promote
physical activity through Design Guidelines for Healthy Living. We also support
passing the Department of City Planning Zoning for Quality and Affordability text
amendment, introduced in February 2015, which would remove obsolete
provisions and modernize other zoning provisions to foster diverse and livable
neighborhoods. The text amendment, for example, would allow ground floors to
accommodate more active uses and add interest to the streetscape.

38

40

B. Increase design elements that promote physical activity in buildings

Further, we aim to improve stair use by supporting legislation that, consistent

with the recommendation of the Green Codes Task Force, requires new buildings
and certain major renovations to include at least one stairway that is easily
accessible and open for use.

64

60

Healthy Neighborhoods, Active Living

64 and over

Riverside Health Centers

renovation and exapansion
promotes health

DOHMH community health survey

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Healthy Neighborhoods, Active Living

Healthy Neighborhoods, Active Living

Vision 2

C. Provide opportunities for physical activity in the community for residents

of all abilities

Housing asthma triggers by income

Furthermore, Parks Without Borders will pursue new and better ways to connect
neighborhoods to the citys parks and make our streets, sidewalks, and other
pedestrian plazas more inviting public spaces (detailed further in Vision 3).

35

34.7

P E R C E N TA G E

Beyond this, the City will encourage the creation of community recreation centers and
commercial gyms by exploring the elimination of special permit requirements for gyms
in certain districts and by conducting outreach to gym and recreation center operators.

372.8

40

People are more likely to exercise and be active when they have quality, affordable,
and accessible recreational facilities. The City is working to ensure such facilities
are available to all New Yorkers. New York City will build off the success of existing
adult exercise equipment in the City by co-locating universally accessible ageappropriate adult exercise equipment in or near playgrounds, where feasible.

By integrating opportunities for physical activity into the environments where we live,
work, study, and play, we will make staying active and healthy easier for all New Yorkers.

350

35.6

30

300

25

250

20

10

200

16.6

107.2

12.1

23.6

176.6

22.2

15

Finally, to ensure New York City active and healthy design initiatives meet the
needs and priorities of the communities we serve, we will conduct community
engagement as part of Department of City Planning (DCP) comprehensive
neighborhood studies, with the goal of creating neighborhoods with access to key
facilities and services and a more vibrant street life.

400

12.4

150

11.8

100

11.4
9.5

6.8

6.9

5.8

50

3.2

3.0

Low Poverty

Medium Poverty

High Poverty

NEIGHBORHOOD POVERTY

Initiative 3

Homes with cockroaches (%)

Address health hazards in homes

Homes with mice or rats in

building (%)

The home environment is critical to the health and wellbeing of people of all ages. When
homes are poorly maintained or not designed to promote safety and health, occupants can
be exposed to a variety of health hazards, such as asthma triggers and fall hazards.

Asthma emergency department

visits among children 5-17 years
(rate per 10,000)

A. Reduce asthma triggers in the home

Asthma affects nearly one million New Yorkers and is the most common chronic
respiratory disease in children. More than one in three children with asthma living
in high poverty neighborhoods are exposed to potential asthma triggers in the home.
Home-based asthma triggers include tobacco smoke, pest infestations, moisture, and
mold, as well as some building materials and products. Housing disrepair, such as
water leaks, cracks, and holes, create housing conditions conducive to pest
infestation and mold growth. Living in pest-free environments is correlated with
children having the ability to fulfill their potential; for children with asthma, specific

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Adults reporting mold in the

home (%)
Adults reporting second-hand
smoke in the home (%)

Supporting Initiatives

nyc.gov/onenyc

Homes with 3 or more

maintenance deficiencies (%)

138

Data obtained from NYC Department of Health

and Mental Hygiene, Environment and Health
Data Portal, March 23, 2015
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/
environmental/tracking.shtml
*Neighborhoods are ranked according to the
percent of people whose annual income falls
below twice the federal poverty level. Rankings
are then divided into 3 approximately equal
groupings of low, medium and high poverty.
Then the median value of the selected indicator
is displayed for each poverty grouping. The
median is the exact mid-point of the individual
environment or health indicator values for each
neighborhood within a grouping.

nyc.gov/onenyc

housing interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing allergens,

resulting in fewer symptom days, missed school days, and emergency room visits.
Secondhand smoke is also a powerful asthma trigger, with exposure occurring when
there is a smoker in the household or smoke travels from one apartment to another.
New York City will fund a roof replacement program in NYCHA developments
which will address the root causes of mold. The City will also implement a joint
HPD-DOHMH enforcement initiative focused on housing with egregious pest
infestation. Efforts will target neighborhoods at highest risk for asthma, with
building owners required to implement safe pest-control measures using integrated
pest management (IPM).
Additionally, we will explore creating strong incentives for building owners receiving
City financing for new construction or substantial rehabilitation to use IPM, a
comprehensive and prevention-based approach to pest control, smoke-free policies,
safer building materials/products, and moisture/mold control. Each year, the City
receives applications from affordable housing owners and developers for the
financing of new construction or the financing of substantial and moderate
rehabilitation of existing housing, impacting an estimated 16,000 housing units per
year. These financing moments provide important opportunities to promote the use

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R AT E ( P E R 1 0 , 0 0 0 R E S I D E N T S )

Vision 2

Vision 2

Healthy Neighborhoods, Active Living

Healthy Neighborhoods, Active Living

Vision 2

of healthy building practices that reduce asthma triggers in the home. By integrating
simple, often low-cost healthy housing measuresinto building design and
construction, renovation, and ongoing operations and maintenance, our buildings will
be healthier places to live.
B. Decrease secondhand smoke exposure in the home

Age
Friendly
NYC

There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS). Non-smokers exposed

to secondhand smoke in the home have higher risks of asthma attacks, heart disease,
lung cancer, and chronic respiratory disease. Children and the elderly are particularly
affected by SHS exposure in the home because they are more vulnerable to its health
effects, and because they typically spend more time at home.Secondhand smoke
complaints are common, with 40 percent of adult New Yorkers reporting smelling
cigarette smoke in their home that comes from another home or apartment or from
the outside.We are already making strides to dramatically reduce SHS. An
overwhelming majority of non-smokers (81 percent) and most smokers (53 percent)
in New York City do not allow smoking in their homes. And 69 percent of New York
City adults support smoke-free housing. To address secondhand smoke, a primary
driver of unhealthy indoor air quality, the City will work to pass legislation requiring
multi-unit housing to have a smoking policy and to disclose it to residents and
prospective residents. To complement this, we will explore opportunities for the
adoption of other smoke-free housing policies in New York City.

Enhancing Our Citys

Livability for Older
New Yorkers

Together, these strategies will work to reduce asthma triggers in the home, which will
decrease the percentage of homes with housing conditions associated with asthma.
C. Reduce housing-related fall hazards for older adults
Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations and deaths among
older adults in New York City, causing an average of 17,000 hospitalizations and
nearly 300 deaths each year. Fall-related hospitalization charges total more than
$750 million. There are currently more than one million older adults (age 65 or
older) in the city, and the older adult population is expected to grow by 41 percent
to 1.41 million by 2040, which could dramatically increase the burden of falls and
their associated costs.

Age Friendly NYC

Michael R. Bloomberg
Mayor
Christine C. Quinn
City Council Speaker

Most falls among older adults occur at home. Finding and fixing fall hazards in
the home is effective in lowering both the risk of falls and the rate of falls among
older adults. By 2030, all City contracts for providing home-based services for
older adults will require an assessment for fall hazards, as per the DOHMH
recommendation. In addition, for new construction, the City will promote the
adoption of universal design elements such as grab bars, hand rails, slip-resistant
floors, and lighting that reduces the risks of falls. Similarly, for existing buildings,
the City will provide incentives for in-place retrofits for these measures aimed at
promoting safe home environments and preventing falls among older adults.

Increased mobility through accessible transportation: As further detailed in Vision 1,

the City aims to expand use of yellow and green taxisincluding the growing number of
wheelchair accessible yellows and greensto provide faster and more convenient paratransit
services to New Yorkers with disabilities. Additionally, DOT is planning to install attractive
and durable benches around the city, particularly in areas with high concentrations of seniors, to make streets more comfortable for transit riders and pedestrians.
Convenient healthy and nutritious food: The City will explore improved meal- and

grocery-delivery programs that will improve access to seniors and people with disabilities whose limited mobility and fixed incomes make it challenging to purchase
nutritious food.

By reducing housing-related fall hazards for older adults, we will reduce the
number of falls in the home, keeping our aging population healthy and safe.
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140

Soon, older adults in New York City will outnumber school-aged children.To prepare for this
demographic shift, the Office of the Mayor, the New York City Council, and the New York
Academy of Medicine have partnered to create Age Friendly NYC. Age Friendly NYC is dedicated to ensuring our older population is healthy, active, and engaged. Initiatives that support
the efforts of Age Friendly NYC include:

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Vision 2

Vision 2

Healthcare Access

To reduce disparities in health outcomes, the City will work to develop a healthcare
delivery system that emphasizes an integrated and patient-centered approach to
care that is delivered in convenient and accessible locations.

Goal: All New Yorkers will have access to the

physical and mental healthcare services that
they need
INDICATORS + TARGETS
Increase the percentage
of adult New Yorkers who
feel they have received the
medical care they needed in
the past 12 months
Increase the percentage of
adult New Yorkers with
serious psychological
distress who have received
counseling or taken a prescription medication for a
mental health problem

Initiative 1
Ensure all New York City neighborhoods have access to
high-quality essential healthcare services

Overview
In 2013, nearly one million New York City residents felt they did not receive the
medical care they needed in the past year, with residents of the poorest
neighborhoods reporting they were receiving the least care. Residents of these
low-income neighborhoods also bear a greater burden of specific diseases, such as
heart disease, diabetes, and infant deaths, when compared to other neighborhoods.
For example, more than a third of residents of very high-poverty neighborhoods
have been diagnosed with high blood pressure; by contrast, less than a quarter of
residents of low-poverty neighborhoods were diagnosed with high blood pressure.

De Blasio protests the layoffs of

500 LICH nurses and healthcare
workers.

Mental health and substance abuse issues affect many New Yorkers. Fifteen percent
of all New Yorkers report having been diagnosed with depression. However, the
highest prevalence is in high-poverty neighborhoods. In the poorest New York City
neighborhoods, seven percent of residents experience serious psychological distress
(SPD), compared to three percent in the wealthiest neighborhoods.

Mental and physical healthcare access

Mental health counseling or treatment

100

93%

89%

80

60

62%

87%

59%

87%

For these reasons, Mayor de Blasio called for the creation of several new models in
healthcare, including the Brooklyn Health Authority, to ensure that no community is
left without essential care services. The Authoritys role was envisioned as ensuring
adequate funding, leading integrated planning, and promoting the new types of
coordinated healthcare service delivery models that protect families and workers
given the shifting healthcare landscape.

The implementation of these changes has already significantly altered the healthcare
landscape in New York. New hospital networks called Performing Provider Systems
(PPSs) have developed across the city and pair some of the citys most financially
stressed institutions with those that are more stable. If used properly by the networks,
Medicaid waiver funds can prevent major hospital closures and ensure that every
community in New York City has access to essential healthcare.

55%
47%

40

Over the past decade, far too many New York City communities have lost critical
healthcare services due to the closure of hospitals essential to their wellbeing.
Changes in the science of healthcare delivery and healthcare reimbursement are
realities we have to face. But New York City cannot allow neighborhoods to lack
critical medical services. And we certainly cannot allow the closure of major
hospital facilities that would leave communities without essential healthcare.

There have been major developments since the Mayors initial proposal for the
Authority several years ago. Thanks to the support of the federal government,
Governor Cuomo, and Mayor de Blasio, the $8 billion Medicaid waiver was
approved by the Obama Administration in April 2014. $6.4 billion of this waiver is
explicitly designed to help hospitals across the state restructure their care delivery
models to reflect the most current science and reimbursement structures. New York
Citys hospitals now have the opportunity and resources to make planned, orderly
reforms rather than resorting to the sudden closures that marked the previous
decade, while improving the quality and experience of care across the city.

Medical care

Percentage of NYC residents that received the care that they need
by neighborhood poverty, 2013

Health Care Access

20

Lowest poverty
(wealthiest)

Medium poverty

High poverty

The City must remain vigilant however to ensure these one-time funds are used
appropriately and effectively. The City remains steadfast in its commitment that
every community has access to the care it needs. We will fight for critical
healthcare services across the City and not accept the closure of any more
hospitals in Brooklyn or any other communities which would be left without the
medical care we need. This commitment includes investments made by the

Very high poverty

(poorest)

Medical care is percentage of adult New Yorkers that feel they received the medical care that they
have needed in the past 12 months
Mental health is percentage of adult New Yorkers with serious psychological distress that have
taken a prescription medication for a mental health problem

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Health Care Access

Vision 2

Vision 2

NYC Health and Hospitals

Corporation (HHC) coverage

Health Care Access

In addition to its role in providing care for vulnerable New Yorkers, HHC is well
positioned to lead transformation of the healthcare delivery system in the City because
it offers a comprehensive array of healthcare services. Through its seven regional
healthcare networks, HHC operates 11 acute care hospitals, four long-term care
facilities, six diagnostic and treatment centers, a certified home health program, and
more than 60 community-based health clinics throughout the five boroughs.In
addition, MetroPlus, HHCs wholly-owned health insurance company, takes care of
more than 469,000 New Yorkers annually.HHC also provides emergency and
inpatient services to New York Citys inmate population at City correctional facilities,
and HHC conducts mental health evaluations.

Acute Care Hospital

Community Health Center
Diagnostic Treatment Center
Long Term Care/Nursing Home
Mobile Medical Unit
School Based clinic

Given the recent shifts in the Citys healthcare landscape, HHC, like the other large
hospital systems, is transforming from a healthcare system focused on delivering
inpatient services to those who are already sick to a model of care that keeps people
healthy throughout their entire lives. This transformation requires HHC to invest in
new models of care coupled with a new infrastructure.

Supporting Initiatives
A. Create health access points embedded in communities rather than hospital
campuses

HHC

In 2015, HHC is rolling out a primary care expansion aimed at providing care to
100,000 additional patients in under-served neighborhoods across the five boroughs
though a combination of expanded service offerings at existing and new HHC
Gotham Health community clinic locations, including a newly constructed clinic on
Staten Island. In addition, as one of only two PPSs that serve all five boroughs, HHCs
Medicaid waiver projects that increase community-based primary care and
behavioral healthcare will have a significant impact throughout the city. Finally, when
patients seek primary care in hospital emergency rooms, HHC is connecting patients
without primary care providers to settings ensuring continuity of care.

New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) (see Initiative 2) and the
Citys own initiative to create more than 16 community-based primary care centers
in under-served areas (see Initiative 3). These actions, as well as direct
engagement with the major private health systems in New York City and
continued review and development of new structural mechanisms, such as the
local Brooklyn Health Authority or other options, will ensure that our city has a
strong healthcare delivery system.

B. Ensure critical hospital services are fully functioning in the face of increased
demand, weather disasters, and aging infrastructure

Initiative 2

The Elmhurst emergency room, where patient volume is expected to increase by 20

percent given hospital closings in the catchment area, is in design phase for its
planned renovation and expansion. Significant infrastructure projects underway at
Coney Island, Bellevue, Metropolitan and Coler Goldwater hospitals are designed
to ensure these facilities can continue operating during future weather disasters
(see Vision 4 for more detail). Finally, ongoing infrastructure upgrades at HHC
facilities are essential to meet new regulatory requirements and safety initiatives.

Transform NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation into a

system anchored by community-based preventive care
New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), the nations largest public
healthcare system, serves 1.4 million people every year, approximately one out of six
New Yorkers. HHCs role as the citys largest safety net provider is critical to
ensuring all New Yorkers have access to healthcare regardless of their ability or pay
or documentation status. Close to half a million of HHCs patients are uninsured
and/or undocumented.

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Vision 2

Health Care Access

Vision 2

Initiative 4

C. Adequately provide healthcare services to New York Citys growing senior

population
A key part of transforming HHCs system is tailoring care to the needs of different
populations to ensure their care is the most appropriate and effective. In
particular, recognizing New York Citys growing senior population, HHC is
including age-appropriate designs in its infrastructure projects. This translates
into exam rooms, diagnostic treatment areas and bathrooms meeting wheelchair
and walker space requirements, and soundproofing of rooms to improve
communication between patient and provider for patients with hearing
impairments. HHC also plans to transform the Seaview Campus on Staten Island,
which currently offers services for seniors, it into a vibrant healthcare destination
site which will meet the ongoing needs of the surrounding community.
By strengthening HHCs infrastructure and adapting to the changes in the
healthcare environment, HHC will continue to be a leader improving the health
of all New Yorkers.

Unmet need for

mental health
treatment in
New York City
23 percent of NYC adults
experiencing serious
psychological distress
reported not getting the
medical treatment that
they needed in the past year
41 percent of New Yorkers
with serious mental illness
reported not getting the
medical treatment they
needed

Initiative 3
Expand access to primary care by establishing health
clinics in high-need communities
Healthcare is an essential component of creating and maintaining healthy
communities, and primary care is a key part of this equation. High-quality primary
care provides a medical home for individuals and ensures they get the right care,
in the right setting, by the most appropriate practitioner, and in a manner consistent
with their desires and values. A close partnership between providers and patients
helps patients navigate an increasingly complex healthcare system and strive toward
better health outcomes.

56 percent of New Yorkers

with SPD reported not
getting any outpatient
mental health treatment
at all

To address inequalities in access to primary care the City will help create at least 16
health clinics by the end of 2017 in neighborhoods identified by the Community
Healthcare Association of New York State as being in need of additional primarycare services. Some of these clinics will be based in New York City Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Neighborhood Health Hubs (detailed
further in goal on Integrated Government & Social Services), collaborating with
other local organizations to improve health in their communities. Additionally, New
York City HHCs Gotham health network and other federally qualified health
centers will expand to new locations to address the need for primary care.

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146

Expand access points for mental health and substance

abuse care, including integrating primary care and
behavioral health services
Mental health concerns are widespread in New York City. Fifteen percent of New
Yorkers reported having been diagnosed with depression, and 12 percent of the citys
adult population reported receiving some form of counseling or taking prescription
medication for a mental health problem in the past year. In 2013, five percent of the
New York City adult population experienced serious psychological distress (SPD),
which is characterized by a range of symptoms commonly present in individuals
with mental illness but are not specific to any particular disorder. Mental health
issues are not distributed evenly across the City. New Yorkers with serious mental
illness are overwhelmingly of low- and moderate-income, with 39 percent living
below the federal poverty line. Mental health concerns are also much more
prevalent among those with physical health issues.
There is significant unmet need for mental health treatment in the city. Twentythree percent of New York City adults experiencing SPD reported they did not get
all the mental health treatment they needed in the past year, as did 41 percent of
New Yorkers with serious mental illness. Barriers to receiving necessary mental
health treatment include language difficulties, stigma, difficulty with navigating the
mental health system, and cost. Immigrant populations may be more likely to
experience stigma around mental, emotional, and behavioral (MEB) health and may
be less familiar with their communities health resources. Additionally, the
behavioral healthcare system is fragmented and poorly integrated with the primary
care system.
NYC HHC intends to improve the overall health of New Yorkers with mental health
and substance-abuse diagnoses by scaling two best practice approaches: first,
co-located and integrated substance-abuse and mental health specialty services, and
second, integrated behavioral healthcare in primary care through the integrated
Collaborative Care modela collaborative team of a primary-care providers, care
management staff (e.g., nurses), and psychiatric consultants. Each of the models
requires providers to build deep relationships with community-based organizations,
social-services agencies, and government agencies able to identify patients in need,
engage them, and assist in supporting their treatment.

In New York City, there are 26 neighborhoods federally designated as primary-care

shortage areas. Even this measure undercounts the real need, as neighborhoods
must apply for this federal designation.

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Health Care Access

Vision 2

Initiative 5

Health Care Access

We have already made strides in this direction. In 2006, the New York State
Department of Health (NYSDOH), in cooperation with healthcare leaders in New
York State, established a public-private partnership to develop and operate the
Statewide Health Information Network of New York (SHIN-NY). SHIN-NY
facilitates the exchange of patient information across health settings anywhere in
the state. Additional effort is still needed to scale up the information exchange
process to as many provider types as possible and incorporate data from related
health and social support services (e.g., social work, community health, school
health).

Work with New York State in enabling and supporting

the transformation of the healthcare delivery system
The aforementioned initiatives are cornerstones of our vision of all New Yorkers
living fully realized lives. But New York City cant do it alone. As the primary
regulatory entity, the State plays a critical role in shaping who can deliver
healthcare, how and where those services are provided, and how services are paid
for within New York City. The City stands ready to partner with the State to
implement changes to the healthcare system that will ensure high-quality,
coordinated care for all New Yorkers.

B. Transform the Medicaid reimbursement methodology

To change the way healthcare works, we need to change the way we pay for
it.Currently, we pay less for preventive care that keeps people healthy and more
for healthcare services when people get sick. In particular, payments for
preventive care, including primary care, and other services delivered in outpatient
settings need to incentivize greater provision of these services. In addition,
services and supports that help keep people healthy, such as telemedicine,
effective health information technology, and care coordination should be paid
appropriately. The City will work with New York State in altering what and how
Medicaid pays for these services.

Supporting Initiatives
A. Integrate patient data across healthcare systems
Since 2009, thousands of healthcare providers have adopted and are using
electronic health records. However, few are connected to systems that enable
sharing of medical and behavioral health information between care settings or
with supportive services organizations. According to the New York eHealth
Collaborative (NYeC), only two percent of clinical practice sites are connected in
New York City and 14 percent across New York State. Furthermore, based on
DOHMHs health information connectivity data, only about five percent of 7,000
primary-care providers listed in its database are connected to a healthinformation exchange.
The lack of information-sharing is associated with duplicative testing, delays in
care, and incomplete informationall issues that have resulted in poorer health
outcomes and higher costs to the City and State. A recent study found that up to
32 percent of patient records reviewed had duplicative testing documented. This
fragmentation of healthcare and supportive services affects New Yorkers across
all five boroughs and is especially problematic for people with low health literacy,
limited English-language proficiency, limited mobility, mental or behavioral
health conditions, previous incarceration, or other factors that can make
accessing care more difficult.
A call-to-action is needed to accelerate federal and state programs to integrate
patient information of New Yorkers across healthcare delivery and supportive
systems, as well as across jurisdictional lines. The City stands ready to partner
with the State to implement changes to the healthcare system so all New Yorkers
can receive high-quality, coordinated care.

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Criminal Justice Reform

Vision 2

Criminal Justice Reform

Supporting Initiatives
A. Use advanced technology and integrated data
to accurately and effectively reduce crime

Goal: Among large U.S. cities, New York will

continue to be the safest, and will have the lowest
rate of incarceration, with a criminal justice system
that leads the nation in fairness and efficiency

200,000

46% Decline

150,000

147,669

143,268

136,491

130,093

123,136

119,052

110,828

105,702

105,496

110,099

110,023

2005

2006

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

PMMR 2015

2004

2003

50,000

156,559

100,000

2002

In the next twenty years, New York City will continue to be a national leader in public
safety. This will mean continuing to strengthen the things we are already doingsuch as
data-driven policingbut it will also mean investing in people and neighborhoods. We
will provide opportunities for individuals to lead productive lives. Cohesive, engaged
neighborhoods are the crime prevention tools of the 21st century. In the next twenty
years, New York City will pursue evidence-driven strategies and sophisticated
technologies to both prevent crime well before it begins and ensure its criminal justice
system is increasingly safe, fair, and effective. And we want to make sure that, of those
populations affected by crimeparticularly victims of domestic violencewe can
provide the support they need when they most need it.

Incidents, 19992014

172,646

This extraordinary progress is proof we can have both more safety and less
incarceration. And it is one of many things that set New York City apart: while
incarceration climbed seven percent elsewhere in the country between 1996 and 2012,
the city saved billions by reducing crime and unnecessary incarceration.

Major felony crime

187,181

Plummeting crime has also meant a shrinking jail population. At the end of 2014, for
the first time in thirty years, Rikers Island had fewer than 10,000 inmates, less than
half of its high-water mark of 21,688 in 1991.

Red Hook Community Justice

Center in Brooklyn

2001

Decrease the percentage of

domestic violence victims
turned away from shelters

Twenty years ago, no one thought we could control crime. In 1993, there were 1,946
murders and 99,207 burglaries in New York City. In 2013, both of those numbers had
dropped by more than 80 percent. The city ended 2014 with the lowest murder rate
in the citys history.

202,106

Decrease the average daily

population (ADP) in jail

Overview

2000

Decrease the crime rate

1999

INDICATORS + TARGETS

The cornerstone of the Citys crime reduction

efforts is ensuring officers are able, in real time, to
assess the risks and needs of individuals they
encounter on the street, so they can effectively and
accurately exercise discretion. This initiative will
require both sophisticated mobile technology to
access data as well as quality, reliable data.

Average daily jail population

of inmates in city jails
Number of inmates, 19992014
16,000

35% Decline

14,000

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12,000

Reduce crime and unnecessary incarceration

8,000

10,000

6,000
15,530

13,934

14,544

13,751

13,576

13,497

13,987

13,850

13,362

13,049

12,790

12,287

11,827

11,408

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

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2,000

2000

PMMR 2015

4,000

1999

The key to safely reducing the jail population while keeping communities safe is to
reduce crime well before it begins, which leads to both less crime and fewer people
behind bars. To reduce crime and unnecessary incarceration, the City will
implement a set of interlocking strategies to help ensure we are reducing crime in
the most targeted way and using jails and programming wisely and effectively.

The City is already working to put in the hands of

every police officer and in every police car a tablet,
phablet, or smartphone that can serve as a primary
information source. Access to real-time
information will allow them, while they are out on
the beat, to both identify frequent offenders and
deliver instantaneous information about crimes
and other critical missions. For example, the City
has already invested in ShotSpotter technology, a
gunshot detection tool that triangulates the
location of a gunshot to within 25 meters of where
the shot was fired. Making this information
immediately available on mobile devices will allow
officers to deploy to a specific location instead of a
general area, saving resources and increasing the
chances that shooters will be caught.
This technology will also allow the police to
become better informed when they exercise their
discretion so that, consistent with public safety,
officers know when to make an arrest or issue
summonses. And finally, technology will give them
better access to information about programming,
so they can more effectively match individuals to
services.
To enhance the quality of data available to first
responders, the City is building an integrated data
platform, described in the Integrated Government
& Social Services goal, that will help facilitate the
cross-agency coordination of programs and
services to accurately match individuals to the
right intervention. The goal is for this integrated

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Criminal Justice Reform

Vision 2

Criminal Justice Reform

Initiative 2

platform to connect City agencies, District Attorneys, defenders, courts, and

providers to ensure all agencies that touch the population involved with the
criminal justice system have data and analytics to drive wise decision-making, to
reduce both crime and unnecessary incarceration.

Build sustained neighborhood engagement to employ

fairness as a crime reduction tool

B. Reduce crime through changes to criminal justice facilities that will

promote concepts of fairness and confidence in the law

Smart reforms have made New York City the safest big city in the country. However,
crime and violence disproportionately affect the citys poorest neighborhoods,
where confidence in government is low.

We will conduct an infrastructure survey of probation, police, and court facilities to

ensure signage and physical design inform individuals of what to expect from the
criminal justice process, provide the ability to voice concerns, and promote better
interaction among the players in the justice system. For example, we will introduce
waiting rooms that can separate victims from their alleged attackers, visiting rooms
that can permit defendants and lawyers to consult meaningfully, and clear access
that would permit corrections officers to escort inmates to court in a timely fashion.

People are more likely to obey the law when they believe those who are enforcing it
have the legitimate authority to do so. The publicconfers legitimacy on those in
positions of authority who treat them with dignity and respect, give them a voice
(even ifthat voice does not carry the day), make decisions that are neutral and fair,
and conveytheir motives as trustworthy. The social cohesion of neighborhoods is
associated with lower crime rates. To translate these well-foundedtheories into
actionable steps that will reduce crime, the City will implement the following
initiatives.

C. Enable crime prevention through environmental design

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is an approach to
deterring criminal behavior by altering the physical design of neighborhoods.
Evidence-driven tactics range from the strategic use of parks and public spaces to
designing apartment buildings to maximize the number of residents who can
easily monitor their streets. To promote public safety in high-crime
neighborhoods, New York City will implement CPTED surveys to develop plans
for low- and no-cost changes to buildings, parks, and other features of the built
environment that could reduce crime.

Supporting Initiatives
A. Create neighborhood CompStats with residents and City agencies in highdistress neighborhoods
CompStat, short for COMPlaint STATistics, are the initials given to New York
Police Departments (NYPD) data-driven management tool and are now
internationally known as a label for an accountability mechanism. In the
neighborhoods in which distress is clustered, the City will create a regular
CompStat to identify and solve problems with neighborhood residents. These
CompStats will be supported by data and measured through key metrics. This
data support will include the building of neighborhood-justice mapping centers
that will engage residents and promote cohesion through joint action.

D. Reduce incarceration by examining risk, needs, programming,

and system flow
An effective criminal justice system should have the ability to assess
the level of risk at key system points. We will implement citywide
risk-assessment instruments at arraignment and implement riskclassification and needs assessments within incarcerative settings.

B. Implement a regular citywide method of surveying resident engagement

The City will create a survey system to gauge residents feelings about their
communities. It will be operated online, where ease of use and other incentives
will encourage residents to respond to periodic questions about neighborhood
satisfaction and cohesion. This information will enable the City to track changes
in attitudes and raise resident confidence in government responsiveness.

We will provide effective programming during incarceration and

appropriate services in the community. Physical space in detention
and placement/jails for juveniles and adults will accommodate
cost-effective programming to reduce re-offending. We will ensure
supportive housing for frequent flyers, those who repeatedly
cycle through the criminal justice system.
We will also design incarceration and justice system spaces to affect
behavior and resolve system bottlenecks.

Officer on a T3 transporter

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Criminal Justice Reform

Criminal Justice Reform

Vision 2

Initiative 3

In addition to reducing crime and lowering incarceration, we also aim to provide

services to victims of crime, so they can recover and re-participate fully in the city.
While the City provides many services for victims of domestic violence, too many
domestic violence victims still lack access to the services they need when they need
them. The moment of exit from an abusive relationship is one of the most dangerous
times for victims. In 2014, over 4,100 adults and children who needed emergency
domestic violence shelter were not linked to one, with only 35 percent of single
adults linked to a shelter in comparison with 52 percent overall.

Use criminal justice data-driven strategies to improve

decision making and reduce crime and unnecessary
incarceration
Leveraging the citywide integrated data platform, the City will build tools to ensure
agencies that touch the population affected by criminal justice, inside and outside of
Mayoral control, have data and analytics to drive wise decision making to reduce
both crime and unnecessary incarceration. A range of analytic and data strategies
designed to assess decision making at critical points throughout the spectrum of
criminal-justice processes will support this goal.

The City must address the need for additional shelter space for any member of a
vulnerable population subject to the threat of domestic violence: single adults,
members of the LGBTQ community, sex-trafficking victims, and others.
Accommodations including longer-term shelter beds must be made for victims with
children. Placement in domestic violence shelters is limited to 180 days, and
therefore, in the implementation of the Citys housing plan, the City will implement
a sustainable plan for domestic violence victims to transition from shelters to
permanent housing.

Supporting Initiatives
A. Introduce strategic tools for health and neighborhood safety
Strong communities, with robust networks of programs and services, lay the
groundwork for enduring safety. We will work to make neighborhoods safe
through a set of strategies designed to support crime prevention and reduce
conditions in some of the citys most distressed neighborhoods.

In key neighborhoods where domestic violence occurs more frequently, the City will
build upon the community-based Family Justice Center model and expand into new
neighborhoods. These centers will be able to provide comprehensive multi-agency
services for domestic-violence victims, close to their homes.

To prevent crime, the City will also build a set of strategic tools designed to
support people with behavioral health needs in chronic care treatment. These
tools will help prevent an individuals contact with the criminal justice system.
Murder

Once an individual is in the justice system, the City will build analytic tools to
ensure fair and appropriate decision making throughout the deploy system. This
will include strategies to reduce case processing times, improved matching of
candidates to diversion programs, alternatives to detention and incarceration
programs, pre-arraignment and pre-trial screening, and reduced warrants through,
among other things, reminder systems for summons appearances.

Initiative 4
Ensure all victims of domestic violence have access to a
shelter and necessary services
Domestic violence accounts for a significant percentage of the crime that occurs in
New York City. In 2014, 40 percent of all felony assaults and 36 percent of all rapes
were related to domestic violence. That same year, domestic violence accounted
for 19 percent of murders. In total, the NYPD responded to 282,648 domestic
violence incidents.

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Felonious assult

Crime related to domestic violence

Number of incidents

100

10,000
85

NUMBER OF INCIDENTS

B. Build crime-and-incarceration reduction strategic tools

75
68

71
56

5,000

50

4,777

5,870

6,781

7,420

8,335

FY10

FY11

FY12

FY13

FY14

PMMR 2015

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Vision 2

Vision Zero

Vision Zero pedestrian safety

priority map, 2009-2013

Goal: New Yorkers will continue to embrace

Vision Zero and accept no traffic fatalities on
New York City streets
INDICATORS + TARGETS
Reduce the number of
traffic fatalities to zero
Reduce the number of
serious injuries due to
traffic collisions to zero

Vision Zero

Overview
Traffic fatalities in the city have fallen significantlyfrom 701 in 1990 to 381 in 2000, to
an all-time low of 249 in 2011and New York is internationally recognized as a leading
innovator in safe street design. However, approximately 4,000 New Yorkers are still
seriously injured and more than 250 killed in traffic crashes each year. Vulnerable
populations are the most affectedbeing struck by a vehicle is the leading cause of
injury-related death for children under 14, and the second-leading cause for seniors,
who comprise 12 percent of the population but 33 percent of pedestrian fatalities.
In January 2014, the Mayor launched Vision Zero, a bold commitment to improving
street safety in every neighborhood.
Vision Zero contains a robust portfolio of initiatives to make our streets safer,
including expanded enforcement against dangerous moving violations such as
speeding and failing to yield to pedestrians; new street designs and configurations to
improve safety; broad public outreach and education; and a sweeping legislative
agenda to deter dangerous driving. These projects include fifty street-improvement
projects to reengineer intersections and corridors, speed cameras to reduce
speeding in school zones, and upgrades to City fleet vehicles to monitor speeding
and other dangerous driving behaviors. Together, these comprehensive initiatives
are giving New York City control over the safety of our streets.
Vision Zero is already having an impact. 2014 was the safest year in New Yorks
history for pedestrians and one of the safest years for all New Yorkers since record
keeping began in 1910. In 2013, 182 pedestrians lost their lives in traffic crashes,
while in 2014, only 138 pedestrians were fatally injured. Despite this significant
progress, the City recognizes there is more work to be doneand we are committed
to a new set of initiatives to continue this work.
Priority Areas

Pedestrian traffic fatalities, 1984-2014

Priority Intersections

305

246

155

138

1984

1994

2004

2014

Priority Corridors
Highways
Major Streets

Department of Transportation

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Vision Zero

Vision 2

Initiative 1

To give pedestrians a head start while walking across the street and reduce
conflicts with turning vehicles, DOT will expand exclusive pedestrian crossing time
on all Priority Corridors by the end of 2017. Leading pedestrian intervals (LPIs) are a
signal-timing treatment that provides pedestrian-only walk time before vehicles,
including turning vehicles, receive the green light. They are a proven method of
reducing pedestrian-vehicle incidents at high-pedestrian crash locations.

Continue implementation of the Vision Zero Action Plan

Pedestrian traffic
fatalities 20092013
Queens Boulevard
55 pedestrians killed or
seriously injured
4th Avenue
60 pedestrians killed or
seriously injured
Atlantic Avenue
64 pedestrians killed or
seriously injured
Grand Concourse
70 pedestrians killed or
seriously injured

The City will continue to execute and build on the portfolio of initiatives developed
in the 2014 Action Plan, focusing on pedestrian safety, bicycle access, truck safety,
and improvements to priority areas citywide.
Bike lanes are a fundamental aspect of the Vision Zero strategy to increase safety.
Well-designed bike facilities protect bicyclists, reduce excessive speeding, organize
traffic flow, and shorten crossing distances for pedestrians. And when bicycling feels
safer, people are more likely to choose it as a transportation option. Therefore, the
Department of Transportation (DOT) will work closely with communities around
the city to expand a bicycle network that improves safety for all road users,
including installing at least five miles of protected bicycle lanes annually. This
supports our efforts to develop a multi-modal transportation system, further laid out
in Vision 3.
Turning trucks pose a significant safety risk to pedestrians in crosswalks, so the City
will launch a pilot program to test the effectiveness of truck side guards. Side guards
are protective additions to vehicles that reduce the likelihood that pedestrians and
cyclists will suffer severe injuries when struck by a turning truck. Department of
Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) will install truck side guards in more than
200 units within the City fleetthe largest side-guard program in the nation. If the
initial rollout is a success, every new City truck will be designed to include them.

Initiative 2
Use Borough Pedestrian Safety Action Plans to guide
future engineering projects and enforcement priorities

Vision Zero effort in

Eastern Parkway

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In an effort to drive down traffic fatalities, DOT and NYPD developed a set of five
plans, each of which analyzes the unique conditions of one New York City borough
and recommends actions to address the boroughs specific challenges to pedestrian
safety. Each Borough Plan was shaped by a comprehensive community outreach
process that included 28 workshops and 10,000 comments to the Vision Zero input
map. Community input was combined with cutting-edge crash-data analysis and
used to identify the predominant traffic safety issues at priority corridors,
intersections, and areas of the citythe most crash-prone locations. This broad,
participatory, data-driven process ensures an equitable approach to prioritizing
safety projects. Each year through 2017, DOT will complete fifty Vision Zero safety
projects at the priority corridors, intersections, and areas identified in the Borough
Plans. These improvements will simplify complex intersections, discourage
excessive vehicle speeds, add bicycle lanes, make pedestrians and cyclists more
visible, increase accessibility, and shorten pedestrian crossing distances.

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Vision Zero

Initiative 3
Transform dangerous arterial roads into Vision Zero
Great Streets
Residents at Queens Blvd. safety
workshop in January 2015

Queens Boulevard
Redesign
The Vision Zero Great Streets
funding includes $100 million
for improving segments of
Queens Boulevard, a 7.2 mile,
complex, multi-roadway
corridor that cuts across more
than half the borough. The
long crossing distances, high
traffic speeds, and highway-like
urban design have contributed to historically high crash
rates. In January 2015, the
DOT, NYPD, and one hundred
residents, merchants, and other
stakeholders participated in
the first Queens Boulevard
design workshop to identify
safety solutions. The direction
from the community was clear:
calmed service roads, improved crossings, the addition
of a protected bike lane, and
beautification. DOT intends
to design and implement
fast-track design solutions this
year, and simultaneously begin
planning for the long-term
capital-funded changes needed
to permanently remake Queens
Boulevards image.

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Many of the corridors with the highest rates of fatal and severe-injury pedestrian
crashes per mile are wide roads that divide our neighborhoods and communities but
have the potential to serve as connectorsincluding Queens Boulevard, 4th Avenue
in Brooklyn, Atlantic Avenue in East New York, and the Grand Concourse in the
Bronx.
The Vision Zero Great Streets program will rethink and redesign these major
corridors in order to prevent serious crashes, enhance mobility, increase
accessibility, and bolster neighborhood vitality. This comprehensive overhaul
provides opportunities for improving safety such as shortening of pedestrian
crossing distances through curb extensions and widened medians, physically
separated bike lanes, and the addition of amenities such as benches and landscaping.
Great Streets capital projects will be fast-tracked in order to allow a permanent
build-out of street improvements initially made with temporary materials. Capital
construction projects are complex and develop over multiple years because of the
extensive coordination and collaboration between DOT, DDC, and a host of other
City agencies, utility companies, and the community. Each of these corridors
presents special challenges because of high pedestrian volumes, heavy car, bus, and
truck traffic, and the presence of subways underneath the road or elevated
structures overhead. Under Vision Zero Great Streets, painted medians and
temporary bollards will be built out in permanent materials faster, and New Yorkers
will begin to see construction of expanded pedestrian space, beautified medians
with trees, and physically separated bike paths on major streets by 2017.

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Vision 3

Vision 3

Vision 3

Goals

Our Sustainable
City

80 x 50

New York Citys greenhouse gas emissions will be 80 percent lower by 2050 than in 2005

Zero Waste

New York City will send zero waste to landfills by 2030

New York City will be the most sustainable big

city in the world and a global leader in the fight
against climate change

Air Quality

New York City will have the best air quality among all large U.S. cities by 2030

Brownfields

New York City will clean up contaminated land to address disproportionately high
exposures in low-income communities and convert land to safe and beneficial use

Water Management

New York City will mitigate neighborhood flooding and offer high-quality
water services

New York City will

Parks & Natural Resources

Reduce the citys greenhouse gas

emissions by 80 percent by 2050 relative to
2005 levels

All New Yorkers will benefit from useful, accessible, and beautiful open spaces

Reduce waste disposal by 90 percent by

2030 relative to 2005 levels
Reduce risks of stormwater flooding in
most affected communities
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Vision 3

Introduction
Invest even more in the
public realm. These are
the common spaces
where we come together
as people and as proud
New Yorkers from all
over. We need powerful
public design that
inspires, sustains, and
catalyzes community
vibrancy.
Jeff B., Manhattan

Sustainability means the activities we undertake today will not compromise

the present generations or future generations ability to meet their own
needs. It is grounded in the recognition that people, economic development, and the
environment are interconnected, and for any to thrive, all must thrive together. A
sustainable city is connected by transportation systems that move people and goods
to their destinations in a way that is both affordable and minimizes air pollution and
greenhouse gas emissions. In a sustainable city, the air is breathable and the water
drinkable. Waterways are clean and healthy food is available in any neighborhood.
The power system is efficient and dependable, meeting the demands of an
expanding population without the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to
climate change. Buildings provide healthy environments, and are well designed for
comfort and minimal energy costs. The small amount of solid waste generated is
recycled, composted, and/or turned into energy without affecting air quality.
Contaminated land from our industrial history is cleaned up to create housing,
parks, and opportunities for new jobs. Parks offer spaces for children to play in and
adults to walk around, trees provide shade and absorb carbon emissions, and are a
refuge from the clanging and concrete. To become the most sustainable big city in
the world, we have to be conscientious of the resources we consume and the
structures we build. We have to innovate, because our density and island status
create special conditions. And we must remember that what we do now will have
lasting effects for generations. To become the most sustainable big city, we must
all do our part today, for the sake of the future.

The city needs to work

on ways to get businesses
to use clean energy and to
clean up the air and
water... The city should
also look at incentivizing
building owners to build
green and maintain green
roofs, and find ways to
cut down on using energy
that comes from nonrenewable sources.
Michael G., Bronx

Across the globe, greenhouse gas emissions are growing at an unprecedented rate,
causing a rise in average global temperature and changes to climate patterns. In
order to limit temperature increases this century to just 2C and to avert the worst
effects of climate change, as called for in the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, we will need a 50 percent reduction in global
emissions by mid-centuryand up to an 80 percent reduction in developed
countries. New York City has signed on to meet this goal.

it has been in the last century. More than 500 miles of sewers have been constructed,
or rebuilt, and we are activating a third city water tunnel to provide critical
infrastructure redundancy to our water supply and the opportunity to repair older
tunnels. Much of this work has stemmed from the emphasis on sustainability
embedded in past PlaNYCs, and was enhanced by the initiatives developed since
2014. New York City has firmly established itself among the community of global
urban leaders in sustainability. We share this leadership with the most progressive
capitals of commerce and culture in the world, but there remains much more to be
done if we are to stake our claim as the most sustainable big city in the world.
As New York City continues to grow, meeting sustainability objectives will become
more challenging. We are consuming more goods and resources, and consequently
risk generating more waste and pollution. Our businesses and lifestyles, the engines
of our economy and the products of our creativity, also require increasing amounts
of energy, most of which is still derived from carbon-intensive fossil fuels.
Continuing combustion of fossil fuels compromises our air quality goalsadversely
affecting vulnerable populations and neighborhoodsand our ability to reduce our
emission of greenhouse gases that result in global climate change. New sites to
develop are becoming increasingly scarce, and the basic services needed to support a
city, from water to power to sanitation to transportation, are becoming increasingly
strained under the weight of a growing population and aging infrastructure. We
must figure out how all New Yorkers can sustainably and affordably live in clean,
healthy environments. In building on the good work of our predecessors, we must
enlarge the scale of our efforts to match the boldness of our ambitions.

Cities must play a leading role in addressing the problem as more than half the
worlds population now lives in urban areas, with cities generating the majority of
the worlds emissions. Many cities, especially those concentrated in coastal zones
that face increasing threats of rising sea levels, have recognized the urgency to act
now to reduce emissions, regardless of national or regional climate policies.

Gowanus Canal

nyc.gov/onenyc

We can take pride in the progress made to date toward our sustainability goals.
In a very short span since the end of the last century, we have already shaped New
York City to be a model for the 21st century. Our city has its cleanest air in the last 50
years, and greenhouse gas emissions have dropped 19 percent from 2005 levels. We
are but a few plantings away from the goal of a million new trees. Over 475
brownfield properties are being cleaned up and readied for new development, which
is expected to bring 3,850 units of affordable housing. Our harbor is now the cleanest

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162

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

nyc.gov/onenyc

Materials Recovery Facility at

South Brooklyn Marine Terminal

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Solar panels at the Port Richmond

Waste Water Treatment Plant

163

18

0T

ST

Vision 3

18

0T

ST

BRONX
PARK

Environmental Justice

Neighborhood Spotlight
CR
OS
SBR
ON
X

OneNYC addresses the sources of disparities in health outcomes such as asthma and cardiovascular disease, as well as the environmental impediments to economic opportunity and
neighborhood stability. It calls for a more equitable and targeted approach to a broad variety
of City services, such as solid waste and stormwater management, tending our open spaces,
and environmental remediation. Through OneNYC, we are committed to:

WEST
FARMS
CR
OS
SBR
ON
X

EX
PY

SHER
IDA
NE
XP
Y

CROTONA
PARK

R
BRONX RIVE

LONGWOOD

R
NE
K
UC
BR

Reducing flooding in Southeast Queens and other highly affected neighborhoods through a
combination of grey and green infrastructure as well as other water management services.
(Vision 3)

PY
EX

B
C
BR

ER
KN
C
U

Bronx River Houses

Pilot NYCHA recycling outreach
program will reduce the neighborhoods waste output and contribute to achieving Zero Waste

C
SOUNDVIEW
PARK NYC Voluntary
Cleanup Program Site
BR
Conversion from a contaminated
ON
X R gas station site to a commercial
IVE
R
building
will generate local jobs.

Finally, it is imperative that we empower communities through public dissemination of data

and the creation of venues for participatory planning. We need the help of community
stakeholders to identify at-risk populations, toxic hot spots, research gaps, and effective
implementation strategies. Only through the joint deployment of scientific expertise and
local knowledge will we achieve clean, healthy, livable, and sustainable communities across
the city.

HUNTS POINT
D

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164

Lyons Square Playground

Quality and amenities of park will
be improved through Community
Parks Initiative

PY
EX

Developing new mentorship and job training programs to ensure that the citys workforce
benefits from and contributes to the Citys efforts to mitigate climate change and build a
more resilient city. (Vision 1)

nyc.gov/onenyc

PARKCHESTER

NE
XP
Y

5 2

Addressing indoor health hazards in homes through initiatives such as New York City
Housing Authority (NYCHA) mold remediation. (Vision 2)

Advancing an aggressive and participatory brownfields redevelopment program that protects human health for those living in close proximity while creating new opportunities for
affordable housing development and job creation. (Vision 3)

EX
PY

BRONX
RIVER
HOUSES

CROTONA
PARK EAST

Improving parks that have received little capital investment and are located in areas of high
need, based on higher-than-average poverty, density, and population growth. (Vision 3)

In the Bronx River Corridor, investments in zero waste initiatives,

improvements to local parks, cleanup of brownfields, and upgrading of
critical infrastructure will ensure the sustainability of this neighborhood
VE
for generations to come.
NT A
MO
TRE

S
PKWYHERIDA

Improving air quality in vulnerable communities through reduced and diverted truck trips
resulting from implementation of Zero Waste, increased barging of waste under the Solid
Waste Management Plan, and a freight strategy to shift the movement of goods to rail and
water transport. Air pollutant emissions will also be reduced through the accelerated conversions of boilers in buildings and the targeted expansion of mass transit and pedestrian
and bicycle networks. (Visions 1 and 3)

VE
NT A
O
M
TRE

R PKWY
BRONX RIVE

We recognize that equity and environmental conditions are inexorably linked. Environmental
hazards translate into poor health, loss of wages, and diminished quality of life, particularly
for residents of low-income communities that have historically been burdened with a disproportionate share of environmental risk.

EAST RIVER

D
Hunts Point Wastewater
Treatment Plant
Replacement of waste processing
infrastructure will unlock potential for future renewable energy
generation to power plant and
adjacent Food Distribution Center.

Vision 3

Vision 3

80 x 50

the roadblocks need to be removed. Renewable energy sources must account for a
significant proportion of the citys energy mix.

Goal: The New York Citys greenhouse gas

emissions will be 80 percent lower by 2050 than
in 2005

To reach 80 x 50, over 43 million metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) emissions
reductions relative to business-as-usual trends will need to come from cleaner power
generation, fossil-fuel-free modes of transportation, reducing solid waste, as well as
improvements to the energy efficiency of buildings across New York City. By 2050, we must
reduce nine million metric tons from power production, seven million metric tons from
personal and commercial vehicles, two million metric tons from the disposal of solid waste,
and the remaining 25 million metric tons from energy used in buildings. These numbers are
the current estimated thresholds necessary to meet 80 x 50, but may change over time with
technological advances, increased resources, and other factors.

Overview
INDICATORS + TARGETS
Reduce the citys greenhouse gas emissions by
80% by 2050 relative to
2005 levels

80 x 50

Climate change is an existential threat to humanity. New York City, a city built primarily on
islands and with 520 miles of shoreline, is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate
change in a number of ways. Rising sea levels, extreme storms, and heat waves are a few of the
perils it faces. To combat these threats, the City is employing two strategies. First, we must
reduce our own greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and second, we must adapt so that our
neighborhoods, economy, and public services are ready to withstand, and emerge stronger
from, the impacts of climate change. Here, we discuss how we will approach the first strategy:
the reduction of our own emissions. The second strategy is addressed under Vision 4.
In September 2014, New York City committed to the goal of achieving an 80 percent
reduction in GHG emissions from 2005 levels by 2050 (80 x 50). The citys emissions
have already dropped 19 percent, nearly two-thirds of the way toward an intermediary
goal of reducing GHG emissions 30 percent by 2030. The majority of the GHG
reductions achieved to date were the result of replacing coal and oil with natural gas for
electricity generation, as well as other improvements to utility operations. These specific
strategies cannot be replicated, and future reductions will be more challenging.
Every year, the City undertakes an inventory to monitor citywide GHG emissions.
Nearly three-quarters of New York Citys GHG emissions are attributable to energy used
in our buildings and how they are operated. Vehicles and emissions from decomposing
solid waste make up the balance. By contrast, the national average has a far larger
proportion attributable to vehicles. As a result, the Citys focus to-date has been on
buildings and energy efficiencyand we are committed to leading the way.

Focusing on all four key sectorsbuildings, power, transportation, and solid waste
will get us to 80 x 50. We will continue implementing existing GHG-reduction initiatives
identified in former PlaNYCs, and in One City: Built to Last, the Citys blueprint to address
emissions from the building sector.
New York City will substantially reduce emissions from electricity generation,
transportation, and solid-waste management by 2025. The initiatives announced in this
plan are a down payment on our efforts to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In the next year, the City will develop a 2025 action plan of additional initiatives for each of
these three sectors to set our power, transportation, and solid waste systems on a path to
80 x 50.

Pathway for reductions in citywide

greenhouse gas emissions
to 80 x 50

However, the entire burden of reducing GHG emissions cannot be borne only by the owners
and occupants of our buildings. The power they are receiving should be less carbonintensive. Significant emissions reductions have already been achieved by increasing the
share of natural gas in the citys power mix. Nuclear power, which emits minimal GHGs, is
also a large part of the citys energy portfolio, representing 30 percent of the citys power
supply. Subtracting nuclear energy from our supply would raise issues of sourcing
alternatives low-carbon energy, reliability, and cost. Beyond that, only a small fraction of the
power the city receives comes from renewable sources of energy. Fragmented approval
chains combined with limited knowledge about available resources and grid infrastructure
stymie promising alternatives, such as geothermal and solar installations. Power regulators
and others are looking at what a carbon-minimal future requires and what we need to do to
get there, recognizing the difficulties of the status quo, including costs. Offshore wind,
microgrids, and distributed energy generation can work here as they do in other cities, but
Source: NYC MOS

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

167

Vision 3

CANNONSVILLE
RESERVOIR HYDROELECTRIC FACILITY
The New York City Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP)
will develop a new hydroelectric
facility at the Citys Cannonsville
Reservoir, located in Delaware
County. The 14-megawatt facility
will advance New York Citys goal
of developing affordable, clean, and
renewable energy supplies that
support economic growth, while
reducing the citys overall carbon
footprint. By capturing the natural
force of the millions of gallons of
water released from Cannonsville
Reservoir each year, the hydroelectric facility will generate enough
electricity to power roughly 6,000
homes while avoiding the emission
of 25,620 metric tons of greenhouse
gases each yearthe equivalent
of carbon sequestered by 21,000
acres of U.S. forests in one year. The
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission recently issued a license to
DEP to build a hydroelectric facility
at Cannonsville Reservoir. The facility will be comprised of four hydroelectric turbines generating an
estimated 42,280 megawatt hours
of electricity each year, situated
inside a 9,000 square foot powerhouse. Constructing and operating
the facility will also have a positive
impact in the Delaware watershed that surrounds Cannonsville
Reservoir, creating approximately
60 construction jobs and as many
as five full-time green jobs for those
who will operate the plant. The
facility will help hold down electricity costs upstate and displace an
equivalent amount of generation
from higher-cost, fossil-fuel-fired
sources. Such displacement not
only reduces the emission of
pollutants from burning fossil fuels,
but also tends to reduce the overall
wholesale market price of energy.

nyc.gov/onenyc

80 x 50

80 x 50

Vision 3

Initiative 1

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC SERVICE

COMMISSION REFORMING THE ENERGY
VISION PROCESS

Develop near-term local actions and long-term regional

strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the
power sector
The power sector has become significantly cleaner in recent years, but a
fundamental reconfiguration is required to achieve a deep reduction in GHG
emissions and move toward the 80 x 50 goal.
While a low carbon power sector is technically feasible, many hurdles remain. Much
of our current energy supply and the barriers to cleaner generation lie beyond the
geographic boundaries of the city. Therefore, our 80 x 50 plan will be based on a
regional strategy. We will partner with other municipalities, utilities, transmission
owners, generators, and energy services companies, as well as State and Federal
regulators, in order to achieve significant GHG reductions.

Supporting Initiatives

Over the past two decades, the technology used to produce

and provide electricity to customers has changed signifigantly. We are at the beginning of a new era with more power
options for customers than ever before. The New York State
Public Service Commission is at the forefront of developing the regulatory paradigm for the future of the electric
power industry through the Reforming the Energy Vision
(REV) initiative. REV aims to reorient both the electric
power industry and the utility ratemaking paradigm toward
a consumer-centered approach that harnesses technology
and markets. The process promotes efficient use of energy;
deeper market penetration of renewable energy resources;
wider deployment of distributed energy resources such as
micro-grids, on-site power supplies, and storage; and the use
of advanced energy management products. We are actively
participating in REV through filings and committees.

C. Increase the share of wind power in the Citys power mix

Wind power is a well-established renewable power technology
but it only represents a small fraction of the Citys mix. The
City will work to increase the amount of wind power supplied
from the region. It will also work closely with key stakeholders
to enhance the viability of large-scale wind projects by
increasing demand, lowering costs to meet market electricity
prices, and advocating for financial assistance. Key efforts
include developing a regional commitment to a pipeline of
projects to develop economies of scale and attract more
interest from developers; ensuring wind power will be sold
under long-term contracts, and working with regulators to
change market entry rules to reduce risks and financing costs;
identifying port facilities and other locations for assembly and
construction staging sites; assessing the availability of
interconnection points; and adopting local zoning or other
means to streamline and support these projects.

A. Remove barriers to more efficient power generation and increased

renewable power production
In-city power generation facilities are aging76 percent of the facilities are over 40 years
old. Replacing older generators represents a significant opportunity to increase efficiency,
reduce GHG emissions, improve air quality, and maintain high levels of reliability and
resiliency. However, current market rules do not value such externalities. We must work
with the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO, manager of the bulk power
system), regulators, and suppliers to change the market rules to value these benefits and
provide incentives for newer, cleaner generators. The City will work with other market
participants, NYISO, and State and Federal regulators to eliminate the barriers to entry
that now exist.
B. Support the development of renewable power resources
Currently, most renewable resources require financial assistance to address high
upfront costs. Such funding is available at the state level. For example, it is estimated
that the Renewable Portfolio Standard, administered by the New York State Energy
Research and Development Authority, could have an economic potential to support
3,348 megawatts (MW) of new renewable generation by 2020, and 15,594 MW by 2030.
If this potential is realized, the state would achieve annual GHG reductions of 2.33
million metric tons by 2020, and 13.51 million metric tons by 2030. Funding is also
available through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which sets a regional carbon
dioxide (CO2) cap for the power sector and sells CO2 allowances to power generation
facilities in participating states. The revenue is used to support cleaner fuel, renewable
energy, and energy efficiency-related initiatives. RGGI funds have been used to invest in
new equipment that will generate approximately 7.3 million fewer metric tons of CO2
over the its useful life. We must work with the State to ensure these and future funds are
fully used to support renewable and energy efficiency programs.
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168

Electricity Delivery System

The bulk of New York Citys power comes from
large conventional power plants running on
natural gas, nuclear power, or fuel oil. However to
achieve 80 x 50 the City will need to increase its
reliance on utility scale renewable power sources.

Area
Substation
Natural Gas
Nuclear
Fuel Oil

Finally, by increasing the use of smart grid

technologies, such as automated demand
response and smart meters, consumers can
reduce both peak and total demand.

Wind Power

Transmission

Power produced in large, centralized plants is

transmitted through high voltage transmission
lines. To ensure smooth integration of a growing
share of renewable energy, the transmission
system must be maintained and enhanced.
Substations convert electricity to lower voltage
before distribution to consumers.
Distributed generation, such as from combined
heat and power (CHP) or solar installations,
also plays an important role in reducing GHG
emissions. These are located closer to customers thereby reducing transmission and distribution losses.

Utility Scale
Renewables

Conventional Power
Generation

Transmission

Distribution
Network

Apartment House

Underground and
Overhead

Solar
Panel

CHP

School

Solar
Panel

Hospital

Commercial

Solar
Panel
CHP

CHP

Residential and Light

Commercial Customers

Financial

Consumers

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169

Vision 3

80 x 50

D. Adopt smart grid technologies and reduce transmission bottlenecks

North River Wastewater

Treatment Plant Combined
Heat and Power Facility

DECENTRALIZED
ENERGY IN LONDON
Decentralized Energy (DE)
is a core component of the
Londons Climate Change Mitigation and Energy Strategy to
reduce carbon emissions. Like
New York City, London is committed to reducing emissions
by 80 percent by 2050. London
defines decentralized energy as
the local generation of electricity and the recovery of surplus
heat for such purposes as building space heating and domestic
hot water production.
Londons goal is to use DE to
develop a more sustainable,
secure, and cost-effective
energy supply, with a target of
delivering a quarter of Londons
energy through DE by 2025.
This commitment emerged
from a decentralized energy
master-planning exercise across
London. The target will be
met through a combination of
energy-efficiency measures,
micro-generation renewable
energy systems, and the use of
CHP linked to heat networks.
Heat generated as a by-product
of electricity generation will be
pumped into buildings, either
as hot water or steam. Biomass
is also a potential energy source.

nyc.gov/onenyc

Cogeneration at In-City Wastewater

Treatment Plants

Bottlenecks in the transmission system from energy generated in western and northern
New York to the east and south to the lower Hudson Valley and New York City restrict
the ability of the city to rely on renewable energy generated in other parts of the state.
The City will work with its neighbors and State agencies to develop solutions to
transmission bottlenecks through transmission modernization, new facilities, and smart
transmission technology.

North River
Design is underway to install a 12 megawatt cogeneration
system at the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant.
This CHP system will use digester gas, produced on site,
as well as supplemental natural gas to generate electricity
that will meet the plants base electrical demand, while
recovering enough heat for the plants heating needs.
This project will offset the use of 90 percent of utility
electricity and over 1.7 million gallons of fuel oil and double the amount of digester gas used. This will improve
air quality, reduce carbon emissions by approximately
10,000 metric tons of CO2e per year, and reduce energy
bills.

Smart grid technologies can also enable greater integration of distributed generation
technologies and allows consumers to better manage consumption, helping to reduce
both peak and total energy loads. The City supports the development of a comprehensive
strategy to deploy smart grid technologies. This is consistent with the New York State
Public Service Commissions efforts to develop a new vision for the regions power grid.
E. Expand decentralized power production
Decentralized and district-scale clean energy also have a role to play in meeting our 80 x
50 goal. On-site power generation across a network of decentralized systems, such as CHP
systems and community-shared solar photovoltaic (PV) systems can reduce losses
associated with transmission and distribution, increase efficiency, and enable a more
resilient power system. Through One City: Built to Last, the City committed to supporting
community-shared solar PV projects. These installations would use net-metering to bring
solar power to new neighborhoods and allow homes and businesses to feed unused
energy back into the grid.

CHP is a good fit for a facility such as the North River

Wastewater Treatment Plant because it operates 24
hours a day and continuously needs electricity and
heat. Wastewater treatment plants produce digester
gas as part of the treatment process, which is made
up of 60 percent methane, and can be used as a
renewable energy source for the CHP system. Furthermore, CHP systems offer electric reliability and
resiliency benefits by being able to produce energy
on-site and self-power in the event of an electrical
grid disruption.

Additionally, the City will leverage direct capital investment, power purchase agreements,
and emergent solar deployment models to attain the most cost-effective and comprehensive
clean energy strategy. As the market develops and available incentives for solar and clean
energy shift, the City will adjust its approach to assess and pursue the most desirable
pathways to increasing cost-effective low carbon energy throughout its operations.

Wards Island
Wards Island Wastewater Treatment Plant was built in
1937. It is the second largest of the 14 WWTPs located
across the city. The plant serves a population of over
one million people and a drainage area of over 12,000
acres, which includes the western portion of the Bronx
and the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The WWTP has
an average load of just under 12 MW and consumes approximately 100 million kilowatt hours (kWh) a year
the equivalent of approximately 12,450 homes. In addition, in order to meet the WWTPs thermal demand, it
consumes about 30,000 million British Thermal Units
(MMBTU) of fuel oil each year and 168,000 MMBTU
of digester gascombined, the equivalent of heating
approximately 1,650 homes.

F. Achieve net-zero energy at in-city wastewater treatment plants by 2050

Emissions from the water and wastewater system are responsible for nearly 20 percent of
City government emissions and wastewater treatment accounts for 90 percent of that.
The City will work to dramatically reduce these emissions with an aim of net-zero energy
consumption at in-city wastewater treatment plants by 2050. Improving the efficiency of
wastewater treatment, increasing the production of biogas, and capturing and beneficially
using all biogas as a renewable energy source will significantly reduce carbon emissions
associated with flaring, as well as offset emissions from energy generated from traditional
fossil-fuel sources. Over the next decade, the City will achieve further reductions in energy
consumption across all of the wastewater treatment plants by decreasing demand,
increasing on-site power generation, recovering and reusing biogas, and undertaking
co-digestion of organic wastes.

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80 x 50

Vision 3

170

Because of the relatively constant power and thermal

requirements necessary to operate the WWTP, and
the need for a new heating system and backup power,

nyc.gov/onenyc

cogeneration offers a tremendous opportunity to

meet all of these needs with a single solution. It
is estimated that a cogeneration system fueled by
digester and natural gas will reduce GHG emissions
by almost 37,000 metric tons per year. This reduction represents a 68 percent reduction in the plants
carbon footprintthe equivalent of removing nearly 7,600 passenger vehicles from the road. Using
digester gas produced at the WWTP as the primary
fuel source and recapturing the waste heat as part
of the cogeneration system is estimated to save $3.4
million per year.
Hunts Point
Built in 1952, the Hunts Point Wastewater Treatment
Plant is located in a section of the Bronx adjacent to
the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market Center
the largest food distribution system in the world. The
plant services a population of over 680,000 people
across 16,660 acres in the eastern section of the Bronx.
It has an average load of eight MW and consumes
approximately 70 million kWh per yearthe equivalent of powering approximately 8,700 homes. For
its heating needs, Hunts Point uses approximately
169,300 MMBTUs of fuel oil, natural gas, and digester
gasthe equivalent of heating approximately 1,400
homes a year.
The replacement of the plants digesters along with
possible future cogeneration would produce over
70,000 MWh per year (enough to power 8,700
homes), yield cost savings of $3 million per year, and
reduce carbon emissions by 11,400 metric tons, per
year the equivalent of removing 2,300 passenger
cars from the road. By providing digester capacity
to accept high strength feedstocks (e.g., food waste),
additional higher quality digester gas would be
produced. This could allow the WWTP to meet all
of its energy needs and potentially become net energy-positive, allowing excess energy to be supplied
back to the Food Distribution Center.
This would offset the need to purchase fossil
fuel-generated energy, divert waste from landfills,
and reduce long-haul trucking, thereby multiplying
the environmental benefits associated with reducing
GHG and criteria pollutant emissions.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

171

Vision 3

80 x 50

Vision 3

80 x 50

Initiative 2
Supporting Initiatives

Develop a mode shift action plan to reduce greenhouse

gas emissions from the transportation sector

A. Reduce carbon emissions from the City governments vehicle fleet

New Yorkers produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions to get around than citizens of
most other cities in the country, thanks to our 24/7 subway system, citywide bus
network, and dense, walkable communities. But we can do more.

As technologies such as electric vehicles, biodiesel, compressed natural gas,

gas-electric hybrid, and hydrogen-powered vehicles come to market, they will
contribute to the solution. As discussed in more detail in the air quality section of
this plan, the City will continue to pursue clean vehicle technology adoption
pilots and strategies.

Despite widespread mass transit use, New York Citys transportation sector, which
includes private vehicles, freight, and mass transit (subway, commuter rail, and bus),
makes up 23 percent of the citys total greenhouse gas emissions. Fossil fuels burned
in passenger cars contribute 16 percent of the citywide total, while those in trucks
are responsible for an additional four percent. On-road vehicles also emit
particulates and other air pollutants such as nitrogen and sulfur oxides (NOX and
SOX), which contribute to asthma rates and premature mortality.

Proper fuel management is paramount to reducing consumption and efficient

operations, and the City will introduce new fuel use reporting protocols and
anti-idling technologies and enforcement to control consumption.
For vehicles used for City government functions, the Citys current vehicle
fleet-share program with Zipcar will be expanded to at least 1,000 vehicles by
2017, up from its current 600 vehicles across five City agencies.

The transportation investments detailed under Vision 1 of this plan are the first key
steps to diversified low-carbon transportation options for New Yorkers. Select Bus
Service, the expansion of bike networks and bike share, safer streets for walking and
biking, expanded ferry service, and upgrades to the subway system all reduce the
need for getting around by car and will have regional impacts on greenhouse gas as
well as air pollutant emissions. These benefits will help create cleaner communities
and reduce commute times, thereby enhancing livable neighborhoods and providing
a better quality of life for all New Yorkers.

Initiative 3
Build upon Zero Waste to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
from the solid waste sector
Every day, New Yorkers generate 18,500 tons of waste. Only a portion of this waste is
recycled, composted, or converted to energy. Most of it is sent by truck to landfills,
where it releases methane as it decomposes. Together, this adds up to over two
million tons of CO2e a year, or four percent of the citys total.

Beyond the currently planned investments in better buses, an expanded bike

network, safer streets, and improved transit, the Department of Transportation
(DOT), in partnership with the Mayors Office of Sustainability (MOS), will develop
a long-term plan for further reductions in emissions from the cars and trucks in New
York City to achieve the necessary GHG reductions on a trajectory to 80 x 50. This
will include consideration of additional policies and investments that emphasize
low-carbon and multi-modal options such as walking and biking; reduced
dependency on private fossil fuel vehicles; greater use of low- or zero-emission
vehicles; improved mass transit; and the continued development of zoning and
parking policies to further these goals. The City is already working to encourage the
use of alternative vehicles. For example, since the end of 2014, the electrical systems
of all new parking garages and open parking lots, as well as those undergoing
increases in electric service, must be capable of supporting electric vehicle charging
stations. Other alternative vehicle programs are discussed under the air quality goal
of this plan.

Emissions have decreased 22 percent in the solid waste sector since 2005, as New
Yorkers generate less waste and some of the waste transport has shifted to rail and
barge. However, to reach our 80 x 50 goal, additional GHG emissions reductions
must be attained. In the near term, the City will focus on waste reduction, scaling up
the processing of organic waste, improving recycling, addressing commercial waste,
and identifying the waste destinations that result in the smallest emissions footprint.
Achieving 80 x 50 will require changing behaviors through education and
incentives, strengthening regulations, investing in new infrastructure, and working
closely with the communities and industries that generate waste.
Methane capture at Fresh
Kills Landfill

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

172

nyc.gov/onenyc

As detailed in the following section, the City is adopting a Zero Waste goal. The
various initiatives required to meet this ambitious goal and divert all waste from
landfills will be a key component of our 2025 GHG emissions reduction action plan.
As with the other sectors, the 2025 action plan will aim to put the city on a trajectory
toward 80 x 50 and will identify further initiatives to close the remaining gap.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

173

Vision 3

80 x 50

Vision 3

Initiative 4

Development Corporation, will implement the Green Housing Preservation

Program to integrate energy audits and conservation measures into its moderate
rehabilitation projects. NYCHA will implement a series of Energy Performance
Contracts projected to total over $100 million, representing the largest energy
savings program for any public housing authority in the country. The first in the
series, expected to total $40 to $60 million, will target inefficient lighting and boilers
within the Housing Authority portfolio.

Continue implementation of One City: Built to Last to

reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings by 30
percent by 2025, and chart a long-term path away from
fossil fuels

One City: Built to Last

report cover

80 x 50

A number of One City: Built to Last initiatives are already underway, including the NYC
Carbon Challengea voluntary carbon reduction program among universities, hospitals,
commercial offices, and multi-family buildings to reduce emissions by 30 percent or
more in 10 years. The City is also expanding educational opportunities to improve
building operations and maintenance. The City continues to implement data-driven
GreeNYC public education campaigns to foster energy-consumption reduction for
residents. Through these initiatives, the City will continue to work with commercial
building owners and tenants to raise awareness of tenants energy use and encourage
investments in energy-efficient retrofits. Low-cost measures such as using sensors and
smart controls to turn off lights in commercial and retail spaces at night will reduce
energy waste, commensurate GHG emissions, and light pollution.

Our effort to achieve 80 x 50 began through One City: Built to Last. This comprehensive
ten-year action plan aims to retrofit public and private buildings to reduce GHG
emissions, generate jobs and business growth in construction and energy services, and
provide operational savings to owners and tenants. One City: Built to Last has established
an interim target to reduce emissions from energy used in buildings by 30 percent by
2025 from a 2005 baseline and reduce emissions by 35 percent in City-owned buildings
to maintain a trajectory toward the 80 x 50 goal. In 2015, the City convened the Buildings
Technical Working Group, with leaders in real estate, architecture, engineering,
labor, affordable housing, and environmental advocacy to help develop the indicators,
interim metrics, high performance construction standards, and potential mandates for
existing buildings. The goals of the Buildings Technical Working Group are closely
linked to the Citys affordable housing plan, Housing New York, as utility costs continue
to rise and disproportionately impact low-income residents.

The City has taken steps to expand renewable power on buildings. City government is
leading by example with a target to install 100 megawatts of renewable energy on Cityowned buildings by 2025. Through the Department of Citywide Administrative Services
Energy Management, twenty-four schools across the five boroughs are already slated for
solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. The City is actively surveying over 80 City properties
for rooftop solar PV potential, with another 50 assessments already identified for the
coming years. Feasibility studies will also target innovative, non-roof-mounted solutions
such as parking canopies; ground mounted and other building deployments; development
of resilient solar PV resources through incorporation of energy storage technologies; and
piloting wind, geothermal, and other clean-energy resources across City properties. In the
private sector, the City has expanded the NYC Solar Partnership to facilitate solar PV
adoption on private sector buildings and reach previously underserved areas through
innovations in community-shared solar. The goal is to reach 250 megawatts of production
capacity by 2025.

The initiatives mentioned above for the power, transportation, and solid waste sectors
follow the One City: Built to Last model in determining interim targets and developing
long-term GHG reduction policies to ensure 80 x 50. For the buildings sector, the City
will retrofit every City-owned property with significant energy use and will install 100
MW of renewable power by 2025. For privately-owned buildings, the City will create a
thriving market for energy efficiency and renewable energy investments and services,
establish world class green building and energy codes, and make New York City a global
hub for clean energy technology and innovation. In 2015, the City will launch the Energy
and Water Retrofit Accelerator, which will offer technical assistance and education
programs to help building owners make energy- and water-saving retrofits. Coupled
with access to innovative financing and incentives, these programs will generate demand
for private sector energy efficiency and renewable energy services. The City will also
launch a specific initiative for small and midsize buildings, with an initial focus on
neighborhoods within Con Edisons Brooklyn/Queens Demand Management Zone,
which includes Brownsville, East New York, Cypress Hills, and Ozone Park. The City
will work to accelerate customer-side solutions, including demand reduction at scale,
energy storage, and distributed generation, to help ensure the reliability of the electricity
network and realize energy use reductions in neighborhoods facing disproportionate
affordability pressures. The City will also bring access to energy use information to
mid-size buildings by requiring energy benchmarking and audits to identify the greatest
opportunities for conservation and savings.
To serve the specific needs of the affordable housing sector, the Department of
Housing Preservation and Development, in conjunction with the Housing

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Vision 3

Zero Waste

Solid Waste Management Plan

Implementation

Goal: New York City will send zero waste to landfills

by 2030

2014 or Earlier

Overview
INDICATORS + TARGETS
Reduce volume of
DSNY-collected refuse (excluding material collected
for reuse/recycling) by 90
percent relative to 2005
baseline of ~3.6M tons
Increase curbside and containerized diversion from a
rate of 15.4 percent in 2014
Increase citywide diversion
rate (including all streams
of waste: residential, commercial, construction and
demolition, and fill) from
current state of ~52 percent

2015

WM-Harlem River
Yard TS

2016

East 91st St MTS

2017

Every week, the average New Yorker throws out nearly 15 pounds of waste at home
and another nine pounds of waste at work and in commercial establishments.
Altogether, in New York City this adds up to more than three million tons of
residential waste and three million tons of commercial waste generated per year.
To manage all of this waste, the City has developed a complex system to collect,
transport, and dispose of waste. It is a system with an enormous impact on our
neighborhoods, our environment, and our economy.

North
Shore MTS

Covanta-Essex RRF

2018

WM-Review TS
DSNY Facility

WM-Varick TS

Contract Facility
Wasteshed Border

Hamilton Ave MTS

Staten Island TS

The things New Yorkers throw away contain potentially valuable resources. For 25
years, the City has offered curbside recycling programs to divert certain materials,
including paper, metal, plastic, and glass, from the refuse stream. However, these
programs divert only 15.4 percent of the waste collected by City workers.
But we are moving in the right direction. In 2013, the City began a pilot curbside
collection program for organic waste, such as food scraps, yard waste, and soiled
paper. This program will continue to expand to serve a total of 133,000 households in
all five boroughs. In addition, many New Yorkers already choose to donate or sell used
clothing, furniture, and other household goods. These efforts reflect a changing
focushow we export and dispose of waste has become an opportunity for us to build
industries and develop a local economy around materials that can be recovered.

Southwest
Brooklyn MTS

In the 1970s and 80s, New York City came to symbolize the modern garbage crisis.
In 1973, the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors issued a report documenting the skyrocketing volume of solid waste and the sharp decline in available urban land
for disposal sites. The notorious Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island became the largest in the
country, and the Citys incinerators burned garbage without the environmental controls of
todays energy-from-waste facilities. With the gradual closure of Fresh Kills beginning in the
1990s, low-income and minority neighborhoods in the South Bronx, northern Brooklyn, and
southeast Queens increasingly bore the burden of the Citys waste processing facilities.

Building on these achievements, the City will become a worldwide leader in

solid waste management by achieving a goal of Zero Waste by 2030. We will
eliminate the need to send our waste to out-of-state landfills, thus minimizing the
overall environmental impact of our trash. To measure our progress toward this
goal, we will track the extent of our waste reduction and how much we divert waste
away from landfills. We have set an ambitious target of reducing the amount of waste
disposed of by 90 percent by 2030 from a 2005 baselineand we are already taking
steps to get there. For example, the decision to ban expanded polystyrene foam was
a positive step in this direction.

Over time, the City improved waste management operations, closing its incinerators and landfills
and, in 1989, creating the nations largest mandatory recycling program. The 2006 adoption of the
Citys comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) was a landmark achievement for
long-term waste planning and environmental justice. The plan was championed by grassroots environmental justice organizations, who long advocated for the City to switch from a truck-based waste
export system that overburdened low-income communities to an equitable network of marine and
rail transfer stations located in all five boroughs.

This report charts the full path to Zero Waste by enumerating several bold
initiatives, including the expansion of the NYC Organics curbside collection and
local drop-off site programs to serve all New Yorkers by the end of 2018. It also aims
to implement single-stream recycling collection for metal, glass, plastic, and paper
products by 2020.

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In 2015, the City opened the North Shore Marine Transfer Station in College Point, the first of four
converted marine transfer stations that will open under the SWMP. At the North Shore facility, Department of Sanitation (DSNY) employees transfer waste from collection trucks into sealed shipping
containers to be shipped out by barge. Once it operates at full capacity, that facility will shift nearly
1,000 tons of waste out of the overburdened neighborhood of Jamaica, Queens.

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Zero Waste

Initiative 1
To meet the growing quantities of source-separated organic waste collected
through the NYC Organics program and other initiatives, the City will work with
local non-profit organizations and private-sector partners to develop additional
capacity for sorting and processing organic waste.

Expand the New York City Organics program to serve all

New Yorkers by the end of 2018
Food scraps, yard waste, and soiled paper not suitable for recycling make up 31
percent of the citys residential waste stream. In landfills, this organic material
decomposes, releasing methane gas, a greenhouse gas six times more potent than
carbon dioxide. However, this material can be composted and converted into a
nutrient-rich natural fertilizer that can replenish our citys soil, strengthen our parks
and street trees, and enrich community gardens. Energy-rich food waste can also be
processed through anaerobic digestion, wherein microbes break down complex fats
and carbohydrates, releasing methane gas that can be captured and used as an
alternative to natural gas.
NYC potting soil

Staten Island compost facility

In addition, we will expand and upgrade the Staten Island Compost Facility and
explore additional sites for developing City-owned compost facilities in the other
four boroughs.
B. Process 250 tons of food waste per day at City WWTPs and assess long-term
feasibility of scaling up processing of organic food waste
In 2013, the City launched a pilot program at an existing WWTP to process food
waste in anaerobic digesters, boosting the production of renewable biogas on-site.
DSNY and DEP will expand that pilot to process up to 250 tons of organic waste
per day over a three-year demonstration period. DEP and National Grid will
construct gas-processing infrastructure to feed the high-quality renewable
natural gas into the surrounding grid to heat homes and businesses.

In 1993, the City created the NYC Compost Project to educate New Yorkers about
the benefits of composting their food and yard waste, as well as foster communityscale composting initiatives in all five boroughs. In 2013, DSNY began a pilot
program to offer curbside organic-waste collection service to residents of
Westerleigh, Staten Island, to test the feasibility of collecting the material directly
from residents homes. Today, the program serves more than 100,000 households in
all five boroughs, covering 240,000 New Yorkers. In 2015, the program will expand
once again to an additional 33,000 households with nearly 100,000 residents.

If the demonstration project is successful, the WWTP has the capacity to treat up
to 500 tons per day of organic waste about eight percent of the citys total food
waste (i.e., residential and commercial combined). This scale is unprecedented
anywhere in the country and has the potential to produce enough energy to heat
5,200 homes and reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 90,000 tons.
Together, DSNY and DEP will assess the long-term feasibility of scaling up the
processing of organic food waste through anaerobic digestion. The City will also
explore options to beneficially use biosolids resulting from the processing of
organic waste at WWTPs.

To meet our goal of Zero Waste, we will expand the NYC Organics program by
increasing curbside organics collection and convenient local drop-off sites. To do
this, DSNY will complete the evaluation of the curbside organics collection pilot
required by Local Law 77 of 2013. In 2015, DSNY will submit a report to the Mayor and
City Council, detailing the results of the pilot and the Departments plans to expand
curbside collection service.

C. Expand community composting opportunities in all five boroughs

Supporting Initiatives

Long before the City began curbside organics collection, community groups such
as the Lower East Side Ecology Center and Build It Green! NYC offered local
residents the opportunity to drop off food scraps for composting. Although
community composting diverts only a small amount of organic waste compared to
curbside collection, it plays a big role in engaging and educating New Yorkers
about the importance of composting. It raises awareness of what compost is and
what benefits it provides through both outreach and education, and how to use it
to grow food and care for green spaces in New York City neighborhoods. Making
and using compost locally demonstrates to New Yorkers firsthand that apple cores
and eggshells are not garbage, but rather useful resources. Today, New York City
has 225 community composting sites, and we will work to expand this number by
establishing new sites in neighborhoods across the five boroughs.

A. Develop additional organics sorting and processing capacity in New York

City and the region
Currently, material collected on Staten Island through the Citys curbside organics
collection pilot is delivered to the City-owned composting facility on the site of the Fresh
Kills Landfill. There, workers sort out non-compostable contaminants such as plastic bags,
and pile the material into long piles called windrows where organisms break down the
organic waste into a nutrient-rich soil-like product. Material collected in the other
boroughs is transported to compost facilities in upstate New York and Connecticut.
However, these facilities dont have the capacity to take all the waste we generate.

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Zero Waste

Vision 3

Zero Waste

Initiative 2
Enhance the Citys curbside recycling program by
offering single-stream recycling by 2020
Mixed paper, magazines, newspapers, and cardboard make up 18 percent of the
Citys residential waste stream. Metal, glass, and all rigid plastics make up another 14
percent. Almost all of the products collected through the traditional green-bin and
blue-bin curbside recycling programs can be cleaned and remade into new products.
Paper collected in Manhattan, for example, travels by barge to a plant on Staten
Island where it is made into pizza boxes and other cardboard products. However,
last year, New Yorkers recycled only 42 percent of these materials.
To achieve our goal of Zero Waste, we will make it easier for New Yorkers to
recycle and expand our recycling education and outreach.
When the City began offering curbside recycling collection in 1989, we collected
newspapers and cardboard separate from bottles and cans. Today, the two-bin
collections continue, but advances in sorting and recycling technology have made it
easier to separate comingled material into high-value, single-commodity streams.
Most other large cities in the U.S. have already combined their recycling streams into
one, and these cities have seen improvements in recycling rates. In New York City,
we expect that offering single-stream recycling will increase diversion rates by as
much as 20 percent, up from 16 percent. Single-stream recycling means not only
fewer recycling bins in the home, but also fewer trucks to collect the material,
reducing neighborhood truck traffic and air pollution. We will work in partnership
with our recycling vendors to develop a plan to convert all curbside recycling
collections from dual-stream to single-stream in the next five years.

Supporting Initiative
A. Create and expand markets for recycled materials
Separating and collecting recyclable materials is a huge first step toward reaping
the environmental and economic benefits of recycling. However, many of the
products we buy do not contain recyclable materials, and markets for recycled
materials remain poorly defined. We are working with trade associations, industry
groups, waste management companies, and some of the worlds largest consumer
goods manufacturers and retailers to identify barriers to increasing recycled
content of new products and to identify product designs that make it even easier
to recycle. Through these partnerships, we will push an aggressive agenda,
including everything from clear, easy-to-understand recycling instructions on
packaging to products made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled material.
Through these steps, New York City will become a global leader in the
movement to develop a circular economy where resources are used again
and again, rather than mined from the earth and dumped into landfills.
Waste sorting at South Brooklyn
Marine Terminal

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Initiative 3

Zero Waste

low-income and immigrant communities with the goal of doubling recycling

diversion rates in these communities over the next five years. We will translate
recycling mailers and pamphlets into the Citys eight most commonly spoken
languages and work with local community organizations, block associations, and
community-garden groups to give people the tools they need to reduce waste and
recycle more.

Reduce the use of plastic bags and other

non-compostable waste
In January 2015, the City announced that it would move forward with a ban on all
expanded polystyrene foam food-service containers and packing peanuts after a
thorough market analysis determined that recycling markets do not exist for those
products. Expanded polystyrene foam is a lightweight material that often
contaminates the organic material collected from homes and schools. It is a major
source of neighborhood litterthe City currently collects more than 28,000 tons of
expanded polystyrene foam per year. The ban will encourage residents and
businesses to switch to reusable, recyclable, or compostable alternative products.
We will continue to identify hard-to-recycle products in the Citys waste stream and
develop programs to reduce their use and encourage more sustainable alternatives.

Initiative 5
Make all schools Zero Waste Schools
New York City schools are educating our next generation of recyclers. There is a
tremendous opportunity to reduce landfill waste from schools, which generate more
than 40,000 tons of refuse per year. Setting up the infrastructure in the schools, as well
as teaching the Citys 1.1 million students about proper recycling practices, can also
help improve waste reduction reuse and recycling, and instill sustainable practices
that last a lifetime.

Single-use plastic bags make up 2.3 percent of the Citys waste and cost the City nearly
$10 million per year to dispose of in landfills. They are a major component of street litter
and can clog storm drains, jam the machinery at the Citys recycling sorting facility, and
end up in New York Harbor. Even single-use paper bags, which are recyclable in the
paper recycling stream, are only recycled at a rate of five percent, and are often made
from virgin trees and not recycled paper. Cities such as San Francisco, Portland, and Los
Angeles have already banned the use of plastic bags and implemented fees for the
purchase of other types of bags. Other cities, including Washington, D.C., have instituted
a flat fee for all single-use bags. Because so many viable alternatives to plastic bags
existincluding reusable, compostable, and paper bagswe will work with the City
Council to reduce the overall impact of these products on our local environment.

The Departments of Education (DOE) and DSNY will collaborate to launch the first 100
Zero Waste Schools, with the ambitious goal of diverting all recyclable and compostable
waste from those schools within five years. Through the collaboration of students, parents,
teachers, principals, custodians, and cafeteria staff, these schools will become models for
others and advance a culture of recycling and sustainability throughout the school system.

Initiative 4
Give every New Yorker the opportunity to recycle and
reduce waste, including at NYCHA housing

Commuter composting at a
subway station in Long Island
City, Queens

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Today, recycling diversion rates vary widely from neighborhood to neighborhood. Older,
denser residential neighborhoods often have buildings that lack adequate space for
recycling bins. In NYCHA developments, small and inconvenient recycling bins have
gone unused for much of the last decade. This spring, NYCHA has begun to tackle this
challenge head-on, so as to allow residents the opportunity to recycle like every other
New Yorker by constructing new recycling centers at all NYCHA developments. DSNY
and GrowNYC will work with NYCHA to train residents, community leaders, and staff
on recycling and waste reduction practices. Through partnerships with private and
non-profit organizations, NYCHA will continue to support improvements in recycling
rates as part of a comprehensive waste management strategy.
PS 32 Samuel Mills Sprole School
2014 Golden Apple Award winners

In addition to working with NYCHA developments, we will expand outreach to

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Zero Waste

Vision 3

Initiative 6

Initiative 7

Expand opportunities to reuse and recycle textiles and

electronic waste

Develop an equitable blueprint for a Save-As-You-Throw

program to reduce waste

Used clothing and textiles can be readily reused. Non-profits such as Goodwill and the
Salvation Army collect, clean, and distribute used clothing to those in need. The Citys
re-fashioNYC program, operated in partnership with Housing Works, offers inbuilding collection for apartment buildings with 10 or more units and currently serves
more than 100,000 households in 553 apartment buildings and complexes. Even with
these readily available reuse and recycling options, used clothing and textiles still
make up six percent of the citys waste. We will continue to grow and develop the
Citys non-profit reuse sector, connecting potential donors with organizations that
reuse or resell material to support the arts, public health, and other causes. We will
expand the re-fashioNYC program to serve even more New Yorkers.

The City anticipates spending more than $350 million a year to dispose of waste in
out-of-city landfills and energy-from-waste facilities. While the amount of waste we
create has decreased steadily over the past decade, the costs of disposing and
transporting that waste has increased, while space in landfills has decreased. However,
New Yorkers are largely insulated from the growing cost of disposing of their waste,
since transportation and disposal are funded through the Citys general fund. Volumebased incentives for residents and property owners can lead to reduced waste volumes
and higher recycling rates, thereby reducing disposal costs and cutting back the
environmental impacts of landfilling waste. Other cities, including San Jose and
Seattle, have seen large decreases in waste generation and increases in recycling rates
as a result of implementing use-based incentives for refuse. For example, in San Jose,
recycling more than doubled in the three years after a user-fee program was
implemented in the early 1990s. In New York City, implementing a Save-As-YouThrow program that would reward those who waste less and recycle more could
reduce waste generation by as much as 30 percent. The program would represent the
largest potential contribution toward our Zero Waste goal.

Although it contributes less than one

percent of the total waste stream,
electronic waste contains many toxic
materials, including mercury,
cadmium, lead, and other heavy metals.
Recycling electronic waste not only
keeps these toxins from polluting the
air, soil, and water, it also reduces
energy and water use associated with
manufacturing new materials. In
January 2015, a New York State law
banning the disposal of electronic
waste took effect, barring the City from
collecting these materials as refuse.
New Yorkers now have many
convenient options for recycling their
electronic waste, including drop-off
programs at more than 95 retailers
citywide.
Clothing carts from re-fashioNYC

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Zero Waste

To evaluate this policy and develop a fair, equitable blueprint for waste reduction,
the City will assemble a working group of representatives from the Administration,
City Council, affordable housing advocates, tenant associations, property managers,
environmental advocates, good-government groups, and many others. This group
will be tasked with evaluating the range of options available to help New Yorkers
save money as they reduce waste, and recommending solutions to address the
mounting costs of disposing of and transporting waste.

The City has also created the e-cycleNYC program, which offers room cleanouts,
storage bins, and recycling events to apartment buildings with 10 or more units at no
cost to residents. Since the program began in 2013, more than 4,000 buildings have
signed up; we will continue to reach out to property owners, superintendents, and
cooperative boards to expand the program. In 2015, the City will double the number
of Solvents, Automotive, Flammables, and Electronics (SAFE) disposal events held
in each borough to give residents an opportunity to drop off electronics and other
household hazardous waste, including chemicals and prescription drugs. The City
will explore opportunities to partner with other organizations to collect and recycle
electronic waste from residents who may be unable to bring it to a drop-off location.

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Initiative 8

C. Create a Zero Waste Challenge program for large commercial waste

generators

Reduce commercial waste disposal by 90 percent by 2030

New York City launched a voluntary commercial food-waste diversion program in

2013 with the support of more than 100 New York City restaurants. The
participants committed to a 50-percent food-waste diversion goal, as well as
ongoing reporting of their progress. Within the first six months of this publicprivate partnership, the Food Waste Challenge reduced organic waste citywide by
2,500 tonsthe largest single source of food waste diversion at the time
demonstrating the potential impact of voluntary programs. Building on the
success of the Food Waste Challenge, the City will create a Zero Waste Challenge
program for large commercial waste generators.

New York Citys commercial establishmentsoffices, restaurants, hotels, shops, and

manufacturerscreate an estimated three million tons of waste per year, less than one-third of
which is currently recycled. Waste and recyclables from these businesses are collected by private
waste hauling companies. Through a combination of legislative reform, public-private partnerships
and incentives, the City will aim to reduce commercial waste by 90 percent by 2030.

Supporting Initiatives
A. Conduct a comprehensive study of commercial waste collection zones
New York is unique in that is has a commercial waste collection system completely
separate from the municipally controlled residential waste system. A fully privatized
system drives down prices through competition, which is good for small businesses
but can also result in additional trucks on the road. The City is taking steps to clean up
the commercial fleet. For example, it recently enacted legislation that will hold
commercial waste haulers to stricter emissions standards.

D. Revise the commercial recycling rules to make recycling easier for

businesses
Recycling is the law in New York City for residents and businesses alike. Existing
commercial recycling regulations designate recyclable materials based on the
business type. However, this presents a disconnect between what is required for
New Yorkers at home versus their places of work or entertainment, thus creating
confusion for businesses.

In recent years, cities such as Los Angeles and San Jose have established an exclusive
commercial solid waste franchise system with exclusive hauler districts/zones.
Proponents of this system believe this model empowers municipalities to achieve
multiple environmental, economic, and labor-related policy goals by setting quality and
cost-of-service terms in exchange for exclusive carter contracts. The impacts of drawing
up commercial waste zones and bidding them out to an exclusive waste hauler, or
haulers, would certainly be significant. To evaluate the feasibility and appropriateness of
this course of action, the City will conduct a study to determine if there are substantial
inefficiencies in the way waste is collected and if so, whether exclusive collection zones
would reduce those inefficiencies and possibly create ancillary benefits such as
improved recycling rates, working conditions, and wages.

By 2016, working closely with the City Council, DSNY will initiate commercial
recycling regulation and enforcement system reforms. By permitting single-stream
recycling and holding commercial entities responsible for diverting the same
materials residents are obliged to recycle, the City hopes to achieve behavioral step
changes and increase diversion rates citywide.
E. Require all food service establishments to source-separate food waste
New York Citys commercial waste stream is comparable to its residential waste stream
in terms of the share of food waste its comprised of. With organics constituting over
one-third of the total waste stream, diverting this material for beneficial useas a soil
amendment through composting or as feedstock for clean, renewable energy through
anaerobic digestionis a major opportunity area. However, the lack of food-waste
processing capacity in New York City and the region has presented a challenge for both
businesses and haulers wishing to divert food waste.

B. Encourage periodic waste audits for large commercial buildings

Solid waste generation is unlike energy and water consumption in that it cannot be
metered or easily measured. That said, the primary way for an entity to improve its
sustainable operations and potentially lower the costs associated with waste
management is by taking stock of its waste generation. Additionally, knowing what
a business throws away is as important as knowing how much it disposes.

In 2013, New York City Council passed a law requiring select large food waste
generating businesses to separate their organic waste and ensure its diversion from
landfills. This legislation has a phased approach to catalyze the expansion in
industrial processing-capacity needed to make organics diversion viable long-term.
In 2015, DSNY will begin identifying the first set of businesses that must sourceseparate their organic waste. As processing capacity in the region continues to grow,
the City will require all food-service establishments and related businesses to
separate their organic waste for composting.

In just a few years, the City has begun to see energy reductions in large commercial
buildings as a result of making energy auditing, and now retrofitting, a requirement. As a
first step, the City will develop a voluntary audit program to track commercial waste
generation trends. The City will also explore working with the City Council on a measure
requiring large commercial buildings to periodically conduct waste audits and report their
findings. These efforts represent a critical step in determining the waste generation
characteristics of businesses, an area that historically has been short of reliable data.

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Air Quality

Vision 3

Air Quality

There are many sources of air pollution, mainly derived from fuel combustion
within and outside the city. Based on best estimates of current emissions, for PM2.5,
49 percent of emissions are from buildings, 24 percent from traffic, 19 percent from
non-road mobile sources, and 7 percent from electric-power generation (one percent
from other sources). For SO2, 61 percent of emissions are from buildings, five percent
from vehicles, 14 percent from non-road mobile sources, 17 percent from electric
power generation, and 3 percent from other sources.

Goal: New York City will have the best air quality
among all large U.S. cities by 2030
Overview
Achieve best air-quality
ranking among major U.S.
cities by 2030 (PM2.5)
Reduce disparity in SO2
across city neighborhoods by
50 percent by 2030, relative
to 2013
Reduce disparity in PM2.5
across city neighborhoods by
20 percent by 2030, relative
to 2013

New York Citys air is becoming progressively cleaner. Over the past several decades,
actions taken at the federal, state, and local levels have dramatically improved air
quality. New York Citys particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration has decreased more
rapidly than in most other big U.S. cities, declining by about 25 percent between 2008
and 2013. As a result, the citys air-quality ranking among major U.S. cities improved
from seventh place as recently as 2008-2010 to fourth place in 2011-2013.
Despite this progress, air pollution remains a leading environmental threat to
the health of New Yorkers. Levels of air pollution in New York City continue to
cause serious health problems, contributing to a number of hospital admissions and
deaths, mainly from heart and lung problems. It is estimated that particulate matter
(PM2.5) contributes to more than 2,000 deaths and over 6,000 emergency visits and
hospitalizations for cardiovascular and respiratory disease each year.

3-year rolling annual average

New York

30.0

Chicago
Dallas

25.0

Houston
20.0

Los Angeles

15.0

Philadelphia

10.0

Phoenix
San Antonio

5.0

San Diego
0

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

11

10

09

08

07

06

05

04

03

02

01

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

13

12

11

10

09

08

07

06

05

04

03

02

01

188

Initiative 1
Enforce the updated DEP Air Pollution Control Code
The recently updated DEP Air Pollution Control Code controls emissions from
currently unregulated sources such as commercial charbroilers, wood boilers,
refrigeration trucks, and mobile food trucks. Altogether, these unregulated sources
account for 14 percent of local PM2.5 emissions.
Reducing emissions from commercial charbroiling is a cost-effective way to address
a currently unregulated and significant pollution source. An analysis based on
2005-2007 data estimated that installing existing control technology could reduce
charbroiler emissions in New York City by 85 percent and result in over 300 avoided
deaths and 500 avoided emergency department visits and hospitalizations for
cardiovascular and respiratory disease annually. The code also provides incentives
to use clean technologies for auxiliary power units (APUs) for mobile food trucks
and refrigeration trucks through registration-fee waivers and stricter controls on
idling for vehicles without APUs.

Improving our air quality is feasible and has been demonstrated in recent years.
Reducing the disparity in pollutant levels across the city is also attainable, as demonstrated
by declining differences in community SO2 concentrations. Between 2008 and 2013, the
difference between the highest and lowest community district SO2 concentrations
declined by more than half while overall concentrations declined by 70 percent, mainly
due to State efforts to reduce sulfur content in heating oil and the Citys efforts to phase out
the use of heavy heating-fuel oil in buildings.

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Source: US EPA, Air Quality System

Our goal is for New York City to have the best air quality among all large U.S. cities.
We are committed to reducing disparities in ambient pollution level exposures within the
city by 20 percent for PM2.5 and 50 percent for sulfur dioxide (SO2) by 2030 relative to
2013. Meeting this goal will require significant reductions in air pollutant emissions. We
will need to implement local strategies, as well as continue working with state and federal
partners to reduce emissions from upwind sources. In addition, New York City will need
to outpace improvements in other cities to attain this goal.

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20

19

All neighborhoods are affected by these health impacts, but they disproportionately
occur in high poverty communities and among vulnerable populations. The rate of
emergency room visits due to PM2.5-attributable asthma is three times higher in the
most disadvantaged neighborhoods compared to more affluent ones. The public
health benefits of even modest improvements in air quality are substantial because
everyone is exposed to air pollution.

PM2.5 concentrations for New York City and other large cities
(over one million residents)
ANNUAL AVERAGE PM 2.5 (g/

INDICATORS + TARGETS

This plan focuses on reducing local PM2.5 and SO2 emissions. While they are not the
only harmful pollutants, they are the two most important pollutants for public
health that the City is able to substantially reduce through local emission controls.

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Air Quality

Vision 3

Vision 3

Air Quality

Initiative 2

Initiative 3

Identify additional targeted air quality improvements

through data analysis and community engagement

Accelerate conversions of residual heating oil boilers in

buildings

Since December 2008, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)
has monitored criteria for air pollutants at street-level sites around the city through
the New York City Community Air Survey. This survey has provided essential data
to design sound policy and inform research.

At the beginning of 2012, there were about 5,300 boilers in the city that still fired #6 fuel
oil, the heavy heating oil associated with the highest levels of air pollutant emissions. By
July 2015, the City will no longer issue permits to use #6 fuel oil, so all boilers must
switch to gas, #2 oil, or #4 oil. As a result of the Citys targeted outreach and
enforcement efforts, approximately 90 percent of boilers on #6 have been converted.

Persuant to available funding, DOHMH will seek to build on this success by

developing a community air quality citizen-science toolkit that will include
how-to guides for accessing available data on emission sources, designing
neighborhood air pollution surveys using new, low-cost technologies, and sharing
data online. DOHMH also plans to expand its Environment and Health Data Portal
to incorporate neighborhood-level sustainability indicators, create a neighborhoodlevel Sustainability and Health report, and develop an educational module on
sustainability and health for outreach in public schools and CBOs. These efforts can
provide valuable data on air pollution hot-spots and local emissions sources that
may be used to inform future control measures beyond those proposed in this plan.

Nonetheless, residual oil (#4) will continue to be used by several thousand devices
as owners have until 2030 to switch from #4 oil to the less-polluting #2 oil, or gas.
Complete phase out of heavy heating oil (#4 and #6) in New York City could prevent
80 deaths per year and avoid 200 hospitalizations and hospital emergency
department visits for heart and lung disease. In addition, it is estimated that 39
percent of the boilers in buildings over 25,000 square feet that still use heavy oil are
located in the highest poverty neighborhoods in the city.
We will therefore explore the feasibility of accelerating the phase out of #4 oil in
boilers in advance of 2030. In addition, through the Retrofit Accelerator program,
which, under the 80 x 50 goal, provides technical assistance, financing, and
incentives for building owners to shift from the most polluting heating fuel to
cleaner fuels, the City has the opportunity to both reduce GHG emissions and
achieve considerable public health benefits by targeting buildings in specific highpoverty neighborhoods. The Mayors Office of Sustainability (MOS) will formalize a
screening methodology to select projects with the highest co-benefits across
greenhouse gases and air pollutants and to track air pollution benefits as buildings
convert under the Retrofit Accelerator program.

Mortality and morbidity from selected

conditions due to PM2.5 in New York City
PM2.5-Attributable Cardiovascular
Hospitalization Rate*

PM2.5-Attributable
Adult Mortality Rate*
33.1 - 37.1

9.6 - 13.2

37.2 - 43.6

13.3 - 16.5

43.7 - 50.3

16.6 - 18.8

50.4 - 58.8

18.9 - 21.6

58.9 - 77.6

21.7 - 26.9

PM2.5-Attributable Asthma
Emergency Department
Visits Among Children*
19.5 - 38.0
38.1 - 81.7

Predicted reductions in PM2.5

concentrations due to heating
oil programs

81.8 - 122.8
122.9 - 200.2
200.3 - 299.4

(g/m 3)
-0.09 -0.42
-0.43 -0.83
-0.84 -1.44
-1.45 -2.60
0
N

2.5 5

10

Miles

0 2.5 5
N

10

Miles

0 2.5 5
N

10

-2.61 -4.07

Miles

* 2009-2011 Annual Average, Rate per 100,000 persons

DOHMH

DOHMH

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Vision 3

Air Quality

Vision 3

Initiative 4

Air Quality

For many years, New York Citys private for-hire transportation has operated on a
two-tier system: the limited-quantity yellow taxi industryknown for regulated,
metered fares, street hails, and uniform vehiclesand the uncapped for-hire
vehicle (FHV) industry. In recent years, the FHV industry has grown
tremendously, from 38,600 vehicles in 2011 to nearly 60,000 vehicles in 2015 (a 53
percent increase). Trip data from FHVs shows that, among the biggest FHV bases,
a large share of trips are taking place in the Manhattan core (around 72 percent).
Between 2010 and 2014 average traffic speeds in Manhattan have declined
significantly, down to 8.51 MPH in 2014 from 9.35 MPH in 2010 (a 9 percent
decrease). The Taxi and Limousine Commission will evaluate the impacts of
continued growth in the car service industries, including impacts on parking,
traffic congestion, and air quality.

Cut emissions from mobile sources

Supporting Initiatives
A. Reduce emissions from the City fleet
The City is currently on track to replace or retrofit 90 percent of its diesel on-road
vehicles to meet 2007 emissions standards or better by 2017. The impact is
significantit is estimated that replacing or retrofitting a vehicle to 2007
standards reduces emissions by approximately 90 percent over the previous
standard. The City will consider targeting the remaining 10 percent of its diesel
on-road vehicles.

C. Reduce emissions from vehicle idling and toll crossing

The City is also promoting the adoption of new technologies through a variety of
innovative projects, including increasing electric vehicles in its fleet. This follows a
legacy of leadership in technology development and adoption. For example, DSNY
tested state-of-the-art technology and alternative fuels and helped pioneer the
improvements in heavy-duty diesel emissions that are now taking place nationwide.
At present, the City operates over 800 Electric Vehicle (EV) plug-in units of some
type and plans to reach at least 1,000 EV units in operation by 2017. The City
currently operates 203 EV chargers, which is the largest network in the state of
New York. We plan to have at least 250 chargers in operation by 2017. By 2016, the
City also plans to introduce fast-charging chargers and at least one solar carport, an
EV charger that draws all its power from solar panels.

Vehicle idling is a major source of pollution in New York City. According to the
Environmental Defense Fund, air pollution from idling engines is a contributor to
elevated levels of air pollutants, and people who live near heavily-trafficked
roadways face significantly greater risks of suffering from asthma and heart
diseases, among other conditions. Existing laws need to be enforced, and we will
work with the City Council to explore new ways to address this serious problem.
Finally, the City will work with the MTA to expand the use of gateless tollinga
system that dramatically speeds up the process of toll paymentto reduce
congestion and the attendant vehicle emissions at major bridge and tunnel
crossings in New York City.

B. Reduce emissions from private truck fleets and for-hire vehicles

Currently, the Citys Hunts Point Clean Trucks Program offers rebates to trucks
servicing the Hunts Point market for voluntary upgrades to cleaner vehicles or
fuels, including diesel replacements. Rebates are offered for the costs of
upgrading or retrofitting to a CNG or hybrid, and old dirty trucks are being
scrapped to ensure they are not resold. As of March 2015, the Hunts Point Clean
Trucks Program has funded diesel replacement for close to 450 trucks, reducing
their particulate matter emissions by 97 percent. The City will consider
replicating the Hunts Point Clean Trucks Program in other industrial areas, with
a focus on environmental justice communities and including private waste
haulers serving those communities.

NYC Parks electric vehicle

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Vision 3

Vision 3

Brownfields

PROGRESS OF THE NYC

VOLUNTARY CLEANUP
PROGRAM

Goal: New York City will clean up contaminated

land to address disproportionately high exposures
in low-income communities and convert land to
safe and beneficial use
INDICATOR + TARGET
Increase number of tax lots
remediated since beginning
of 2014 to 750 by 2019

Overview
New York City has over 3,000 vacant commercial and industrial properties and more than
7,000 properties designated by the City as subject to mandatory environmental study and
management. Perhaps as many as 40 percent of these properties are chronically vacant or
underutilized contaminated land, commonly known as brownfield sites.
Comprehensive brownfield management has the potential to address many
environmental, social, and economic problems in New York City. As our need for
space grows, we must use our existing stock of land more effectively. Brownfield
cleanup and redevelopment represents one of our best opportunities to engage
communities and reclaim land for development in the city. It also offers an
opportunity to simultaneously benefit the environment, improve the health of our
neighborhoods, and attain more equitable and sustainable economic development.

DEFINITION OF
BROWNFIELD
A brownfield is a vacant or
underutilized property whose
redevelopment is impeded by
the presence or perception of
environmental contamination.

We aim to clean up contaminated land to eliminate exposure to environmental

toxins and alleviate social inequality caused by disproportionately high occurrences
of brownfields in low-income neighborhoods.
This disproportionate impact of brownfields is endemic in cities across the U.S.
These properties remain vacant or underutilized because prospective developers
fear the risks of environmental liability and government enforcement, as well as
construction delays and cost over-runs caused by unpredictable land pollution.
Brownfields result in lost opportunities to create small businesses, new jobs,
affordable housing, and healthy open space in areas where these opportunities are
needed most. Oftentimes, their presence leads to a cycle of financial disinvestment
and a downward economic and social spiral.

The NYC Voluntary Cleanup

Program (NYC VCP) follows
the New York States stringent cleanup standards and
delivers the same high-quality
cleanups. Projects enrolled in
the NYC VCP receive liability
protection against government
environmental enforcement
and the convenience of one
program to address all government cleanup responsibilities.
Since its launch in 2011, the
NYC VCP has spurred an
unprecedented period of land
cleanup in NYC, with remediation of over 260 projects on
over 475 tax lots completed
or in process. These projects
will produce safe land for over
23.5 million square feet of
new building space, hundreds
of small businesses, and over
4,500 permanent new jobs.
Approximately 23 percent of
these projects will also produce new units of affordable
housing. The average vacancy
of properties enrolled in the
NYC VCP is over 11 years, and
57 percent are located in lowand moderate-income neighborhoods, where housing and
economic growth are needed
most.

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Until recently, no city in the U.S. operated its own regulatory brownfield cleanup
program. Under PlaNYC 2007, New York City launched the nations first municipal

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brownfield cleanup programthe NYC Voluntary Cleanup Program (NYC VCP). In

consultation with environmental and social-justice advocates, the City also
established over thirty brownfield programs to promote social equality that now
constitute our Land Cleanup and Revitalization Initiative (LCRI). LCRI is unique as
it allows the City to manage all steps of the brownfield revitalization process. The
City no longer has to rely on outside government agencies to achieve local
environmental, social, and economic goals on brownfields.

Initiative 1
Accelerate cleanup of brownfields to improve public
safety and encourage private investment in new
development on brownfield sites
The City will continue our efforts to clean up brownfields by
leveraging city and state brownfield programs. Over the next four
years, we aim to clean up 750 properties through our remediation
programs, including at least 375 in low- and moderate-income
communities. This will enable $14 billion in private investment
and create 5,000 new units of affordable housing.
We will certify each of these remediated properties in the NYC
Green Property Certification Program. This certification
provides the Citys formal recognition that new buildings on cleaned properties are
among the most environmentally protective places in New York City to live and work.
The certification is designed to demonstrate our confidence in the safety of remediated
brownfields and encourage developers to clean up properties using government
programs. Brownfield cleanup programs can be complex, especially for those unfamiliar
with the cleanup process. To increase predictability of cleanups, to lower the time and
cost of cleanup projects, and to encourage greater enrollment in the NYC VCP, we will
launch EPIC (Environmental Project Information Center) Environment, a web
application that automates and streamlines cleanup-project navigation.
To achieve our ambitious goals for both affordable housing and industrial development,
the City will need to increase the use of both the NYC VCP and the State Brownfield
Cleanup Program (State BCP). We will encourage the New York State Legislature to pass
legislation to stabilize the tax credits offered by the State BCP; provide a gateway to those
tax credits for affordable and supportive housing and industrial development projects;
lower costs for cleanups, such as providing exemptions for unnecessary state fees and
taxes that currently apply to cleanup in the NYC VCP; and continue State funding for the
Brownfield Opportunity Area program for community engagement. We will also
encourage Congress to reauthorize the IRS Section 198 Brownfield Cleanup Tax
Deduction, which expired in 2011, to lower cost for cleanup in the NYC VCP.

Brownfields can contain a wide variety of heavy metals, organic solvents, and other
pollutants that remain a legacy of past industrial land uses and lax pollution
management practices that predate modern standards for environmental protection.
If left abandoned, these properties are a source of heightened public exposure to
environmental toxins for our most disadvantaged citizens.
Brownfield development

Brownfields

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Brownfields

Vision 3

NEW YORK CITY

GREEN PROPERTY CERTIFICATION
The NYC Green Property Certification program was established
to provide formal recognition for properties that have met strict
government standards and ensures that these properties are safe
for new occupants and everyone in the surrounding community.
When a cleanup in the NYC VCP is complete, the property receives
the NYC Green Property Certification. This land certification program is administered by the NYC Mayors Office of Environmental
Remediation (OER)a group of experienced scientists and engineersand symbolizes the Citys confidence that the property and
its new buildings are among the most environmentally protective
places in New York City to live and work.
To get this certification, a landowner must first perform a comprehensive evaluation of the propertys history and then perform
chemical testing of soil, groundwater, and soil vapor. Environmental
remediation under government oversight is required to ensure there
will be no threat of exposure to any environmental contaminants. To
symbolize this achievement, an NYC Green Property Certification
plaque is provided to all certified properties. The plaque serves as a
highly visible symbol of the positive environmental role land cleanup
has played in the community. Since 2014, over 71 properties have
received NYC Green Property Certification, and OER is on track to
certify 750 properties in the next four years.

Vision 3

Brownfields

Initiative 2

CASE STUDY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING CLEANUP

The City will establish the Brownfield Jumpstart

Program to provide higher levels of City funding for
environmental investigations and cleanup to unlock
certain strategic brownfield properties that will be
used for affordable housing and industrial
development. We will also sponsor enrollment of
these funded projects in the State BCP to enable State
brownfield cleanup tax credits.

New York City has established the

NYC VCP and now offers a wide variety of incentives to promote the cleanup of brownfields for development of
affordable and supportive housing. To
date, we have enrolled 60 projects for
affordable housing in the NYC VCP
that will produce over 3,850 new units
of housing to serve over 12,000 New
Yorkers. One such project is Norman
Towers, an 18,000 square-foot property at 161st Street in Jamaica, Queens.
Prior to enrolling in the NYC VCP,
this property was vacant and undeveloped. Cleanup of this site involved the
removal of over 11,000 tons of soil and
two leaking underground petroleum
tanks, and placement of a plastic
liner beneath the building to prevent
leakage of underground vapors from
the surrounding area. Cleanup at the
property achieved the States highest
cleanup standard, and the site was
formally certified in the NYC Green
Property Certification Program.

We will provide City funding to continue delivery of

NYC Brownfield Incentive Grants (BIG) for
brownfield investigation and cleanup to encourage
enrollment in the NYC VCP. Currently, BIG provides
numerous financial incentives to promote brownfield
cleanup and redevelopment, but grant eligibility can
be difficult for land owners and brownfield
developers to understand. We will launch Financial
Assistance Search Tool (FAST), a web application to
help community-based organizations, community and
private developers, and citizens find grants and loans
for community brownfield planning, brownfield
investigation, and cleanup in New York City.

Citywide Voluntary
Cleanup Program
(VCP) Sites

To assist site remediation in the

NYC VCP, Norman Towers received
$100,000 in environmental investigation and cleanup funding from the
NYC BIG Program. The affordable
housing was funded by tax-exempt
bond financing and low-income
housing credits from the NYC Housing
Development Corporation (HDC),
state low-income housing credits from
NYS Housing and Community Renewal, and program subsidy funds from
HDC and NYC Housing Preservation
and Development. Norman Towers
is now a thriving 101-unit affordable
housing apartment building with a
mix of retail, office, and parking. Its
affordable apartments are available to
New Yorkers at a wide range of income
levels, and the building is home to the
new offices of the buildings developer,
The Bluestone Organization, providing
25 permanent jobs.

Affordable Housing Projects

Enrolled VCP: 60
Sites Enrolled in VCP: 263

Support community engagement by establishing

additional place-based community brownfield
planning areas
To ensure the City provides authentic engagement of communities, we
currently support place-based community brownfield planning in low-income
neighborhoods that have a disproportionately high occurrence of brownfields.
Over the next four years, we will double the number of place-based
community brownfield planning areas by designating twenty new
neighborhoods and focusing our incentives to help them better identify
strategic brownfield properties and implement community development
projects. We will assist in the identification, cleanup, and redevelopment of
community-supported projects on 40 properties in four years.
For up to nine of these neighborhoods, we will assist community brownfield
planning by preparing an existing conditions study to identify land uses and
geographic and demographic conditions that will become a strong foundation
for community brownfield planning.
To build the capacity of community-based organizations to perform cleanup
and prepare strategic properties for development, we will launch a Pro Bono
Environmental Assistance Program with the NYC Brownfield Partnership to
provide no-cost environmental expertise for community developers and
brownfield planners interested in cleaning up and developing brownfield
sites in New York City, and provide guidance on the use of these new
resources to achieve community vision for brownfield properties.
The City will launch EPIC Community, a web application that will provide
place-based community brownfield planning organizations with the means to
communicate with each other, with city agencies, with local residents, and with
developers working in their community. EPIC Community will also provide the
ability to store and share data, reports, and other related documents.
We will also launch SPEED2.0, an update to SPEED (Searchable Property
Environmental Electronic Database), the Citys award-winning web mapping
application and environmental research engine that combines City
information on every property with a compilation of Federal, State, and City
government environmental databases.

Source: NYC OER

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Vision 3

Brownfields

Vision 3

Place-Based Community
Brownfield Planning Areas
Established Areas
New Areas

Harlem River

Eastchester

Bradhurst/Harlem
Cromwell/Jerome
Port Morris

East Harlem

Zarega

Harlem Gateway
South Bronx Waterfront

Flushing River Waterfront

Reclaim Bushwick
Newtown Creek

East Williamsburg
Broadway Triangle

Ridgewood
Cypress Hills
Jamaica
Farmers Boulevard

Gowanus Canal Corridor

Red Hook/Gowanus
Red Hook

West Brighton
Port Richmond

Sunset Park

East New York

Edgemere

Stapelton
West Shore

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Brownfields

EPIC COMMUNITY

Initiative 3

Place-based community
brownfield planning is essential to engage the public and
promote community-driven
brownfield redevelopment. We
plan to double the number of
communities we serve, and will
bring new tools and resources
to help community brownfield
planners identify strategic sites
and achieve community-driven redevelopment. One such
tool is EPIC Community, a
new web application that will
bring state-of-the-art digital
communications to community
brownfield planners working in
40 neighborhoods throughout
the city. With EPIC Community,
community brownfield planners
will be able to work with each
other in a well-coordinated
network, reach more citizens in
their communities, and easily
communicate with government
agencies and developers working on cleanup and redevelopment projects in their area.
EPIC will provide discussion forums to share best practices and
enable document sharing with
peers. It will offer easy access
to all work plans and reports
for cleanup projects in the NYC
VCP and provide notifications
to keep community brownfield
planners up-to-date on the latest
developments on cleanup projects in their neighborhoods
making the NYC VCP one of
the most transparent cleanup
programs in the country.

Facilitate cleanup of properties in 100-year floodplain to

reduce environmental risks from storm surges
Brownfields in low-lying waterfront areas present a greater risk from erosion as
coastal flooding is projected to become more frequent. Flood waters can cause
contaminants to be dispersed into surrounding communities, including environmental
justice areas already overburdened with pollution. We will facilitate the
environmental cleanup of 100 properties in the 100-year floodplain over the next four
years to lower the contamination risk from future tidal storm surges.
To accelerate cleanup of flood-prone areas and improve public safety, we also
expanded the BIG program to establish new small grants to support cleanup
activities in the 100-year floodplain in the NYC VCP.
In 2014, the City established new regulations to strengthen standards for cleanup of
industrial properties on the waterfront. These new rules reduce the level of
contaminants that can be left on these sites when cleanup is complete, and are
intended to lessen the pollution impact of future storm surges on communities in
coastal industrial areas.
We will expand our support for grassroots planning for climate resiliency by
establishing four new community brownfield planning areas in neighborhoods
heavily impacted by flooding during Hurricane Sandy. SPEED2.0 will also improve
online access to maps of current and projected floodplains, wetlands, and emergency
evacuation zones.
In 2014, we began performing free climate-change resiliency surveys of brownfield
development plans for projects in the NYC VCP. These surveys are performed by
knowledgeable building resiliency experts and are provided to brownfield developers to
educate them on the most protective building design practices to lower vulnerability of
both the buildings and the surrounding community to storm surge and other effects of
climate change and about financial incentives available to help achieve these goals.

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Vision 3

Vision 3

Water Management

managing storm water is likely to increase. This is particularly hard to bear for
low-income homeowners and providers of affordable housing. In order to balance
the goals of investment and equity going forward, DEP will continue to develop rates
that support policy goals, and will invest in the technology to support innovative fee
structures. The City will update the water and wastewater billing system, and
evaluate its financial framework to ensure we have a sustainable financial model.

Goal: New York City will mitigate neighborhood

flooding and offer high-quality water services

We will continue to manage the citys drinking water supply to maintain its worldrenowned drinking water quality. In addition, the City will manage its wastewater
treatment, stormwater management, and drainage systems to improve the quality of
our local waterways and beaches, as well as ensure every neighborhood receives a
high level of infrastructure services.

Overview
Maintain full compliance
with Safe Drinking Water Act

Water is one of our most precious resources and must be valued and managed
wisely. Water is essential to our daily life and public health. We must preserve New
Yorks water from contamination, the risks of aging infrastructure, and the impacts
of climate change.

Maintain backlog of
catch-basin repairs under 1 percent. Backlog of
catch-basin repairs reflects
the state of good repair of
the catch basin system and
capacity to address flooding

The New York City DEP operates one of the most complex water and wastewater
systems in the world. It manages a network of 19 reservoirs and three controlled
lakes that cover approximately 2,000 square miles of watershed land as far as 125
miles upstate. The Citys drinking water system is the largest unfiltered water supply
in the world, delivering approximately one billion gallons of high-quality drinking
water each day to nine million New Yorkers.

Increase the Combined

Sewage Overflow (CSO)
capture rate from 78
percent in 2014

New York City has approximately 7,000 miles of water mains and over 7,500 miles of sewer
mains that incur substantial maintenance, replacement, and management costs. Fourteen
large municipal WWTPs treat an average of 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater every day.

INDICATORS + TARGETS

Water Management

To safeguard this invaluable natural resource and more efficiently deliver critical
water services, the City has adopted a holistic approach to water management. This
is anchored in an understanding of local water cycles and an appreciation for the
contributions of smaller-scale, decentralized projects aimed at optimizing the
performance of existing large-scale systems. For example, the City has spent
approximately $1.7 billion since the 1990s in watershed protection. These
investments have helped protect our natural resources and ensure high-quality
affordable drinking water, while also avoiding the need for an estimated $10 billion
new filtration plant. Similarly, instead of exclusively relying on expensive, energyintensive traditional engineering controls to capture stormwater runoff, the City has
adopted a Green Infrastructure program to construct and maintain curbside
gardensalso known as bioswales and stormwater greenstreetsand has promoted
other green infrastructure such as permeable paving, which absorbs stormwater
before it enters the sewage system.

Ashokan Revervoir, Catskill water

supply system

Delivering high-quality drinking water, wastewater services, and stormwater

management to residents of New York City requires substantial capital and
operating investments. The City has been tracking and analyzing trends in
population, water consumption, waterfront use, and changing environmental
conditions. Although the cost of New York Citys water and wastewater services is
below the national average, the cost of safeguarding drinking water quality and
Department of Environmental Protection

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Vision 3

Water Management

Vision 3

Initiative 1

Water Supply
New York City is one of only five large cities in the country that has a surface
drinking-water supply that does not require filtration as a form of treatment
although the water is still disinfected to reduce microbial risk. The Citys next
Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD) is expected in 2017. The FAD is a Federal
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruling that allows the City to continue with
the measures it currently uses to ensure clean drinking water rather than redoing its
entire system and building a large, costly, energy-intensive filtration plant. Issuance
of the FAD is not a given and requires comprehensive watershed evaluation and
protection.

Protect the citys water supply and

maintain the reliability and resiliency
of the water supply system
DEP received its first 10-year FAD in 2007. The
10-year FAD represents a strong endorsement by our
regulators that the Citys innovative strategy of
source-water protection is an effective and
sustainable approach to protecting water quality and
public health. The longer time horizon also gives DEP
and its many partners more certainty of the stability
of the water supply protection programs and allows
for more effective long-range planning, budgeting,
and contracting. In preparation for the 2017 FAD, the
City will compile a comprehensive summary of all
program activities and an assessment of water quality
status and trends.

The City must also meet increasingly stringent regulations and requirements for
simultaneous compliance with the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act to
protect the quality of our drinking water and aquatic resources, as well as to protect
recreational opportunities in our waterways.
In addition, since the 1990s, DEP has been monitoring leaks in a portion of the
Delaware Aqueduct and identified two areas of significant leakage in the RondoutWest Branch Tunnel portion of the Aqueduct. Together, these areas leak
approximately 35 million gallons of water every day. Work is underway to construct
a bypass tunnel and repair the leak.
Stormwater Management and Drainage
Local topography, dense urban development, the capacity of our aging sewer system, and
increasingly extreme weather are some of the biggest contributing factors to flooding.
Some communities throughout New York City, including sections of Queens, Staten Island,
the Bronx, and Brooklyn, have been prone to flooding and drainage problems.
Stormwater runoff is generated from rain and melting snow conveyed over impervious
surfaces such as rooftops, streets, and sidewalks. Rather than being absorbed into the
ground, water flows to catch-basins in the streets, and from there into the sewers. These
impervious surfaces cover approximately 72 percent of New York Citys 305 square
miles of land area. During wet-weather events, runoff from hard surfaces of the city can
cause flooding, carry pollutants to waterways through the Municipal Separate Storm
Sewer System (MS4), or overwhelm the combined sewer system leading to combined
sewer overflows (CSO). As with many older cities, New York City has a drainage system
that combines waste from buildings with stormwater in its combined sewers; the system
can overflow with high volumes of stormwater.

Bypass tunnel and shaft construction,

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The City is undertaking several major water

infrastructure projects. We will construct a
Kensico-Eastview Tunnel to provide necessary
redundancy between the Kensico Reservoir and the
Catskill-Delaware UV Treatment Facility to meet
current and future flow requirements. DEP has also
begun repairing the Delaware Aqueduct. The work
necessary to construct a bypass tunnel beneath the
Hudson River is proceeding ahead of schedule.
Shutdown and repair of the leaking portion of the
Delaware Aqueduct, i.e., the Rondout-West Branch
Tunnel, is scheduled to begin in 2022.
The City will initiate a grant program of up to $1
million per year through 2020 to encourage on-site
water reuse on private properties. Potential
applications include greywater, blackwater, and
rainwater reuse in non-potable water processes such
as toilet flushing, cooling tower waters, and irrigation.
The program is part of the Citys broader water
demand management efforts. The City will also
examine its own regulatory and permitting processes,
and update as required.

Different neighborhoods in New York City have different infrastructure

requirements. The initiatives in this plan have been screened to address priority
projects, as well as the need to improve on the delivery of infrastructure services
while also addressing community levels of service.

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Water Management

Vision 3

Initiative 2

green infrastructure in other parts of the city served by the

separate storm-sewer system. In addition, the City will assess
and implement green infrastructure opportunities at municipal
facilities.

Install or repair 500 water fountains and water bottle

refilling stations across the five boroughs

To encourage more private property stormwater retrofits, the City

will streamline or expand the existing Green Infrastructure Grant
Program in areas served by the combined sewer system or both.
It will also conduct a study to assess new private property
stormwater-retrofit incentive programs to strengthen or expand
the effectiveness of the existing stormwater performance standard
through institutional controls.

Water is essential to all human physiologic processes, and maintaining proper

hydration has numerous health benefits. Functioning and accessible water fountains
promote healthy beverage habits among New Yorkers. Moreover, water is a healthy
and free alternative to sugary drinks, the single largest source of added sugar in our
diets. Sugary drinks provide no nutritional value, and have been linked to weight
gain, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. In our city, it is estimated that over half of
adults consume sugary drinks on a daily basis.
Our water should be the first choice for quenching thirst in the home, workplace, or
on the street. To encourage proper hydration and healthy water consumption, the City
is committing to installing or repairing water fountains across the five boroughs. DEP
will commit $5 million over the next ten years toward the goal of increasing waterbottle filling fountains and stations to eliminate drinking water drought and reduce
single-use plastic bottles across the city.

Water bottle refilling station

and fountain

Supporting Initiative
A. Alleviate flooding in Southeast Queens

Bioswales, Hutchinson Neighborhood

Demonstration Area

There are also important environmental advantages to water fountains. Many

fountains cannot be used to fill water bottles or are underused because filling is slow.
This contributes to single plastic bottle use and adds to the costs and pollutant
emissions associated with collecting, transporting, recycling, and disposing of the
plastic bottles. We will promote drinking water and fountain use with signage and
messaging to encourage water bottle refilling.

Reduce pollution from stormwater runoff

The DEP is developing a comprehensive plan to address pollution
from the MS4 and improve water quality. This citywide plan will
include, among other things, adopting measures for public outreach
and involvement, finding and eliminating illicit sewer connections,
managing stormwater during and after construction, managing
industrial/commercial stormwater sources, controlling floatables,
and adopting pollution prevention practices for municipal facilities.

Initiative 3
Expand green infrastructure and smart design for
stormwater management in neighborhoods across the city

Plastic bags and other litter in our waterways are a major concern for
the City. Therefore, as part of the citywide stormwater management
plan, the City will conduct a study to identify sources of floatables (i.e.,
trash) carried to waterways by stormwater, and implement a program
to reduce these floatables. In addition, we will launch a citywide
media campaign for floatables, settleable trash, and debris reduction.

To alleviate the impact of storms on public infrastructure, DEP will work with
partner agencies to institutionalize stormwater management into the design of
public property, including streets, parks, schoolyards, and public housing. The City
will also continue the NYC Green Infrastructure Program, including the installing of
9,000 curbside garden bioswales by 2018 in areas served by the combined sewer
system. The City will use demonstration projects to explore expanding the use of

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DEP is developing an action plan to resolve long-standing flooding

conditions that affect over 400,000 city residents in Southeast
Queens. The area has more 311 flooding and confirmed sewer
backup complaints than any other area of the city, and in certain
neighborhoods, experiences recurring flooding conditions. The
plan will consist of intensive and accelerated long-term sewer
build-out, complemented with innovative, site-specific solutions,
such as Bluebelts and green infrastructure. It will serve as a model
for other flood-prone neighborhoods of the city.

Initiative 4

To promote the new water fountains, the City will enlist the help of GreeNYC to launch
a multi-media strategic marketing campaign that includes signage, out-of-home
advertising (including subway, bus, and billboard), radio, and digital media. In addition,
the City will launch or promote an existing phone app that allows residents and visitors
to find water fountains and stations around the city. The City will also develop a plan to
increase the number, quality, and popularity of water fountains in schools.

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Vision 3

Parks & Natural Resources

Parks & Natural Resources

Goal: All New Yorkers will benefit from useful,
accessible, and beautiful open spaces
Overview
INDICATOR + TARGET
Increase percent of New
Yorkers living within walking distance to a park from
79.5 percent to 85 percent
by 2030

A high-quality, easily accessible open space is a foundation of vibrant

neighborhoods. It is part of the citys public realm and includes all outdoor spaces,
such as our citys parks, public spaces, streets, and natural habitats, which together
make up more than 40 percent of New York Citys land area. As an integrated
system, a great open space can attract residents and businesses, and promote greater
use of recreational, civic, cultural, and natural resources.
All New Yorkers experience open spaces every daywhether on the street, in a park,
or just looking out the window. Access to high-quality outdoor spaces, streets, and
sidewalks produces tangible benefits. Parks and public space are essential to
economic development, civic engagement, and community revitalization, promoting
interaction with neighbors, attracting visitors, and providing a venue for art and
culture. In addition, these resources have significant public health and
environmental benefits, providing active and passive recreation opportunities,
reducing pollution, and helping to minimize the impact of climate change.
New York City strives to make its open spaces more useful, accessible, and
beautiful. To accomplish this, we will develop a data-driven improvement strategy
to ensure a deep understanding of existing assets and then make targeted
investments to deliver the greatest benefits to the most New Yorkers.
Many of New York Citys parks and public spaces were designed 50 or 100 years ago
and now require significant investment to meet changing demands, including new
patterns of development, demographic trends, and park users interests.
Unfortunately, both the quantity and quality of these resources vary, with too many
New Yorkers lacking access to neighborhood parks and more than 200 parks having
received less than $250,000 each in capital investment over the last 20 years.

Prospect Park

Investment in open spaces has often been disjointed, resulting in disparate projects
with their own distinct priorities. By planning for the citys open spaces as a unified
system, we can increase quality and efficiency, enhance park access, and improve
neighborhood connections. A more cohesive and coordinated strategy will target
high-impact projects to underserved neighborhoods, improve access to recreational
amenities, and bring the beauty of our parks to other public spaces, including streets,
sidewalks, and pedestrian plazas.

Beautiful parks and public spaces improve quality of life, attracting residents and
businesses to New York City. In addition, enhancements to our citys natural
environment generate environmental benefits, including reduced pollution and
improved stormwater management and flood resiliency. These resources help
reduce stress, lower asthma rates, improve focus and mood, and, for children, are
related to improved academic performance.

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Significant investment, directed by a data-driven, equity-focused framework, is

needed to ensure that the quality of our open space keeps pace with the citys
growing population and changing needs.

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Parks & Natural Resources

Vision 3

Initiative 1

will identify opportunities to remove or reduce fencing and barrier vegetation in order
to make the natural beauty of parks more visible from their neighborhoods.

Strengthen the utility of parks and public space in underresourced and growing neighborhoods

As part of Parks Without Borders, NYC Parks, in cooperation with DOT and other
agencies, will also find new ways to bring the beauty of the park into the community
by greening key intersections and entrances, and by identifying new opportunities to
activate underused public spaces with temporary art and programming. We will also
look for opportunities to extend park amenities to adjacent sidewalks and pedestrian
plazas.

Released in October 2014, NYC Parks: Framework for an Equitable Future set forth a
strategy to invest capital, programming, and maintenance resources in parks where
the need is greatest. This data-driven, equity-based approach identifies parks that
have received little capital investment and are located in areas of high need, based
on higher-than-average poverty, density, and recent population growth, to ensure
investment in projects that will produce the most benefits for New Yorkers.

Parks Without Borders is a key strategy to help ensure the livability of

neighborhoods and the strength of our communities.

Through the Community Parks Initiative, New York City Department of Parks and
Recreation (NYC Parks) has already launched major capital investments in 35 small
parks with the input of local residents. The City will expand the Initiative to include
additional sites, with the goal of impacting more than three million New Yorkers
across 24 community districts, focused on low-income, growing, and high-density
neighborhoods.

South Oxford Park, Fort Greene

Initiative 3
Reduce light pollution from large buildings at night
Light pollution exists in every borough and is worse in areas with many commercial
office buildings and unshielded exterior lighting. It has a detrimental impact on the
quality of life, according to complaints registered with 311. Moreover, studies suggest
light pollution has a detrimental effect on animal migratory patterns. The Hudson
River is one of the most important migratory flyways for birds in North America, and
New York Citys parks and ponds are favorite rest stops. Twice a year, New York City is
one of the great places to see rare birds and a favorite destination for birdwatchers.
Light pollution from buildings, however, interferes with migrations.

To expand NYC Parks ability to prioritize essential capital projects across the park
system for repair and strategic investment, a new capital needs assessment will be
developed to generate information about asset conditions and capital needs.

Initiative 2
Improve open spaces through Parks
Without Borders, a new strategy to
enhance neighborhood access and
connectivity

Father Demo Square

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In addition, light pollution is also linked to inefficient use of energy, which

contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Offices and retail spaces that are empty at
night yet leave the lights on both create light pollution and waste energy.

Parks Without Borders is a new effort to make our citys

outdoor spaces more welcoming, accessible, and better
connected to surrounding neighborhoods.

Municipalities in Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, and Arizona have successfully

reduced light pollution and even increased the ability to view the nights sky, ultimately
helping to preserve the natural environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The quality of a citys outdoor space depends on an

integrated system in which parks, sidewalks, pedestrian
plazas, and other open spaces are connected to each
other, improving access to neighborhood resources and
promoting community interaction.

The City Council recently introduced the Lights Out Bill (Intro. 578/2014) to require
vacant offices and retail spaces to shut off their lights at night. The City will work
with the Council to pass a version of this bill that reduces energy-wasting light
pollution from large buildings. In 2009, the City enacted Local Law 88 (LL88)
requiring upgrades to lighting in all non-residential spaces of large buildings. This
requires office and retail spaces to comply with current Energy Code standards by
2025. With full compliance with the law, the city can expect to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions by approximately an additional two percent from 2005 levels.
Through the existing Retrofit Accelerator Program (discussed earlier in Vision 3),
the City can assist building owners through loans and incentives to comply with
LL88 lighting upgrades and install modern lighting and controls.

To make Parks Without Borders a reality, NYC Parks will

take a new approach to park entrances and boundaries
where they most directly interact with the surrounding
community. NYC Parks will improve fences and gates and
add other amenities, such as public art and landscaping, to
make entrances more inviting. Along park boundaries, we

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Light emanating from

office building at night

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Parks & Natural Resources

Vision 3

Parks & Natural Resources

Initiative 4
Expand the use of our streets as places to play, congregate,
and be together
To better serve our neighborhoods, the City will continue to work with communities
and other partners to convert underused streets into pedestrian plazas and explore
ways to transform underused areas below elevated roads and train lines to more
attractive and inviting public spaces. Programs like Weekend Walks, Play Streets,
and Summer Streets will continue to provide more opportunities for New Yorkers of
all ages to get outdoors and into the public realm.

Children taking advantage of the

citys Play Streets

Initiative 5
Create beautiful and well-tended streets in neighborhoods
across the city
To further improve our streets and sidewalks, we will invest in new street trees and
other plantings, benches, way-finding signs, and other amenities. We will focus on
rezoned and growing neighborhoods. As part of our street safety and affordable
housing initiatives, the City will also invest in streetscape improvements on major
corridors, such as landscaped medians, to improve pedestrian safety and the urban
environment. Two new City programs will bring technical assistance and other
resources to improve plaza maintenance and the condition of planted medians in
low-to-moderate income or otherwise under-resourced communities.

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Vision 3

Parks & Natural Resources

Vision 3

Parks & Natural Resources

Initiative 6

Environmental Education

Green the citys streets, parks, and open spaces

To protect, maintain, and enhance the citys green canopy, NYC Parks will continue
to plant new trees in parks and neighborhoods citywide. Greening the public realm
brings new beauty to our parks and neighborhoods, sustains ecological diversity, and
adds permeable areas that enhance stormwater management. These natural systems
provide valuable environmental benefits to all residents, including passive indoor
and outdoor cooling; cleaning of air, water, and soil; and improved resiliency to
natural events and climate changetrue public health and quality-of-life benefits.

The City will continue to provide environmental literacy programs to support the next generation
of environmental stewards and to ensure widespread awareness of the environmental impact of
OneNYC sustainability initiatives.
Several City agenciesincluding DOE, DEP, and Parks offer environmental literacy programs.
The City is supported in this work by hundreds of non-profit organizations, including Jamaica Bay
Science and Resilience Center, GrowNYC, the Horticultural Society of New York, and 1,800 park
stewardship groups.
These education programs equip both students and teachers with the tools they need to become engaged community and environmental stewards. The Natural Classroom, NYC Parks environmental
education program for students in grades K-8, is a series of inquiry-based, hands-on programs led
by the Urban Park Rangers and developed in partnership with National Geographic and Columbia University. NYC Parks also offers free instruction and resources in neighborhood tree care.
These efforts support the investments made in improving the citys urban forest, and works with
partner organizations to provide hundreds of hands-on stewardship opportunities each year. The
DEP Office of Education also provides a range of free programs and resourcespertaining to water
and wastewater, green infrastructure, sound and noise, environmental stewardship, and climate
changeand will soon offer complementary online teacher and student resources.

The City will be guided in these efforts by a number of research initiatives designed
to ensure a better understanding of ecosystems, natural resources, and how they
benefit New Yorkers and improve air and water quality. Research initiatives include
an update to the Citys state-of-the-art street tree census and an ecological and
social assessment of the citys natural areas, conducted in partnership with the
Natural Areas Conservancy.
The City will also use LiDAR technologyland cover mapping based on aerial remote
imaging. LiDAR technology helps inform policy decisions among different agencies
and policy areas. For instance, past LiDAR data has been used by the City to assess
ecosystem decline and prioritize tree planting and forest restoration; impervious
surface cover for green infrastructure planning; the solar energy potential of rooftops;
and coastal flood hazards. The landscape of the city has changed since we last used
LiDAR data in 2010 due to natural forces and human interventions, and new data will
help to inform our understanding of and investment in the Citys resiliency and
sustainability. The City is currently working to secure 2013 LiDAR data from the
federal government.

Expansion of the East River

Esplanade

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Vision 4

Vision 4

Vision 4

Goals

Our
Resilient City

Neighborhoods
Every city neighborhood will be safer by strengthening community, social,
and economic resiliency

Buildings
The citys buildings will be upgraded against changing climate impacts

Our neighborhoods, economy, and public

services will be ready to withstand and emerge
stronger from the impacts of climate change
and other 21st century threats

Infrastructure
Infrastructure systems across the region will adapt to maintain continued services

Coastal Defense
New York Citys coastal defenses will be strengthened against flooding and sea level rise

New York City will...

Eliminate disaster-related long-term displacement more than one year of New
Yorkers from homes by 2050
Reduce the Social Vulnerability Index for neighborhoods across the city
Reduce average annual economic losses resulting from climate-related events
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Vision 4

Vision 4

Introduction

DEFINITIONS

In late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy roared into New York Harbor with
unprecedented force, causing record-breaking water levels. Many neighborhoods
were devastated, with homes and businesses becoming flooded, public services
interrupted, and infrastructure damaged. After the storm passed and the water
receded, a new reality emerged: New Yorkers must confront the implications of living
in a coastal city.
Sandy claimed the lives of 44* New Yorkers and caused $19 billion in damages and lost
economic activity. It also highlighted the vulnerability of New York Cityas well as the
entire regionto the risks posed by coastal storms. As the city counted the costs and
pushed ahead with a robust recovery effort, a new conversation began: Recovery must
also result in a city better able to face a wider range of risksnot just the next Sandy.

The first of these risks is climate change. Rising sea levels, increased
temperatures and precipitation, and a growing likelihood of more intense storms
pose unique challenges to a coastal city like ours. In 2015, the New York City Panel
on Climate Change (NPCC) released an updated set of climate projections for the
region. Among its findings, the report noted that sea level rise for New York City,
which had averaged 1.2 inches per decade (a total of 1.1 feet since 1900), is nearly
twice the observed global rate over a similar time period.

When we speak of resiliency,

we are referring to the ability
of people, the places where
they live, and our infrastructure
systemssuch as transportation
and energyto withstand a
stress or shock event, to recover,
and emerge even stronger.
Mitigation reduces the impact
of a stress or shock event or
prevents the impact altogether,
such as bolstering the defenses
of coastal communities to
withstand flooding. In response
to future threats, adaptation
takes place to change the
physical form or function
of a structure, a place, or a
community, such as hardening
power supplies to withstand
the effects of extreme weather
and a changing climate.

Climate change projections through 2100

!

Baseline (1971-2000)!
!

Middle Range!

High End!

Middle Range!

High End!

Middle Range!

High End!

Middle Range!

High End!

Average Temperature!

54F!

+2.0 to 2.8 F!

+3.2 F!

+4.1 to 5.7 F!

+6.6 F!

+5.3 to 8.8 F!

+10.3 F!

+5.8 to 10.3 F!

+12.1 F!

Precipitation!

50.1 in.!

+1 to 8%!

+11%!

+4 to 11%!

+13%!

+5 to 13%!

+19%!

-1 to +19%!

+25%!

Baseline (2000-2004)!
!

Middle Range!

High End!

Middle Range!

High End!

Middle Range!

High End!

Middle Range!

High End!

Sea Level Rise!

0!

+4 to 8 in.!

+10 in.!

+11 to 21 in.!

+30 in.!

+18 to 39 in.!

+58 in.!

+22 to 50 in.!

+75 in.!

Baseline (1971-2000)!

Chronic Hazards!

Extreme Events!

!
Number of days per year
with maximum
temperature at or above
90 F!
Number of heat waves/
year!
Heat Waves & Cold Events!
Average duration (days)!
Number of days/year with
minimum temperature at or
below 32F!
Intense Precipitation !
!

Coastal Floods at the

Battery!

Days per year with rainfall

exceeding 2 inches!
!

2020s!

2020s!

2020s!

2050s!

2050s!

2050s!

2080s!

2080s!

2080s!

2100!

2100!

2100!

Middle Range!

High End!

Middle Range!

High End!

Middle Range!

High End!

Middle Range!

High End!

18!

26 to 31!

33!

39 to 52!

57!

44 to 76!

87!

-!

-!

2!

3 to 4!

4!

5 to 7!

7!

6 to 9!

9!

-!

-!

4!

5!

5!

5 to 6!

6!

5 to 7!

8!

-!

-!

71!

52 to 58!

60!

42 to 48!

52!

30 to 42!

49!

-!

-!

3!

3 to 4!

5!

4!

5!

4 to 5!

5!

-!

Baseline (2000-2004)!

2020s!

2050s!

2080s!

-!
2100!

Middle Range!

High End!

Middle Range!

High End!

Middle Range!

High End!

Middle Range!

High End!

Future annual frequency of

today's 100-year ood !

1%!

1.1 to 1.4%!

1.5%!

1.6 to 2.4%!

3.6%!

2.0 to 5.4%!

12.7%!

-!

-!

Flood heights (feet)

associated with 100-year
ood !

11.3!

11.6 to 12.0!

12.1!

12.2 to 13.1!

13.8!

12.8 to 14.6!

16.1!

-!

-!

Source: New York City Panel on Climate Change, 2015

*In June 2013, the City published A Stronger, More Resilient New York,
which identified 43 Sandy-related fatalities in New York City. In July
2013, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner classified one additional
fatality as Sandy-related, bringing the total to 44.

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As outlined in the Citys recent report, NYCs Risk Landscape: A Guide to Hazard
Mitigation, an additional set of natural hazards like winter weather, water shortages,
earthquakes, and pandemics all pose risks to the cityas do human-induced hazards.
Next, an evolving economy means we can no longer rely on the same sectors
for job growth, or to comprise the citys tax base. Climate change endangers both
small businesses and commercial corridors in our coastal communities. A diversified
economy, as detailed in Vision 1, is vital to maintaining the citys economic resiliency,
and enables those impacted by emergencies to recover more quickly.
Finally, growing economic inequality poses challenges to the citys social fabric.
Inequality threatens to disrupt the connections between our neighbors, institutions,
and communities that we rely on in times of crisis, prolonged stress, and difficult life
events. Without these connections, recovery becomes even more difficult.
Over the years, New York City has been no stranger to shocks and stresses. For
instance, in the years between the attacks of 9/11 and the 2014 Ebola infections,
the city has endured, among other traumas, two hurricanes, a global economic
downturn, and an earthquake. In each case, New Yorkers have joined together to
face these challenges and come back stronger. In other words, New Yorkers
have been resilient.

Sandy made it clear that

Jamaica Bay communities
need flood protection.
The City should
coordinate with state and
federal agencies to make
sure coastal projects for
this area are funded and
move forward.
Roger W.,
West Hamilton Beach

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According to the middle range of these projections, sea levels are expected to rise 11
inches to 21 inches by the 2050s, and 22 to 50 inches by 2100. Using the highest
estimate of current projections, sea levels could rise as much as six feet by 2100. With
this projected rise in sea level, the citys floodplain will continue to expand, creating
more frequent and intense flooding, and underscoring the citys growing vulnerability
to the many impacts of climate change. For instance, a similar Sandy-like event in
2050 could cause $90 billion in damage and lost economic activitycompared to
Sandys $19 billiondue to the rise in sea level alone.

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Since Hurricane Sandy, New York City has strengthened its commitment to
resiliency. We are in the vanguard of a new global movement that is changing the
way cities respond to 21st century threats, both acute and chronic. In partnership
with 100 Resilient Cities (an organization pioneered by the Rockefeller
Foundation dedicated to fostering the resiliency of cities), New York City will
continue to lead the way toward a more resilient future. And with half of the
worlds population now living in cities, and two-thirds expected to live in cities by
2050, it is more urgent than ever for New York City to demonstrate global
leadership in developing and utilizing the tools that will make all of us more
resilient against future risks.
What we seek to accomplish now is to build a stronger, more resilient New York
Cityone that is ready for anything. This means we will continue to strengthen our
communities, work to reduce the impacts of the risks we face, and improve
recovery times when the unexpected happens. The future of New York City will
indeed be resilient.

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Vision 4

Vision 4

To achieve this vision, New York City must adapt. A growing population, aging
infrastructure, an evolving economy, and increasing economic inequality will
continue to challenge our ability to adapt. But the news is not all bad. The right
investments can be leveraged to strengthen communities while we rebuild. It is
understood that every dollar invested in risk mitigation can repay itself four or
more times over in future damages avoided. With the funds available after Sandy,
the City has a unique opportunity to buy down future riskthat is, to invest now by
working with communities, upgrading buildings, protecting infrastructure, and
reducing flood risksto enhance the city's resiliency. In fact, building on the Citys
comprehensive $20 billion climate resiliency program, we will advance that
program, expand our efforts, and prepare our city for the impacts of climate change
and other 21st century threats.

Whats New in the Plan

A comprehensive climate resiliency plan for New York City was announced in June 2013 and
continues to serve as the roadmap for the citys climate adaptation efforts. With OneNYC, the
City expands and accelerates that roadmap to build a stronger, more resilient New York City
with several new concepts and focus areas, including:
Community Strengthening
This plan enhances the focus on strengthening communities by building the community, social,
and economic resiliency of our neighborhoods. It will include a new emphasis on deepening
resident, non-profit, and business participation in emergency planning, and exploring social
cohesion as a strategy for resiliency, which would include forming a task force to study the
role of community institutions, like houses of worship and community-based organizations, in
resiliency planning.
New Climate Projections
The City is committed to using the best available scientific knowledge to inform its policy. In
2015, the NPCC released Building the Knowledge Base for Climate Resiliency, which included
updated climate projections and recommendations on climate indicators and monitoring
protocols. New topics covered in this report include public health, with a focus on extreme
heat events and coastal storms, and enhanced dynamic coastal flood modeling, whichincorporate the effects of sea level rise.

The Evolution of the City's Resiliency Program

The Citys vision for resiliency and climate adaptation is rooted in nearly a decade of
innovative and proactive planning that commenced with the release of A Greener, Greater
New York in 2007. In June 2013, the City released its comprehensive climate resiliency plan A
Stronger, More Resilient New York that outlined a 10-year, over $20 billion program with 257
initiatives for adapting the citys infrastructure systems and its hardest-hit neighborhoods
after Hurricane Sandy. A Stronger, More Resilient New York provides a detailed analysis of
what occurred to New York Citys communities, buildings, infrastructure, and coastlines
during Sandy and sets forth a risk assessment that informs our program to prepare for a
future with climate change.

The City of New York

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg

A STRONGER,
MORE RESILIENT
NEW YORK

A Report on the City of New Yorks Response to Hurricane Sandy and the Path Forward

An Updated Federal Agenda

Since 2013, the federal government has reformed the National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP), slowing increases in insurance premiums, but failing to solve the problem of long-term
insurance affordability. NFIP is expected to be reauthorized in 2017, providing a unique opportunity to institute new reforms. In advance of reauthorization, the City continues to evaluate a
variety of policy changes and outcomes that provide incentives for risk-reduction investments
and promote affordability. At the same time, the citys flood maps are being updated, showing
that more of the city is vulnerable to flooding. Finally, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has released its two-year North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study, recommending further action to reduce coastal vulnerability in the city. The City will continue its work to ensure
that the USACE is able to launch a new feasibility study in New York Harbor and its tributaries.
This study is expected to lead to new authorized projects ready for construction.

To date, Build it Back has sent out over 3,200 reimbursement checks and started construction
on over 1,100 homes, of which more than 500 were already completed.

Prepared by:
William Goldstein, Senior Advisor for Recovery, Resiliency and Infrastructure
Amy Peterson, Director of the Housing Recovery Office
Daniel A. Zarrilli, Director of the Mayors Office of Recovery and Resiliency

APRIL 2014

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Land Use Policy

The Citys 2013 climate resiliency plan recommended further study into how land use policy
can be a tool for resiliency. Ten neighborhoods impacted by Sandy across the city are currently involved in planning studies to generate resiliency recommendations and land use changes,
on both a local and citywide level. These recommendations are expected to reduce long-term
vulnerability by smartly managing growth and development in vulnerable parts of the city.

As part of the city's recovery from Sandy, Build it Back, run by the Mayor's Office of Housing
Recovery Operations and supported by federal funding, was established in 2013 to oversee
housing recovery in New York City. To provide financial or construction assistance to those
in need, Build it Back developed several programs, integrating lessons from other disaster
recovery programs. Houses that were substantially damaged were elevated or, in some cases,
completely reconstructed. Houses that suffered moderate damage were offered financial and
construction assistance for repairs, including reimbursement for those repairs completed in
the first year after Sandy. Home acquisitions and repairs to multi-family buildings are also
underway. Over 20,000 residents applied and nearly 12,000 applications are currently active.
In April 2014, the City committed to enhancing and expanding the resiliency and housing
recovery programs with the release of One City, Rebuilding Together. This report created the
Office of Recovery and Resiliency, which is dedicated to advancing the Citys resiliency vision.
It also implemented critical improvements, including expedited reimbursement checks and
more construction starts, to the Build it Back program and expanded economic opportunities
for residents impacted by Sandy, such as the expansion of Sandy Recovery Workforce1, and
developing a pipeline for pre-apprenticeship programs in the construction trades.

ONE CITY, REBUILDING TOGETHER

One City, Rebuilding Together

Focus on Heat
Based on the NPCC's work, the City is putting a new emphasis on protecting New Yorkers from acute and chronic heat, including an urban heat island working group, efforts to
understand the need for better ambient air temperature data collection across the city, and an
analysis of natural infrastructure and its impact on the urban heat island effect.

The appendix of this report describes our current progress on the Citys resiliency program.

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Vision 4

Vision 4
18
0T
H
ST

BRONX
PARK

Resiliency Indicators

Neighborhood Spotlight

To measure our progress, the City will continue to consider ways to measure the impacts of
its resiliency efforts. The field of resiliency does not yet have a rigorous standard for indicators and performance measures, but the City will commit to creating a methodology to
develop and test indicators for resiliency. This might include simple metrics, scenario analysis
tools, or computational modeling techniques to determine whether and how the City is improving its resiliency. To implement a specific set of monitoring tools, the City will continue
its work with 100 Resilient Cities.

WEST
FARMS

MO
TRE

CROTONA
PARK

In order to advance Vision 4 effectively, the City has identified the following indicators
through which we can monitor our progress. This Vision aims to reduce or eliminate the
following:

In the Bronx River Corridor, the City is working with local communities
to plan for a more resilient future. This includes a range of investments
and planning initiatives to prepare of the impacts of climate change and
st
VE
other
NT21A century threats.

CR

OS

S- B

Reduce average annual economic losses resulting from climate-related events

LONGWOOD

SOUTHERN BLVD

CROTONA
PARK EAST

18

0T

KWY
IVER P
BRONX R

Reduce the Social Vulnerability Index for neighborhoods across the city

Investing in coastal and energy

resiliency, in partnership with
local business and resident
stakeholders, can protect critical
assets and supply chains while
creating new community
amenities.

RONX EX
PY

SHERI
DA
NE
XP
Y

Eliminate disaster-related long-term displacement (more than one year) of New Yorkers from
homes by 2050

PARKCHESTERHunts Point Resiliency

ST

B
CR
OS
SBR
ON
X

XPY
NER E
BRUCK

Harding Park Resilient

Neighborhoods Study
Planning with the Harding Park
community about the areas shortand long-term resiliency aims
to mitigate the risks of coastal
flooding for this vibrant bungalow
VE
NT A
community.
MO
E
R
T

EX
PY

Bronx River Shoreline at

Starlight Park
Creating wetlands, soil cleanup,
and ecosystem restoration will
protect and strengthen an existing
community asset.

SHER
IDA
NE
XP
Y

5 2
SOUNDVIEW
PARK
ON

XR

IVE

R
BRONX RIVE

PKWY

BR

HUNTS POINT
A
BR

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R
NE
K
UC

PY
EX
EAST RIVER

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Vision 4

Neighborhoods

Vision 4

Neighborhoods

Finally, because communities cant do this all on their own, it is important that the Citys
emergency communication and preparedness programs, in partnership with
communities, maintain their ability to respond to any disaster. As the city has seen, it is
vital for first-responders and other essential personnel to be able to have emergency
access to restricted areas: response and recovery operations, logistics and support zones,
and critical emergency facilities. The opportunities that come from long-term recovery
operations ensure residents impacted by disasters are able to participate in the recovery
of their neighborhoods through hiring programs and workforce development.

Goal: Every city neighborhood will be safer by

strengthening community, social, and economic
resiliency
INDICATORS + TARGETS
Increase the capacity of
accessible emergency
shelters to 120,000
Increase the rate of
volunteerism among
New Yorkers to 25 percent
by 2020

Overview
New Yorkers come together during emergencies to support each other and begin the
recovery process. And while significant disruptive events like Hurricane Sandy
affect all New Yorkers, they ultimately expose and exacerbate underlying
vulnerabilities in many communities. Across every corner of the city, everyday New
Yorkers, along with local institutions, energize the recovery process and voluntarily
help their neighbors without waiting for official assistance. In short, these residents,
organizations, and community leaders anchor neighborhood recovery, and continue
to provide support long after official resources are no longer available.
Unquestionably, official resources are vital for community preparedness. One of the
most critical components to disaster preparedness and response is effective
communication between government and community stakeholders. This means the
City must continue to work with local organizations before disasters strike. By
establishing communication links; emergency on-call contracting authorities;
off-the-shelf recovery programs for communities, residents, and businesses; disaster
recovery assets, and strengthened shelter services, we can be better prepared.
Additionally, as medium- and long-term recovery proceeds, the City must work with
local communities to address the lingering effects of disasters on residents,
businesses, and communities, all of which require new efforts to ensure recovery
doesnt stall when attention turns elsewhere.
The strengthening of social networks and planning within a community are also
critical to enhancing resiliency. This can entail building relationships with, and
checking in on, neighbors and the availability of adequate neighborhood gathering
and resource centers. How New Yorkers interact with one another can be an
important factor in guarding against many risks. Heat, for example, presents a
unique challenge to New York City. As we learned during the Chicago heat wave of
1995, neighborhoods with more robust social infrastructure, such as community
centers, safe streets, and schools had better health outcomes than those without.
And as mean annual temperatures in New York City are projected to increase by 4.1
to 5.7F by the 2050s, neighborhoods without social networks and infrastructure are
at an even greater risk, particularly where heat-vulnerable populations, such as
children and seniors, are increasing.

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222

Sandy Recovery Opportunity and

Resource Fair at the Challenge
Preparatory Charter School in
Queens

Community Resiliency in Red Hook

The morning after Hurricane Sandy hit Red Hook, Sheryl NashChisholm, a resident of Red Hook Houses, decided to check
on her place of employment, the Red Hook Initiative (RHI), a
community-based organization serving Red Hook in Brooklyn.
Once inside, she realized that RHI had not been damaged by the
storm. She immediately opened the center to serve as a gathering
place, charging station, and supply-distribution center. By
taking this initiative, Sheryl became a key part of the Red Hook
community's recovery.
For the next three weeks, Sheryl and two dozen neighbors worked
tirelessly to serve their community, returning each night to their
own apartments that were still without heat, running water, and
electricity. RHI was open for up to 14 hours per day during those
three weeks, with RHI volunteers and partner organizations
providing supplies and meals to thousands of area residents, as
well as free Wi-Fi and legal and/or medical assistance to nearly
300 home-bound people in the community. With long-lasting local
relationships and community awareness, RHI and their partners
demonstrated that community-based organizations and their
members are often able to mobilize quickly and provide meaningful,
critical support for neighborhoods in times of crisis.

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Vision 4

Neighborhoods

Vision 4

Initiative 1

Initiative 2

Strengthen community-based organizations

Improve emergency preparedness and planning

Social infrastructure plays an important role in making communities ready for the
unexpected, and neighborhoods vary in the level of social cohesion and available
resources. To address this situation, the City will work to build capacity in
communities by strengthening community-based organizations that serve their
neighbors and by working to expand civic engagement and volunteerism.

Resiliency starts with preparation. Securing physical assets for emergency

response such as a power generators, light towers and others are a critical first
step. The City, through NYC Emergency Management (NYC EM), will expand
public education efforts so that all New Yorkers know the risks they face during
extreme weather events and other disasters, and how to prepare and respond.

First, the City will seek to develop a comprehensive, interactive web-based platform
to map both small and large community organizations and activities, as well as local
government services and initiatives, across New York City. The platform will allow
for the identification of both gaps and duplication of efforts, as well as opportunities
for integrating existing community-based and government initiatives. It will also
encourage more effective coordination, collaboration, and decision-making in these
efforts, in addition to linking to tools for connecting organizations and aiding in
community-based emergency planning between government and communities.

The City will invest in emergency shelter sites to accommodate 120,000 vulnerable
New Yorkersan improvement on the current capacity of 100,000including
retrofits for the accessibility of existing shelters. We will strive to ensure vulnerable
populations that need shelter are provided with adequate transportation services.
The City will also continue working to identify additional accessible sites
throughout the five boroughs that can serve as emergency service centers.
During large-scale emergencies and disasters, getting the right resources to the right
place at the right time saves lives and helps New Yorkers recover faster. The City can
ensure this happens by expanding the existing Corporate Emergency Access System
(CEAS), a program recognized by New York City Police Department (NYPD) and
NYC EM that allows emergency access for businesses, into an emergency access
credential for City Agency staff and other essential personnel. The City will convene
an inter-agency working group to evaluate, and make recommendations for, the
development of this credential and its procedures during a disaster.

Next, the City will seek to bolster neighborhood resiliency and civic participation by
strengthening community-based organizations services, information capacity, and
ability to conduct community-level emergency and resiliency planning. The City will
study a model for social empowerment zones, which aim to increase residents'
resiliency in under-resourced neighborhoods by targeting funds and capacitybuilding support to critical local service providers in geographically defined areas.

In the summer of 2014, the City launched a comprehensive review of its 911
emergency response system. The first assessment examined the technological and
facilities improvements already underway as part of the Emergency Communication
Transformation Program. The second assessment examined the operations,
procedures, and call volumes of the 911 system. Through the operational assessment,
improvements in emergency care emerged as a top priority.

In partnership with the City Council, the City will establish a Hurricane Sandy Task
Force to make recommendations on expanding the participation of communitybased organizations and faith-based groups in local
emergency planning and resiliency efforts.
Finally, the City will expand volunteerism
opportunities in neighborhood-based initiatives run
by community-based organizations, neighborhood
institutions, and the City. An enhanced NYC Service
platform will connect organizations and programs in
need of support with available volunteers, including
linking volunteers with emergency response and
recovery efforts.

New York City ambulances respond to over a million calls each year, 40 percent of which
are for life-threatening emergencies.As that volume continues to increase, the challenge
of maintaining optimal coverage in every part of the city, at all times, only becomes
greater.To address this problem and reduce response times, the City will explore
options to provide additional support where the need is greatest. This year, the City
added 45 additional ambulance tours and deployed additional resources to station areas,
focused in southern Bronx, western Queens, and Staten Island. The City is also building
out a fully redundant, second 911 answering center in the Bronx, increasing staffing of
dispatchers and supervisors, and improving governance and quality assurance protocols
to ensure a more robust and efficient emergency response system.
Service providers, such as in-home food and health service organizations, could play
an essential role in emergency preparedness and planning. To ensure service
providers are equipped with the necessary tools and training to serve vulnerable

A Community Emergency
Response Team (CERT) volunteer
spreads the word about the City's
"Know Your Zone" campaign

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Neighborhoods

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Vision 4

Neighborhoods

Vision 4

citywide and thereby enhancing their resiliency.

populations during emergencies, the City will include front-line staff in emergency
planning, training on public communications, and table-top exercises. In addition,
the City will modify standardized contracts to require service providers to
participate in the Citys emergency protocols (such as Advance Warning System),
develop a training program to incorporate community-based organizations in
response and recovery operations, and assign all available City employees a response
role for emergencies.

The City will also invest $30 million toward commercial corridor enhancements in
Coney Island and the Rockaways, including storm water management, streetscape
and place-making projects to enhance the connectivity of these places, and
improvement of local infrastructure that provides basic services to businesses.

Initiative 4

The City will continue to integrate its Hazard Mitigation Plan with climate resiliency
plans so that we are planning for and acting on the full array of hazards and risks our
city faces. Additionally, the City will launch its third NPCC in 2015, which will include
a climate risk analysis to inform planning and decision making on resiliency efforts
focused on equity and regionalism.

Ensure that workforce development is a part of all

resiliency investments
As the City advances its more than $20 billion resiliency capital investment program,
residents impacted by Sandy will have opportunities to access employment and the
training needed to be eligible for the construction jobs these investments will create.
To realize this opportunity, the City will build on the model designed for the Build it
Back program that established the Sandy Recovery Workforce1 program, which
encourages the hiring of Sandy-impacted residents and provides training vouchers
for residents to access pre-apprenticeship programs.

Finally, the City will work with the design and construction industries to develop a
system of standardized on-call contracts, with agreed upon payment and risk
management terms, in order to deploy construction and other services such as
effective and efficient debris removal and building repairs during and after a major
disruptive event. And we will work to improve long-term case management for
those impacted by disasters to connect survivors with the services they need.

Initiative 3
Support small businesses and local commercial corridors
Small businesses form a critical part of any community, providing jobs as well as
goods and services. After Sandy, the disruption to businesses in affected
communities meant lost earnings for business owners, displaced jobs for workers,
and reduced access to vital goods and services. As a result, residents in many
communities were left with limited options to meet their daily needs.
A local business on Richmond
Terrace in Staten Island

Workers constructing a home

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Specifically, the City will ensure all investments that strengthen the citys resiliency
will create job opportunities for residents and low-income applicants. This will
require the City, in cooperation with the Law Department and Mayors Office of
Contract Services (MOCS), to adopt standardized language for all procurement
documents and contracts for resiliency-related work, and require contractors and
consultants to report on efforts and outcomes related to local hiring and training.
Working with the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications
(DoITT), the City will develop a centralized tool for tracking and reporting on this
data with the goal of improving the hiring of Sandy-impacted residents and lowincome applicants.
Additionally, community outreach and workforce development services will be further
integrated with development projects in partnership with industry and labor
organizations.For example, a new and long-awaited agreement between the New York
City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and unions from the building and construction
trades covering an estimated $3.5 billion of investment will secure access to jobs and
training opportunities for many Sandy-impacted residents, including NYCHA
residents, through both pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs. The City's
Department of Small Business Services (SBS), will secure additional State funding for
community-supported workforce development services in several Sandy-impacted
neighborhoods.

In response, the City provided financial and technical assistance to more than 650
businesses in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. In
addition, the Hurricane Sandy Business Loan and Grant Program
will have served more than 250 businesses before the end of 2015.
As of April 2015, the City has approved awards worth $35 million
to more than 200 businesses.
In Spring 2015, the City will announce the winners of
RISE : NYC, a $30 million competition that leverages
innovative resiliency technologies in energy infrastructure,
telecommunications, and building systems for small businesses.
Additionally, the City will launch a new Business PREP program
to provide tailored resources and technical assistance in
preparing and planning for future disruptive events to businesses

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Vision 4

Neighborhoods

Vision 4

Neighborhoods

Initiative 5
Mitigate the risks of heat
The effects of urban heat are well known. Extreme summer heat kills, on average,
over 100 New Yorkers annually from heat stroke and the heat-related exacerbation
of chronic health problems. Hundreds more need hospital care for serious heatrelated illness. The risk of death from extreme heat is highest among those without
air conditioning, in neighborhoods with higher poverty rates, and where there is less
land covered by trees and other vegetation. By greening neighborhoods and
increasing access to air conditioning, we aim to reduce heat-related illnesses and
deaths, and reduce disparities in vulnerability to climate change.
In partnership with The Nature Conservancy, the City is developing strategies to
evaluate the best available science on the urban heat island effect in order to invest
in better data collection and develop effective capital investment and operational
strategies to adapt our city to the increasing impacts of urban heat. First, the City
will identify urban heat mitigation and adaptation strategies to benefit the citys
most heat-vulnerable communities by coordinating through a new Urban Heat
Island Working Group that has already begun to meet.

Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) for

New York City Community Districts
The HVI is adapted from a study by researchers at the
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)
and Columbia University who analyzed mortality data
from 2000 through 2011. The analysis identified factors
that were associated with an increased risk of deaths
during a heat wave. The map shows New York City
Community Districts ranked from least to most vulnerable and divided into five equal groups. Each Community District HVI is the average of all census tracts in
the Community District.

The Working Group will make recommendations for the creation of a citywide air
temperature monitoring system to enable the collection of community-level
temperature data to guide urban heat mitigation and emergency response activities.
In order to measure heat mitigation activities accurately across the five boroughs,
the City will seek updates to its 2010 LiDAR dataset, which will involve aerial data
collection through remote sensing. This will help the City to quantify the
investments that have already been made and will inform future strategies about
how to plan the built environment. Additional insights from LiDAR data will include
the extent of the tree canopy across the five boroughs, and better detail for the Citys
public mapping data, among others. The City is already working to secure federallyprovided 2013 LiDAR data.
Additionally, the City will call on the State to ensure cooling access during extreme
heat for low-income, heat-vulnerable populations through an expanded allocation of
Federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds to assist with air
conditioning purchase and installation, and utility costs. These air conditioners will
be as energy efficient as possible, and are a life-saving resource for seniors and those
with pre-existing health conditions.
Finally, the City will propose that the New York City Board of Health amend
thehealth code to establish maximum allowable temperatures in residential
facilities and supportive housing for vulnerable people to protect against heatrelated illness.

Low Vulnerability

Moderate Vulnerability

High Vulnerability

Source: NYC DOHMH

Heat-related illness and death rates, by neighborhood poverty in New York City
Average annual ED
visit rate per million,
excluding admissions
and deaths
(20052010)

Average annual
hospital admission
rate per million,
excluding deaths
(20002010)

Average annual death

rate per million
(20002011)

Percentage
Aged 65+ Without
Air Conditioning
(2013)

Low (<10%)

36.7

12.7

1.2

8.1

Medium (10 to <20%)

52.4

18.5

1.4

9.3

High (20 to <30%)

55.2

19.0

1.5

18.9

Very High (30%+)

76.5

21.1

1.9

18.8

Neighborhood
Poverty

Notes: Data on heat-related deaths, hospital visits, and emergency department visits are restricted to events in the months of May through September for the
years indicated. Neighborhood poverty rates are based on zip code and are defined as the percentage of residents with incomes below 100% of the Federal
Poverty Level per the American Community Survey 2007-2011. Population estimates for incidence are based on 2010 census data.
Source: NYC DOHMH

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Vision 4

Vision 4

Buildings

Buildings
Initiative 1

Goal: The citys buildings will be upgraded against

changing climate impacts

Upgrade public and private city

buildings

Overview
INDICATORS + TARGETS
Increase the percentage of
households in the 100year floodplain with flood
insurance policies
Increase the square footage
of buildings upgraded
against flood risk
Increase the number of
homes elevated through the
Build it Back program

Using white roofs to adapt

buildings at the Brooklyn
Navy Yard

Many of New York Citys nearly one million buildings

are not as prepared as they need to be against evolving
risks. To address this, we will adapt vulnerable
building stock to withstand the risks of climate
change and extreme weather events.

Newly constructed buildings in New York City are designed to meet current codes
that promote safety and energy efficiency. But the vast majority of city buildings
our homes, schools, workplaces, businesses, and places of worshipwere
constructed before most modern standards were in place. There is a significant need
to adapt buildings across the five boroughs to withstand and recover from extreme
weather events and other hazards, while continuing to serve residents and
businesses during normal conditions.
The Mayor's Office of Housing Recovery Operations is making significant
investment in homes across the city through the Build it Back program, supporting
the recovery of single-family homeowners and multi-family building residents.
Eligible homeowners may repair, elevate, rebuild, or sell their homes. This program
was dramatically improved in 2014 and is continuing to serve Sandy-impacted
residents.
Other buildings across the city are also subject to ongoing climate risks, particularly
the flooding associated with storm surge and sea level rise, as well as wind and heat.
When the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released its first Flood
Insurance Rate Maps for New York City in 1983, it defined the 100-year floodplain
the area that has a one percent or greater chance of flooding in any given yearas an
expanse that today includes approximately 35,500 buildings. However, Sandys
extensive flooding encompassed over 88,700 buildings, and according to current
FEMA updates to these maps, the new
100-year floodplain is expected to include
approximately 71,500 buildings. These
expanding floodplains will bring flood
construction and insurance requirements
into neighborhoods that were not built to
such standards.

A Build it Back home elevation in

Broad Channel, Queens

The City will also invest in increasing the resiliency

of public housing. NYCHA has secured over $3
billion from FEMA to execute a comprehensive
resiliency program across 33 public housing
developments, which will include the elevation and
hardening of building systems, flood-proofing, and
upgrading infrastructure.
The City will also continue to repair and upgrade
City-owned buildings to mitigate the impacts of
future climate changes. In all cases, the City is
committed to maximizing the allocation of federal
funding for building resiliency and will identify all
required local match funding to secure those funds.

Looking ahead, with new flood maps and

rising flood insurance premiums, it will be
critical to align new zoning and land use
changes with existing building codes to
mitigate the risk of flooding, upgrade
against other threats, and ensure mitigation
and insurance options remain available and
affordable in the citys coastal communities.
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The City will implement the Build it Back program to

demonstrate how best to prepare homes and
neighborhoods for the future. In addition to elevating
houses, the program is exploring other protective
strategies to improve single-family homes and
upgrade multi-family buildings, including the
relocation or hardening of building systems, and
flood-proofing of lower levels. The Citys multi-family
housing component of Build it Back provides
comprehensive resiliency retrofit measures necessary
to protect vulnerable residents from the loss of
critical building services in the event of a storm, such
as raising electrical equipment and other building
systems, flood-proofing lower levels of buildings, and
ensuring the redundancy of building systems.

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Buildings

Buildings

Vision 4

Initiative 2
Adopt policies to support building upgrades

As part of this effort, the City will explore funding for loans and grants to finance
and encourage resiliency retrofits such as home elevations and other building
upgrades for building owners who were unable to participate in current programs.

The Citys efforts to upgrade buildings for climate resiliency must be supported by
policies that enable the right investments in building resiliency. Overall, new zoning
requirements, updated building codes, and reforms to flood insurance programs are
already having an effect on the built environment, with the City coordinating these
efforts across government stakeholders and with the community.

Another important aspect in this effort is land use. The City continues to evaluate
land use as a tool to promote resiliency across the city. The Department of City
Plannings ongoing Resilient Neighborhoods studies are engaging communities in
ten areas across the five boroughs that face flooding and other resiliency challenges.
In this process, the City will evaluate and establish a framework for adaptive land
use planning based on a range of coastal hazards and with consideration of climate
change projections. This will include updates to local land use regulations and
citywide zoning to promote resiliency investments in buildings and infrastructure,
including commercial and industrial buildings, and will explore incentives to
balance the costs of improvements.

The City will continue to align zoning and building code updates with reforms to the
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and expected changes to the Flood
Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). A working group focused on resiliency is already
active within City government, with representatives across capital and planning
agencies, and will lead this program.
By 2018, the City will work to develop and adopt consistent resilient design guidelines
for buildings in areas vulnerable to flooding, extreme wind, and heat. With our
changing climate, these standards will need to be developed based on an evaluation of
the inherent uncertainty of future climate projections, the lifespan of assets, and their
criticality in order to develop cost-effective design guidelines. These guidelines will
ensure what is built adheres to the highest performance standards.

Finally, the City will increase the capacity of owners and operators of buildings located
in the floodplain to align investments around both sustainability and resiliency
investments when capital improvements are made. This will coincide with
investments being made in the Citys municipal and private building stock to promote
energy efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, as detailed in Vision 3.

Initiative 3
I live in Red Hook,
Brooklyn, where flood
insurance affordability is
a concern. FEMA should
reduce insurance
premiums if homeowners
take action to mitigate
flood risk, like elevating
mechanical equipment.
We're really excited about
the Integrated Flood
Protection System for
Red Hook and all such
resiliency projects across
the city.
Andrea S.,
Red Hook
Retrofit strategy for an attached
home from Retrofitting Buildings
for Flood Risk

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Work to reform FEMAs National Flood Insurance

Program (NFIP)
As the citys coastal communities continue to be threatened by escalating flood risk
and rising FEMA NFIP premiums, the City will pursue a comprehensive set of
activities to promote investments in physical risk reduction and better policies,
including those that promote NFIP affordability. This includes conducting several
studies to evaluate recent NFIP changes and their impacts on urban environments,
reviewing federal studies while they are being drafted, and working with FEMA to
institute reforms based on the results of these studies.
The City wants to be sure the public understands its flood risk and flood insurance
purchase requirements, and is already conducting frequent outreach meetings and
developing further public education campaign materials for city residents living in
and near the floodplain. This flood insurance consumer education campaign seeks to
inform as many people as possible about their flood risk through advertisements on
public transportation and radio, as well as at community events and through elected
officials, with two key messages for consumers: understand your risk and flood
insurance purchase requirements and purchase flood insurance.

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Vision 4

Buildings

Based on this program, the City will also work to build a regional and nationwide
coalition in advance of the 2017 reauthorization of the NFIP to achieve reforms that
will ensure residents are better educated about their risk, more incentivized to
mitigate risk, and better able to afford flood insurance premiums.
At the same time, the City will continue to explore participation in FEMAs
Community Rating System (CRS), which could reduce premiums for the citys flood
insurance policyholders.

Today's population
in the current
and projected
floodplain

Buildings

Vision 4

2013
(Preliminary
FIRMs)

2050s
(Projected)

2080s
(Projected)

2100
(Projected)

Manhattan

89,100

214,500

275,600

317,700

Bronx

16,300

51,200

113,900

143,800

Brooklyn

164,800

331,100

466,200

515,400

Queens

99,100

167,200

201,500

219,100

Expanding
floodplains due to
rising sea levels

2013 100-Year Floodplain

2050s 100-Year Floodplain

There are currently an

estimated 400,000 residents
and 71,500 buildings in the
citys 100-year floodplain.
By the 2050s, the 100-year
floodplain will expand to
include an area that today has
808,900 residents and 118,000
buildings. This expansion
of the floodplain, caused by
sea level rise, is expected to
continue through the end of
the century.

New York City Panel on Climate Change,

2015

FEMAs National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

Today's buildings
in the current
and projected
floodplain

Staten Island

30,700

44,900

56,300

63,100

Citywide Total

400,000

808,900

1,113,500

1,259,100

Recent changes to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), including the Bigger-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 and the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014, will have drastic consequences for
the citys coastal communities, including rising insurance premiums, increasing risks for home foreclosures, and loss
of value for affected homes. To address this challenge, the City will continue to invest in risk reduction and work
with FEMA to improve four critical aspects of its National Flood Insurance Program:

2013
(Preliminary
FIRMs)

2050s
(Projected)

2080s
(Projected)

2100
(Projected)

Manhattan

3,100

5,900

7,600

8,800

Bronx

4,500

8,200

13,700

16,500

Brooklyn

26,900

51,600

70,700

80,100

Queens

25,200

35,600

41,100

44,800

Staten Island

11,800

16,700

19,800

21,500

Citywide Total

71,500

118,000

152,900

1. Improve FEMAs Flood Mapping Process: The Citys new Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps, issued in
December 2013, had not been updated since they were first created in 1983, and as a result, when Hurricane Sandy
hit, the flood maps severely understated the Citys flood risk. To better communicate and prepare for flood risk, the
City seeks to require FEMA to update the maps at least every ten years. Further, the City will call on FEMA to implement a series of technical and process improvementsincluding exploration of the next generation of coastal flood
modelsto better represent and communicate flood risk.
2. Improve Risk-Based Pricing: Currently, FEMA does not have the data required to adequately price a majority of
New York City policies, such as those deemed to be negatively-elevated structures. In addition, FEMA does not,
for the most part, offer premium reductions for mitigation approaches other than building elevation. The City is
advocating for a broader list of partial mitigation measures that result in reduced risk and premiums.
3. Improve Management of Write Your Own (WYO) Companies: FEMA sells its NFIP products through WYO
insurance companies. Recent allegations concerning Sandy claims payments have demonstrated the need for better
management and controls within insurance companies and by FEMA. The City will advocate for better oversight
of these companies and better training of WYO companies to improve communication to existing and prospective
clients.
4. Ensure NFIP Affordability: The City is undertaking two affordability studies to help ensure the NIFP takes into
account the specific characteristics of a dense, urban environment in the floodplain for both multi-family and oneto-four family housing.

171,700

Floodplain Source: FEMA (Current Floodplain) New York City

Panel on Climate Change (NPCC) 2015 (2050s Floodplain)

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Vision 4

Infrastructure

Infrastructure
Goal: Infrastructure systems across the region
will adapt to maintain continued services

mechanism to avoid damage to treatment facilities. These events are anticipated to

increase as New York City experiences more intense precipitation with more
frequent flooding. The capacity of the City to manage its solid waste during and after
a shock event is critical to maintaining healthy and safe conditions for communities.
However, potential damage of sanitation facilities and assets, the ability to fully staff
shifts, and the conditions of roadways, street lights, and other infrastructure in place
determine the resiliency of the Citys solid waste management system.

Overview
INDICATORS + TARGETS
Reduce customer-hours of
weather-related utility and
transit service outages
Increase the percentage of
patient beds at hospitals
and long-term care facilities
in the 100-year floodplain
benefiting from retrofits for
resiliency

The risks from climate change and other 21st century threats will further challenge
the resiliency of the citys aging infrastructure for years to come. The City aims to
adapt infrastructure systems in the city and across the region to withstand the
impacts of climate change, to ensure the continuity of critical services in an
emergency, and to recover more quickly from service outages.

Energy: The citys underground and overhead energy distribution systems are
vulnerable to floodwaters and high winds, as are electricity- and steam-generating
facilities and liquid fuel refinery and distribution terminals. Today, 88 percent of the
Citys steam-generating capacity lies within the 100-year floodplain. In the electric
power system, 53 percent of in-city electricity-generation capacity, 37 percent of
transmission substation capacity, and 12 percent of large-distribution substation
capacity lie within the floodplain. Heat waves also pose significant challenges to
operability of the electrical grid. Of the 39 fuel terminals in the New York
metropolitan area, nearly all lie within FEMAs 100-year floodplain. Extreme
weather events would cause direct damage to key liquid fuel assets in the region and
disrupt the power infrastructure critical to the functioning of terminals, refineries,
and pipelines.

The City is already implementing a robust portfolio of infrastructure-based recovery

and resiliency initiatives as part of a more than $20 billion climate resiliency
programwhich will reach nearly $30 billion with additional spending by other
regional partners.
The City also coordinates closely with its partners in the energy, telecommunications, and transportation sectors across the region to facilitate planning for and
investment in the resiliency of their assets. These partners include the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority (MTA), the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
(PANYNJ), Con Edison, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), National Grid,
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Cablevision, Verizon, and Time Warner Cable, among
others.

Telecommunications: The ability to communicate reliably is critical, especially in

an emergency. More than ever, the resiliency of telecommunications services across
the city, including wired and wireless telephone, video, and internet, will affect the
citys capacity to both respond to a major disruptive event and implement a
coordinated recovery. These systems rely on a vast infrastructure of over 50
thousand miles of cabling, thousands of cell sites, and nearly 100 critical facilities. By
the 2020s, 18 percent of telecommunications infrastructure will lie within the
100-year floodplain. Recent upgrades to the fiber optic network have helped, but
more improvements are needed.

These publicly and privately owned systems are vulnerable to natural disasters and
the impacts of climate change. Without proper investment, our transportation
network, water, sewer, and waste infrastructure, energy system, telecommunications
assets, and social infrastructure are all at risk.
Transportation: The citys transportation network is vital to helping New Yorkers
recover after a disruptive event. There is a need for focused attention to prepare these
facilities and assets for future shocks by making the right investments for adaptation.
Our subway system is particularly vulnerable to flooding and power disruption. New
York Citys freight infrastructure is not only critical for day-to-day operations, but also
serves as a necessary network in emergency response during natural and man-made
disasters. The freight network connects New Yorkers to commodities such as food and
fuel from areas across the region by air, rail, ship, and road.

Social Infrastructure: Infrastructure that strengthens communities, such as

hospitals, community centers, libraries, and schools, can enhance social resiliency and
assist in immediate response after a disruptive event. Parks, in particular, can play a
role in protecting adjacent neighborhoods from severe weather, and serve as gathering
places after an event. But these facilities are as vulnerable to damage or to the
interruption of essential services as any other critical facilities. In an emergency, the
continuity of operations for buildings, critical vehicles, and telecommunications
networks for first responders is a matter of life and death. And hospitals and long-term
care facilities, including nursing homes and adult care facilities, are equally crucial to
the immediate response and long-term recovery of neighborhoods after a crisis.

Water, Sewer, and Waste: The citys sewer system can be overwhelmed by heavy
downpours that exceed the systems design capacity, creating flooding and sewer
backups, as well as by storm surges, which pose a risk to the citys wastewater
treatment plants and pumping stations. During heavy downpours, partially treated
or untreated sewage can spill into waterways around New York City as a relief

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Each of these systems requires a specific set of activities to ensure the resiliency of
the city.

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Infrastructure

Infrastructure

Vision 4

A Resilient City
Current Investments in Infrastructure
and Buildings

Rangel Houses
$58 million
East River
$87 million

Transporation: $565 million

Metro North
Consolidation
$40 million

Regional Water and Wastewater: $5.5 billion

Metropolitan
Hospital

Hospitals: $2.9 billion

Isaacs Houses
$33 million
Astoria Houses
$158 million

Libraries: $10 million

Schools: $755 million

Coler Hospital

NYCHA: $3.2 billion

NYU Langone
Medical Center
$1,100 million
Bellevue Hospital

Other Resiliency Housing: $60 million

MTA Fix and Fortify: $10.5 billion

Hunts Point Modernization

$150 million

Campos Plaza II
$25 million
Campos Plaza I
$25 million

PANYNJ Storm Sandy Program: $1.1 billion

Con Edison: $1.0 billion

LaGuardia Protection
$37 million

Riis Houses I and II

$127 and $58 million
Wald Houses
$162 million
Lavanburg Homes
$23 million
Baruch Houses
$192 million

Other: $50 million

2013 100-Year Floodplain
2050s 100-Year Floodplain
Battery Park Underpass
$50 million
LaGuardia Houses
$84 million

Red Hook West

$241 million
Gowanus Houses
$115 million

Smith Houses
$115 million
Broad Channel Street Reconstruction
$19 million

Two Bridges
$17 million

Red Hook East

$209 million

Hammel Houses
$179 million
Carleton Manor Houses
$30 million
Ocean Bay Apartments Oceanside
$67 million

Gravesend Houses
$175 million
Coney Island Commercial Corridors
$15 million
Coney Island Houses
Sites 4 & 5
$40 million
Coney Island Houses
Site 1B
$25 million

Ocean Bay Apartments Bayside

$285 million
Beach 41st Street Houses
$68 million
Redfern Houses
$142 million

Rockaway Commercial Corridors

$15 million
Rockaway Boardwalk
$480 million

Staten Island
University Hospital
$28 million
Coney Island Hospital
Coney Island Green Streets
$1 million
Carey Gardens Houses
$87 million
Haber Houses
$48 million
Surfside Gardens
$100 million
Coney Island Houses
$112 million
ODwyer Gardens/Site 8
$105 million
Coney Island Houses Site 8
$28 million

Floodplain Source: FEMA (Current Floodplain) New York City Panel on

Climate Change (NPCC) 2015 (2050s Floodplain)
Note: NPCC Floodplain is a high-end projection (90th percentile).
All costs are rounded estimates. Not all projects shown.

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Vision 4

Infrastructure

Initiative 1
Adapt the regions infrastructure systems

resources, managing demand, increasing infrastructure investments for greater

flexibility, and maintaining a steady supply of water during all weather conditions.

Infrastructure systems are vital to making our city run. Across the region, New
Yorkers rely on infrastructure systems every day to light and heat their homes,
obtain drinking water, get to work, and access information. However, these
infrastructure assets require regular repairs and upgrades to remain operable and
adapt for resiliency. The City will, therefore, continue to pursue programs to
coordinate investments across agencies and other infrastructure providers.

The Citys ability to function during a disaster depends on a resilient information

technology infrastructure that keeps critical agency applications running, data
accessible and secure, and telecommunications networks operating. The City will do
so by populating its backup data center with replication and backup of critical
applications, and incorporate this data center into its continuity of operations plans
for City agencies. It will also continue hardening network and infrastructure assets
to withstand both storm-related power outages and power grid outages, and
strengthen the Citys support of mission-critical operations for first responders and
essential City services.

The City commits to repairing critical infrastructure systems damaged or destroyed

by Hurricane Sandy, while mitigating future climate risks through billions of dollars
in funds from FEMA's public assistance grant program. The City is providing a
required local match of funds in order to secure these resources.

In addition, the City will develop strategies to promote and enforce resiliency for
telecommunications providers through the franchise renewal process and other
agreements with the City. DoITTs newly created Telecommunications Planning and
Resiliency Office is facilitating an ongoing dialogue with telecommunications
providers to discuss resiliency initiatives and address barriers to implementation.

Working with other regional partners, the City will invest in the resiliency of its
transportation infrastructure, including ferries, tunnels, movable bridges, traffic
signals, and streets, through the elevation or dry-proofing of facilities and systems,
the hardening of conduits, enhanced continuity of operations planning, and
mitigation strategies, such as hardening of street ends and green infrastructure for
storm water management.
The City will work to ensure the resiliency of our freight network in the face of
climate change by hardening our ports, rail, staging areas, and warehouses. The City
is undertaking planning exercises to identify vulnerabilities to the freight network,
improve redundancy, and provide resiliency strategies for at-risk infrastructure
through partnerships with City agencies and the private sector.
Further, the City is planning for green infrastructure installations across the five
boroughs, including bioswales, rain gardens, permeable pavement, and green roofs
to reduce the amount of stormwater entering the sewer system, thus helping to keep
the sewers from exceeding their capacity. The City is also investing in the resiliency
of its wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations by implementing measures
such as elevating and flood-proofing equipment, constructing barriers, and installing
backup power supplies to ensure continued service in the event of a major storm.
Upstate reservoir dams are critical to our Citys drinking water sources. Given the
increased variability in the frequency and magnitude of storms associated with
climate change, DEP will go beyond the level of protection currently required by
New York State. This guidance requires existing dams to be capable of safely passing
half of the probable maximum flood, a standard we already meet. Beyond these
requirements, we will commit to ensuring our dams safely pass the full probable
maximum flood when capital improvements are made. Finally, while the science
suggests New York Citys upstate water supply watersheds will experience increased
precipitation due to climate change, we are also preparing for the risk of the
opposite extreme: drought. The City commits to protecting our fresh water

MTA workers clear a clogged drain near the Cortlandt Street subway station to prevent flooding during a heavy rain event
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Infrastructure

Vision 4

The City will also work with wireless carriers to ensure cell sites and networks are
hardened and resilient. In some cases, technology upgrades made at cell sites have
improved battery backup time (e.g., newer equipment does not draw as much
power). We also helped facilitate discussions between one wireless carrier and the
Fire Department of New York City that ultimately led to approval of an alternate fuel
source option for backup power. The carrier plans to deploy at least two of these
units in New York City. And we have also advocated for strong backup power
requirements in proceedings before the Federal Communications Commission.
Further, LinkNYC will increase access to affordable broadband through a network of
public Wi-Fi, and is a model for incorporating resiliency requirements into franchise
agreements, ranging from enhancing cyber-security to submitting an annual
resiliency plan.

Infrastructure

Security on the resiliency of the Citys supply chain for critical commodities such as
food, fuels, materials, and consumer goods. NYC EM and Department of Citywide
Administrative Services are in development of operational response strategies to
address possible fuel disruptions to New York City. In order to prevent and prepare
for such disruptions, these agencies and the Mayors Office are working in
partnership with the Columbia University SIPA Center on Global Energy Policy, as
well as state, federal, and private sector partners to develop a liquid fuels resiliency
strategy. This may include standardized regulatory waivers, communications
protocols, fuel reserves, and hardening of assets for the refinement, storage, and
delivery of fuels.
The City will also conduct an analysis and develop recommendations to enhance the
resiliency of the citys food supply chain, which is expected to support further
investments at the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center beyond the funds that have
already been identified through HUDs Rebuild by Design competition.

The City will proceed with the retrofit of critical buildings, such as healthcare,
hospitals, and long-term care facilities, and other critical municipal assets for
long-term resiliency and to help our critical buildings withstand the risks posed by
climate change. The City has secured nearly $1.7 billion from FEMA to execute a
comprehensive resiliency program across four HHC facilities: Bellevue Hospital,
Coney Island Hospital, Metropolitan Hospital, and Coler Rehabilitation and Nursing
Care Center. Resiliency upgrades to these facilities will include the installation of
backup power systems, the elevation and hardening of building systems, and floodproofing of lower levels. The City is also working to secure funds from FEMAs
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for the resiliency of long-term care facilities
located in the 100-year floodplain.

Initiative 2
Adopt policies to support infrastructure adaptation
The City will use the best available climate science, as well as robust research,
legislative action, advocacy, and regional coordination to adapt the citys
infrastructure to be resilient against disruption. It is critical to standardize the
process by developing and implementing a set of design guidelines for resiliency to
ensure what we build adheres to the highest performance standards. By 2018, we
aim to have all New York City agencies adopt standardized resiliency design
guidelines for streets, transportation, public spaces, utilities, and other
infrastructure.
The City will call on regional infrastructure providers and operators, such as the
MTA, PANYNJ, ConEdison, National Grid, LIPA, and Verizon to make critical
resiliency investments in their systems, coordinated through the Climate Change
Adaptation Task Force.
The City will explore, with our State and academic partners, the preparation of a
Regional Resiliency Assessment Program with the U.S. Department of Homeland
Activity at the New Fulton Fish Market at Hunts Point

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Vision 4

Coastal Defense

Coastal Defense
We are also partnering with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as it
implements new coastal resiliency projects, including construction of T-groins at
Sea Gate in Coney Island, advancing implementation of the East Shore levee and
South Shore investments in Staten Island, and development of the Rockaway
Reformulation investments on the Rockaway peninsula beaches and in Jamaica Bay.

Goal: New York Citys coastal defenses will be

strengthened against flooding and sea level rise
Overview
INDICATORS + TARGETS
Increase the linear feet of
coastal defenses completed
Increase the acres of coastal
ecosystems restored
Increase the number of
residents benefiting from
coastal defenses and
restored ecosystems

All of this work will continue to require funds and new sources of financing. While the
City has successfully launched its first phase of a coastal protection program with
nearly half of the funding secured, more funds are needed now and in the future to
implement this program fully and effectively reduce risk in our coastal communities.

Hurricane Sandy vividly demonstrated the citys vulnerability to coastal storms.

With 520 miles of coastline, New York City has been exposed to these risks since its
founding. Over the past 400 years, the citys shoreline has been developed and
modified in ways that have contributed to increased risks from coastal storms. Now,
a changing climate is adding to the risks.
Our current understanding of flood risk comes from FEMA and its Flood Insurance
Rate Maps (FIRMs). These maps were first adopted in 1983 and showed that 33
square miles of the city were in the 100-year floodplain, which includes 218,000
people. Updated maps will show approximately 400,000 people currently in the
100-year floodplain.
These maps do not include projections on rising sea levels. In addition to the
approximately 1.1 feet of sea level rise the city has experienced since 1900, current
mid-range projections show sea levels will rise another one to two feet by 2050 and
two to four feet by 2100. The NPCC shows that due to sea level rise, these
floodplains are expected to continue growing and increase the frequency and
intensity of citywide flooding. In fact, the floodplain projections provided by the
NPCC show 71 square miles will be in the 100-year floodplain in 2050, which
includes approximately 808,900 people. This is a 42 percent increase.

New York City's Comprehensive Coastal Protection Plan

Alarming as they are, these projections largely assume that no action will be taken to
mitigate this risk. However, the City is continuing to act to reduce the impacts of
climate change. We will expand our efforts to adapt coastal communities to the
evolving risks of climate change, including flooding and sea level rise. In June 2013,
the City released its first-ever comprehensive coastal protection plan, which will
significantly reduce the citys vulnerabilities.
Since 2013, the city has initiated many projects to strengthen our defenses against
the risks associated with climate change. These projects include beach nourishment
in Coney Island, the Rockaways, and Staten Island; miles of new dunes across the
citys beaches; repairs to bulkheads in low-lying neighborhoods; new investments in
Red Hook, the east side of Manhattan, Lower Manhattan, Breezy Point, Howard
Beach, and Tottenville; and feasibility studies for flood protection systems for
Newtown Creek, Gowanus Canal, East Harlem, the North Shore of Staten Island,
and Coney Island Creek.
Source: A Stronger, More Resilient New York, 2013

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Coastal Defense

Vision 4

Coastal Defense

Initiative 1
Strengthen the citys coastal defenses
Prior to 2013, the City had never adopted a comprehensive coastal protection plan to
reduce the risk of coastal flooding and sea level rise. With the release of A Stronger,
More Resilient New York, the City now has a comprehensive coastal protection plan
in place and has already taken steps to implement its first phase, which includes a
$3.7 billion program of infrastructure investments, natural area restorations, and
design and governance upgrades. The City will, as funds continue to be identified,
make progress on the entire plan.
Over the next ten years, the City will strengthen its coastal defenses by completing
many vital projects in all five boroughs, including:
An integrated flood protection system for the east side of Manhattan and in Lower
Manhattan south of Montgomery Street to the northern end of Battery Park City
Armored levee and stormwater management on the East Shore of Staten Island,
in partnership with USACE
Investments on the Rockaway peninsula beaches and in Jamaica Bay, as part of
the USACE Rockaway Reformulation, plus further investments in Breezy Point
An integrated flood protection system in Red Hook, in partnership with the State
Coastal and energy resiliency improvements in Hunts Point to protect the citys
food distribution center from flooding and power loss
Investments to improve low-lying shorelines across the city, including in Coney
Island and the South Shore of Staten Island
Nature-based measures in Jamaica Bay, such as those at Sunset Cove in Broad
Channel and Spring Creek in Howard Beach
To deepen public participation in the implementation of this coastal protection plan,
the City will also reestablish and expand the Waterfront Management Advisory
Board (WMAB) to advise the City on the waterfront, including coastal resiliency,
natural resources, and related waterfront topics.

East Side Coastal Resiliency

In June 2014, the City was awarded $355 million for coastal resiliency investments through
HUDs Rebuild by Design competition, aimed at stimulating the development and funding of
innovative resiliency projects in the Sandy-impacted region. Of the total amount, $335 million
was earmarked for development of the first phase of an east side integrated flood protection
system in Lower Manhattan. This system is expected to stretch from East 23rd Street to
Montgomery Street, with enhanced resiliency against flooding while expanding public access
to East River Park and its adjacent esplanades. When completed, it will benefit thousands of
public housing and other residents of a particularly vulnerable part of Manhattan, and will
demonstrate a new model for integrating coastal protection into neighborhoods, consistent
with the Citys resiliency vision.

Through a partnership with the NPCC and the Science and Resilience Institute at
Jamaica Bay, the City will continue to expand its understanding of the science of
resiliency and explore nature-based strategies to enhance resiliency in the city. The
City will also continue to explore the implementation of other innovative resiliency
programs, including oyster production and education programs.

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Vision 4

Coastal Defense

Coastal Defense

Vision 4

A Resilient City
Coastal Protection Project Status
Tibbetts Brook Daylighting
$2 million

Completed
Study Funded
Project Funded

Hunts Point Lifelines

$45 million

DCP Resilient Neighborhoods Study Areas

Starlight Park Edge Restoration

$16 million

2013 100-Year Floodplain

2050s 100-Year Floodplain

Hart Island Shoreline Restoration

$13 million

East Harlem Resiliency

$1 million

Resilient Neighborhoods Study Area

Edgewater Park
Resilient Neighborhoods Study Area
Harding Park
Rikers Island Shoreline Restoration
$49 million
East Side Coastal Resiliency
$335 million
Resilient Neighborhoods Study Area
West Chelsea
Resilient Neighborhoods Study Area
Lower East Side

Flushing Meadow Tide Gate

$5 million

Southern Manhattan Multipurpose

Levee Study
$1 million
Battery Park Resiliency Improvements
$8 million

Newtown Creek and Gowanus Canal

Local Storm Surge Barrier
$2 million
Resilient Neighborhoods Study Area
Canarsie

Lower Manhattan
Comprehensive Coastal Protection
$7 million

Upper Spring Creek Wetland Restoration

$12 million
Howard Beach/Lower Spring Creek Flood Protection
$50 million

USACE NY Harbor and Tributaries

Feasibility Study
Red Hook
Integrated Flood Protection System
$100 million

Resilient Neighborhoods Study Area

Hamilton Beach and Old Howard Beach
Plumb Beach Nourishment
and Breakwater
$5 million

North Shore Staten

Island Resiliency
$1 million
Saw Mill Creek
Wetlands Mitigation Bank
$13 million

Belt Parkway
Bulkhead Repair
$10 million

Rockaway Reformulation (Jamaica Bay)

Resilient Neighborhoods
Study Area
Gerritsen Beach

Head of Bay Oysters

$1 million
Resilient Neighborhoods Study Area
Broad Channel

Resilient Neighborhoods
Study Area
Sheepshead Bay

Brant Point Wave Attenuation

$1 million

East Shore
of Staten Island
$500 million

Rockaway Peninsula
Emergency Beach Nourishment

Resilient Neighborhoods
Study Areas
South Beach
Midland Beach
New Dorp Beach
Oakwood Beach

Rockaway Reformulation (Atlantic beaches)

Sunset Cove Marsh Restoration
$9 million

Staten Island
Emergency Berm
Restoration
$9 million

Floodplain Source: FEMA (Current Floodplain) NPCC 2015

(2050s Floodplain)
Note: NPCC Floodplain is a high-end projection (90th percentile).
All costs are rounded estimates. Not all projects shown.

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Breezy Point Double Dunes

$58 million

Great Kills Breakwater

Wolfes Pond Park Berm Repair
$5 million
South Shore Shoreline Elevation
$32 million
Tottenville Living Breakwaters
$60 million
Tottenville Dunes and
Coastal Dune Plantings
$7 million

248

Resilient Neighborhoods Study Area

Rockaway Beach and Rockaway Park

NPS
Investments

Oakwood Beach
Tide Gate Repair

Beach Channel Drive Bulkhead Repair

$26 million

Rockaway Inlet Barrier Study

Coney Island Emergency Beach Nourishment
Coney Island Creek Shoreline Elevation
$32 million
Coney Island Creek Tidal Barrier Study
$2 million
Sea Gate T-Groins
$30 million
Sea Gate Bulkhead
$3 million

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Vision 4

Coastal Defense

Vision 4

Coastal Defense

Initiative 2

Initiative 3

Attract new funds for vital coastal protection projects

Adopt policies to support coastal protection

The Citys $3.7 billion coastal protection plan is nearly 50 percent funded and
moving forward. But significant portions of the plan still require additional funds
for implementation.

In order to strengthen the citys coastal defenses effectively, policies must be aligned
and adopted to support the right investments in coastal protection and ensure those
investments are operated and maintained effectively.

To address this need, the City will continue to identify and secure new sources of
funds to reduce coastal flooding risk. In partnership with USACE, a new feasibility
study for New York Harbor and its tributaries will launch in 2015. It is intended to
result in new projects that can be authorized and funded in New York City, in
accordance with the Citys coastal protection plan.

As new assets are built, it will be necessary for the City to have a more effective
management plan for waterfront assets. To address this need, the City will continue
to upgrade its waterfront management tools and fund citywide waterfront
inspections to assess and better manage its assets.
The City will also explore new governance models to support the completion and
long-term operation of integrated coastal resiliency measures, based on national and
international best practices.

To advance elements of its full-build coastal protection plan, the City is conducting
its own feasibility studies of several investment opportunities, including at Coney
Island Creek, Newtown Creek, Gowanus Canal, and Lower Manhattan. These
studies are being conducted to inform future USACE studies, and are intended to
strengthen the Citys ability to secure additional funds.
The City will also seek out new sources of funding. HUD is currently running a
National Disaster Resilience Competition which will fund innovative resiliency
measures that strengthen communities. The City has already submitted its phase
one application to this competition. Throughout the rest of 2015, the City will
work with community partners and other stakeholder agencies to secure funds
through this competition.
In addition, the City will continue to
evaluate long-term coastal protection
measures, such as a multipurpose
levee in Lower Manhattan,
particularly where investments could
strengthen communities and
potentially generate funding to offset
construction costs. Finally, the City
will continue to explore other
innovative financing opportunities.

A proposed multipurpose levee in Lower

Manhattan

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Construction of t-groins at Sea

Gate in Brooklyn

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Diverse and Inclusive Government

Diverse and Inclusive Government

Diverse and
Inclusive
Government

One of New York Citys greatest strengths is its diversity. We have always been a
city of many cultures, attracting people from across the nation and around the world
who seek opportunity in a vibrant, engaging, and supportive urban environment.
City governments ability to govern effectively and serve all our residents depends
on the diversity of our workforce and senior leadership, and maintaining an
atmosphere in City workplaces that accepts and embraces diversity.
Diversity helps increase innovation. Research has shown that effective diversity
management coupled with an inclusive work environment improves organizational
performance and innovation. A diverse workforce also brings different perspectives
and solutions to challenges, often resulting in new and creative advances.
City agencies invest large amounts of their budgets in compensation and benefits.
The return on this investment significantly increases with a leadership pipeline of
diverse individuals that is representative of all New Yorkers. The diversity dividend
is maximized when employees perform at their peak. Peak performance can only
happen in inclusive, harassment-free environments where workplace policies that
enhance retention, produce greater workplace engagement, and further productivity
across the organization are in place.
Diversity and inclusion increase an agencys capacity to serve and protect people with
different experiences or backgrounds; they also enhance an agencys ability to be
receptive to different traditions and ideas. A workforce that reflects the City of
New York builds trust in government and inspires our residents civic
engagement. Building on this legacy of improving diversity and inclusion, New York
City is now positioned to strengthen its commitment and accelerate our efforts to
attract, retain, and develop a diverse workforce. The City is also determined to serve
all New Yorkers equally, including representation and participation of minority- and
women-owned businesses (M/WBE) in OneNYC and all City initiatives.

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Diverse and Inclusive Government

Diverse and Inclusive Government

Government Workforce
Goal: Build a government workforce reflective of
the diversity and inclusion of all New York City
communities

The New York City government has

built a diverse and inclusive workforce
of 327,793 employees

Successful Existing
Programs

Overview
A majority of the Citys current civil workforce is comprised of women and people of
color. Given the diversity of our population, we must also diversify our senior
leadership. Equitable representation across all levels of City government strengthens
the city by increasing efficiency, excellence, and strong delivery of City services;
increasing the economic security of previously excluded professionals and their
families; growing a diverse middle class; enhancing trust in government with a
workforce that reflects the community it serves; and creating a pipeline of young
leaders to join New York City government.

Gender Balance
NYC Government

NYC Population
43%
male

48%
male

Initiative 1
57%
female

Improve the way New York City recruits a diverse

workforce

52%
female

2013 Workforce Profile Report, NYCEDCs Center for Economic Transformation

In order to show that government work is an attractive career path for graduating high
school and college students from all backgrounds, we have strong programs and
partnerships with organizations, high schools, colleges, and graduate programs to
learn from and grow targeted talent recruitment pipelines.

Median Age
NYC Government

NYC Population

We will launch new programs to recruit administrative talent as we better leverage

and publicize our existing programs. In addition to the Public Service Corps, we
currently run the Management Academy, a program designed specifically for the citys
new and emerging leaders; the Leadership Institute, which has helped prepare
outstanding mid-level agency executives to lead organizational change initiatives; and
the Urban Fellows program, which was designed to introduce Americas finest college
students and graduates to local government and public service.

years

years

We will study the potential of three new programs: the Mayoral Leadership Institute
for mid-level administration leaders to partner with a local university; the Mayoral
Public Sector Fellowship to provide graduate school opportunities for high performing
mid- and senior-level officials; and the Smart Government Initiative partnership with
Cornell Tech for entry- and junior-level public sector professionals.

45.2

35.6

2013 Workforce Profile Report, ACS 2013

Racial Diversity
NYC Government
39%
White

1%
Other
8%
Asian

NYC Population
32%
Black

33%
White

25%
Black

1%
Other
20%
Hispanic

13%
Asian

28%
Hispanic

The Citys Public Service Corps program is the

nations first and largest off-campus internship
program for college students. It provides undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities
to serve their communities, build professional
skills, and learn about careers in the public sector.
The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) and Department of Education (DOE)
currently partner to provide internships, training,
and other support to the Citys automotive high
schools, led by the Brooklyn Automotive High
School. This successful partnership has improved
educational opportunities and led to direct employment for automotive high school participants.
DCAS offers training courses designed to strengthen test-taking skills and workforce readiness, and
assists students in matching their education and
experience with City jobs and highlighting potential exams from the exam schedule.

2013 Workforce Profile Report, ACS

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Diverse and Inclusive Government

Diverse and Inclusive Government

Initiative 2

Initiative 3

Improve the way New York City retains

a diverse workforce

Improve the way New York City develops a diverse

workforce

Recruiting a diverse workforce is only part of the story. Unless the City provides
workplaces that embrace diversity and provide equitable opportunities for all City
workers to grow and succeed, we will struggle to both recruit and maintain that
diversity.

New York City is undertaking a disparity study in accordance with Local Law 1.
The results of this study will help inform M/WBE goals, which will be included in
the future OneNYC progress update. For the first time since 2005, DCAS, in
cooperation with the Mayors Office, issued a revised citywide Equal Employment
Opportunity (EEO) policy that included diversity and inclusion leadership best
practices for commissioners. Agencies are currently participating in the Managing
Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Initiative (MDLI), which focuses on 15
best practices including commitment statements from commissioners, quarterly
reviews of workforce data on the diversity of senior leadership candidate slates,
mentoring, succession planning, identification of high potential talent, structured
interviewing, and measuring the establishment of employee resource groups.
Seventy percent of agencies have already incorporated a focus on ten of the best
practices into their annual diversity and EEO plans. NYPD is the top performer
engaged in or exploring all 15 best practices.

This means the City must takes steps to ensure it is diverse at every level and
that people from all backgrounds have opportunities across disciplinary areas.
This is the 21st century. Its no longer acceptable for our teaching corps to be all
female or our firefighters all male.
To improve the way New York City retains a diverse workforce, City agencies have
formed diversity work groups and internal councils to develop and share best
practices and address the underrepresentation of various demographic groups in
certain areas. For example, the Department of Design and Construction has
established a cross-divisional task force to focus on hiring and succession planning
within their agency. Meanwhile, the Law Department has established a mentoring
initiative called the Coaching Collaborative, which meets on a regular basis to
discuss ways to enhance the work environment. And the Fire Department is
planning a specific initiative to recruit talented women firefighters as part of its
broader diversity agenda.

DCAS developed and promotes Everybody Matters, the Citys flagship diversity and
inclusion training program available to all agencies. Between January and April 2015,
DCAS has trained more than 6,000 employees.
To further expand our diversity, we will focus on recruiting and including
populations that historically have not been measured in our multicultural and
multi-generational workforce. These populations include disabled, veterans, and
LGBT residents.

The opportunity to increase diversity is particularly ripe at this moment, with large
segments of the City workforce soon eligible to retire. DCAS will lead a project to
integrate workforce analytics into succession planning to promote career
opportunities that exist, and utilize long-range planning to map retirement trends
and establish New York City government workforce needs and hiring imperatives
for the future. In the next two years, DCAS plans to conduct an annual Employee
Engagement survey; deploy onboarding and exit interview guidance; issue a full
Workforce Profile Report; identify workforce trends; issue an updated Risk
Assessment Tool to enable each agency to analyze its own workforce, turnover rates,
and attrition risks; develop a retirement predictor analysis and incorporate findings
into exam planning and attrition risk assessments; and analyze training records to
identify training efficacy and impact on career mobility.

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We will also expand vocational skills and training programs in public service, which
are expected to help the City reach populations that have previously been underrepresented in government jobs that require vocational skills. These programs will
be developed with our union partners to address the skills gap. We will also establish
clear career pathways and mentoring programs, enhance our talent development
framework, and include budget allocations for agencies to enhance diverse
recruiting practices.

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Diverse and Inclusive Government

Diverse and Inclusive Government

Minority and Women-owned Business

Enterprise
Goal: Increase total City spending with Minority
and Women-owned Business Enterprises
(M/WBEs) to $16 billion over the next ten years

Initiative 1
Year

Total
M/WBEs

2011

3,244

Overview

2012

3,526

Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) are some of the

strongest drivers of local economic growth because they tend to hire from within
New York Citys diverse communities and keep money and investments flowing back
into our communities. By awarding contracts to M/WBEs, the City will not only
help close the inequality gap when it comes to wealth creation, but also support
sustainable and diverse communities and local economic growth.

2013

3,700

2014

3,783

Increase the number of certified M/WBEs

As of July 2014, there were 3,783 certified M/WBEs in New York Citya slight
increase from 3,700 in July 2013. The City sponsored 20 certification workshops in
Fiscal Year 2014, with community partners supplementing this outreach with
marketing workshops, networking events, and business development services.
However, there are still opportunities for increased support during the certification
process, which the City continues to streamline. These include the use of the
recently-launched New York City online certification portal and increased outreach
to firms that could be eligible. We will engage in a marketing push to attract M/
WBEs, with a special focus on those that could support OneNYC initiatives. These
efforts will be undertaken in conjunction with Small Business First and efforts to
reform procurement processes in the City.

Annual City M/WBE Compliance Reports,

2011-14.

Initiative 2

New York City is currently a leader in M/WBE inclusion, but there is still significant
room for improvement. Contracts have not historically been awarded to M/WBEs at
a level commensurate with their representation in the marketplace. That is changing
as the City undertakes a range of efforts to boost M/WBE participation. For
example, under Local Law 1, in Fiscal Year 2014 the City awarded $690 million to
certified M/WBEs in all prime and subcontracts, for a 57 percent increase over
Fiscal Year 2013.

Increase the rates at which agencies utilize M/WBEs

Across contracts of all sizes, M/WBEs are still underutilized. Increasing agency
utilization will require support from the City. We will provide agencies with
additional tools to support their utilization of M/WBEs and hold them accountable
for using them. We will invest in additional capacity building services for M/WBEs,
and increase the use of strategies proven to support M/WBEs, including prequalified
lists and pre-bid conferences. We will negotiate modifications to the Citys Project
Labor Agreements that will be more M/WBE-friendly and, where appropriate,
encourage agencies to elevate the role of M/WBE officers and identify and cultivate
M/WBEs relationships with contracting agencies.

But this is not enough. In addition to increasing M/WBE program participation, the
City can better increase M/WBE participation, even when not subject to Local Law.
The City will aim to continue our positive trend and spend more than $16 billion with
M/WBEs over the next ten years. This target assumes that there will not be major
downward deviations in economic conditions and that the City is able to win the
changes in state and local law that we seek to give us the legal flexibility necessary to
boost M/WBE participation to these levels. To be clear, this goal is a floor, not a
ceiling, and includes all City contractsnot just those subject to the M/WBE program.

Initiative 3
Expand legal tools to induce greater usage of M/WBEs
New York City is undertaking a disparity study in accordance with Local Law 1. The
results of this study will help inform M/WBE goals, which will be included in the
future OneNYC progress update.The City will seek to amend legal and policy
barriers to greater M/WBE awards in City procurement, including seeking State
legislative changes designed to increase M/WBE participation, and presenting
proposed changes to the Procurement Policy Board (PPB) rules to expand best
value as a basis for procurement.

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Diverse and Inclusive Government

Diverse and Inclusive Government

Performance Tracking

Initiative 1
Issue an Executive Order requiring regular compilation
and use of equity metrics

Goal: Systematically track performance of equity

outcomes to ensure OneNYC is making a positive
and equitable impact on all New York City
communities

We will issue a Mayoral Executive Order requiring the Social Indicator Report,
which analyzes the social, economic, and environmental health of the city, to break
out measurements by traditionally disadvantaged groups and to gather that data
where it is not currently being collected.This and additional reports, such as those
being developed by the Young Mens Initiative, DOHMH, and others, will also bring
attention to disparities. Through these reports, we can ensure that policy decisions
advance the Mayor's equity platform.

Overview
New York City does not have a consistent and centralized way to ensure physical
interventionssuch as those called for by OneNYChave an impact on all residents
in an equitable way. Collecting data at a population-wide level, rather than
disaggregating it, can mask deep problems and deprive the City of the ability to
identify when initiatives may have unintentionally disparate impacts on certain
communities. For example, tracking marijuana arrests by race allowed the City to
see that African-American and Latino New Yorkers were being arrested at far higher
rates than white New Yorkers even though research has shown that, across racial
groups, people use marijuana at roughly similar rates. This led to policy reform.
Going forward, the City will systematically track metrics on opportunity, progress,
and livability across all of New York Citys traditionally disadvantaged groups. We
will establish a cross-agency group to oversee the collection, analysis, and internal
reporting of the data at the agency level. The City will use this data to support
agencies in making decisions around OneNYC and other initiatives designed to
better support equitable outcomes.

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Chapter Initiative
Number

2011
Sustainability
Initiatives

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Continue to create
opportunities for denser
development in transitaccessible areas, in large
rezonings including Sunnyside/
Woodside, Bedford-Stuyvesant
North, West Harlem, West
Clinton, and East Fordham
Road

Completed

Continue to apply Inclusionary

Housing Program in re-zonings
that encourage substantial new
housing development

Partially
Completed

Advance development and

open space plans for the
Staten Island North Shore

Partially
Completed

Identify additional potential infill

opportunities citywide

Partially
Completed

Explore opportunities for the

use of underutilized MTA
properties to create housing,
economic development, open
space, or other opportunities to
enhance surrounding
communities

Completed

Implement improvements in
Hudson Yards to catalyze
development

Completed

Unlock development potential

of underutilized Seward Park
sites

Completed

Reduce City government

leased or owned space by 1.2
million square feet

Completed

Explore regulatory and

legislative changes to allow the
creation of safe and legal
additional units in existing
housing

Partially
Completed

Explore new housing models to

promote smart growth and
serve smaller households

Completed

Begin construction on 900 units

of housing in Hunters Point
South, Queens

Partially
Completed

Begin infrastructure
construction and remediation
for Willets Point Phase I, a
mixed-use development
including 400 housing units

Partially
Completed

Complete construction on
1,300 units and begin
construction on 900 units in
Arverne, Queens; Complete
construction on 400 units and
start construction on 80 units in
Gateway Brooklyn

Partially
Completed

CREATE CAPACITY FOR NEW HOUSING

1

HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOODS

Continue transitoriented rezoning

Explore additional
areas for new
development

Enable new and

expanded housing
models to serve
evolving population
needs

In Progress

In Progress

In Progress

The City continues to pursue opportunities for rezonings

in transit rich neighborhoods. For further updates on this
initiative, refer to the Citys comprehensive housing plan,
Housing New York: A Ten-Year, Five-Borough Plan.

Work is underway on the open space for the first phase of

New Stapleton Waterfront, anticipated to open to the
public in the spring of 2016. Advance Phase II open space
plans for New Stapleton Waterfront by end of 2015.
Additionally, the City will implement plans for the Staten
Island Innovation Cluster on the North Shore in 2015. As
part of NextGen NYCHA, consultation with residents has
begun regarding new development opportunities on three
public housing properties located in Brooklyn and the
Bronx respectively. The City released the RFP for the
Seward Park RFP in Jan 2013 for the development of nine
parcels in the Lower East Side. The development, Essex
Crossing, will include 1,000 housing units, half of which
will be permanently affordable. The first phase of
construction is projected to begin in 2015.

The City continues to enable new and expanded housing

models to serve evolving population needs. For further
updates on this initiative, refer to the Citys
comprehensive housing plan, Housing New York: A
Ten-Year, Five-Borough Plan.

FINANCE AND FACILITATE NEW HOUSING

4

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Develop new
neighborhoods on
underutilized sites

In Progress

Construction has commenced for Parcels A and B of

Hunters Point South, totaling 925 units of affordable
housing. Design for Willets Point Phase 2 infrastructure
and waterfront park commenced in August 2014 and is
expected to be completed by August 2015. More than
1,190 units in 724 homes have been completed in
Arverne, Queens. Over 1,000 additional units are
expected to be completed in 2015.

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Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Create new units in

existing
neighborhoods

In Progress

In total, 3,035 new construction units in the Melrose

Commons URA have been completed and occupied.
Since 2004, NYCHA has completed more than 2,730 units
of affordable housing. For more information related to this
initiative, refer to the Citys comprehensive housing plan,
Housing New York: A Ten-Year, Five-Borough Plan.

Develop 20,000 new units by

2014 under the New Housing
Marketplace Plan

Completed

Complete construction of over

3,000 units in Melrose
Commons Urban Renewal Area

Completed

Complete construction on
1,640 units and begin and
finish construction on 1,800
affordable units in NYCHA sites

Completed

Explore modification of parking

requirements for affordable
housing to lower construction
costs and facilitate housing
creation

Completed

Start construction of housing

units in the former PS 109 in E
Harlem

Partially
Completed

Develop new housing

units in existing City
properties

In Progress

Construction and marketing have commenced at

Artspace PS109 in East Harlem. The City is exploring the
development of the West 20th St. site as public
openspace in additional to the continued creation of
affordable housing in CB 4. For more information related
to this initiative, refer to the Citys comprehensive housing
plan, Housing New York: A Ten-Year, Five-Borough Plan.

Chapter Initiative
Number

HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOODS

Chapter Initiative
Number

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

10

Preserve and
upgrade existing
affordable housing

In Progress

In April 2015, Mayor de Blasio, HUD Secretary Julian

Castro and NYCHA announced the launch of the largest
energy savings program for any public housing authority
in the country. Through a series of competitive Energy
Performance Contracts, it is estimated that at least $100
million in work will occur across nearly 300 NYCHA
developments to upgrade and retrofit thousands of
buildings, dramatically reducing greenhouse gas
emissions and generating tens of millions of dollars in
cost savings, as well as creating more than 500 jobs. For
more information related to the preservation of
affordable housing refer to the Citys comprehensive
housing plan, Housing New York: A Ten-Year, FiveBorough Plan.

Preserve 34,000 affordable

units by 2014 under the New
Housing Marketplace Plan

Completed

11

Proactively protect
the quality of
neighborhoods and
housing

Completed

This initiative was completed in 2014. For more

information related to this initiative, refer to the Citys
comprehensive housing plan, Housing New York: A
Ten-Year, Five-Borough Plan.

Proactively conduct field

studies in 1,000 buildings at
risk for distress or decline

Completed

TARGET HIGH IMPACT PROJECTS IN NEIGHBORHOODS UNDERSERVED BY PARKS

1

Create tools to
identify parks and
public space priority
areas

Completed

Parks has completed a project to pilot the use of a

multi-variable matrix based on scorecard information,
demographic data, environmental factors, physical
condition and community need and support to identify
high priority areas.

Develop matrix assessment

and mapping tools to assist in
targeting high priority areas

Completed

Open underutilized
spaces as
playgrounds or part
time public spaces

In Progress

To date, 234 schoolyards to playgrounds sites across

the city have been completed and are open to the
public. In 2014, DOT held Summer Streets over three
weekends in August, attracting over 300,000 people.
The agency is currently planning for Summer Streets
2015, which will be held the first three Saturdays in
August. In partnership with community organizations
throughout the City, 32 Weekend Walks were held. This
program continues to expand, with Community groups
planning about 50 Weekend Walks for summer 2015.
Parks created Play Streets to help combat the
childhood obesity epidemic in our cities. Play Streets
allows communities to open up their streets to
pedestrians for play on a recurrent basis. Thirteen
Playstreets were conducted in 2014. DOH has assisted
29 schools with applying for and obtaining Play Streets
permits. The school permit renews every year with no
need to reapply. Three new applications have been
received for schools in 2014. Since 2009, DOH as
assisted 69 community groups with applying for and
obtaining Play Streets permits. DOT worked with CAU,
DOH, and SAPO to streamline the Summer Play Streets
application process, with SAPO playing a coordinating
role. SAPO permitted 29 Summer Play Streets total in
2014, including about 50% PAL Play Streets.

Complete construction and

open for community use an
additional 60 schoolyards to
playgrounds sites bringing the
total number open for public
use to 234

Completed

Conduct Summer Streets for

three Saturdays each year

Completed

Conduct Weekend Walks at 20

locations annually

Completed

Expand the number of schools

with access to Playstreets by
40

Partially
Completed

Conduct 15 Community
Playstreets each year

Partially
Completed

Foster the creation of

Greener, Greater
Communities

Completed

This initiative was completed in 2013. The City continues

to encourage green communities through various
programs.

Launch Greener, Greater

Communities pilot

Completed

Increase the
sustainability of
City-financed and
public housing

In Progress

Since July 2014, more than 80 HPD-funded projects

consisting of nearly 200 buildings and over 9,600 dwelling
units applied for Enterprise Green Communities (EGC)
certification. Additionally, 13 HPD-funded projects were
LEED certified. Also in 2014, HPD conducted six Green
Owners Nights for small and medium sized building
owners, providing best practices on green energy, water,
materials, and community issues. In 2014 HPD rolled out
new green standardized specifications for preservation
projects, incorporating best practices in sustainable
building material selection into all of the agencys
sponsored rehab projects. In April 2015, Mayor de Blasio,
HUD Secretary Julian Castro and NYCHA announced the
launch of the largest energy savings program for any public
housing authority in the country. Through a series of
competitive Energy Performance Contracts, it is estimated
that at least $100 million in work will occur across nearly
300 NYCHA developments to upgrade and retrofit
thousands of buildings, dramatically reducing greenhouse
gas emissions and generating tens of millions of dollars in
cost savings, as well as creating more than 500 jobs.

Certify 40 affordable housing

projects with Enterprise Green
Communities every year

Partially
Completed

The City continues to promote neighborhood shopping

districts. In Staten Island, two additional Race for Space
businesses opened and a third is expected to open in
2015. In June 2014, a 14,000 square foot Fine Fare
supermarket to be located in the Melrose section of the
Bronx was approved for FRESH benefits. In October
2014, a FRESH ShopRite supermarket was opened in
East New York, Brooklyn. At 90,000 square feet, this is the
largest supermarket in New York City. A FRESH Western
Beef store located in the Soundview section of the Bronx
is expected to open in 2015. To date, FRESH benefits
have incentivized the renovation, expansion, or creation of
approximately 585,000 square feet of supermarket selling
area and represent a private investment of over $80
million in supermarket development for healthy food in
underserved neighborhoods. The City, through the FRESH
program, continues to explore challenges and
opportunities in improving food retail access in the most
underserved neighborhoods.

Promote neighborhood
shopping districts

nyc.gov/onenyc

Promote walkable
destinations for retail
and other services

In Progress

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

PA R K S A N D P U B L I C S PA C E

HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOODS

ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOODS

Partially
Completed

264

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

265

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Facilitate urban
agriculture and
community gardening

In Progress

A study to identify potential urban agriculture or community

garden sites on City-owned properties was completed in
2014. Local Law 48 of 2011 required the New York City
Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) to
create an online, public database of vacant City-owned
property that includes an assessment of the lands
suitability for urban agriculture projects. It also provides
GreeThumb contact information for those interested in
gardening on the plot. In the process of developing an
inventory of usable land, more than 100 properties have
been identified as potentially suitable for urban agriculture.
Five vertical farm operators toured NYCEDCs East NY
Industrial site in November 2014 and an operator is
expected to move onto the site in June 2015. Forty-five
new community gardens were constructed on NYCHA sites
in 2014, with 70 additional sites projected for 2015. In
addition, two urban farms have been created on NYCHA
property, one at Frederick Douglass Houses in the spring of
2012 on a tennis court and another was created in the
spring of 2013 as the first large scale urban farm on
NYCHA Property at Red Hook West Houses. DPR has
established five farmers markets at community garden
sites. The number of volunteers increased 14 percent from
2013 to 2014, bringing the total to 14,055. With more than
14,000 volunteers, the number of community volunteers
registered with GreenThumb has increased by more than
25% since 2011. DPR is currently exploring expansion of
the Building Healthy Communities (BHC) initiative with the
Mayors Fund. The BHC focuses on the 352 gardens
throughout the Community Parks Initiative zones in
underserved neighborhoods.

Launch study to identify

potential urban agriculture or
community garden sites on
City-owned properties
unsuitable for other
development

Completed

Plant 129 new community

gardens on NYCHA sites

Partially
Completed

Create one urban farm on a

NYCHA site

Completed

Establish five additional farmers

markets at community garden
sites

Completed

Increase number of community

volunteers registered with
GreenThumb by 25%

Completed

Expand support for community

gardens into new underserved
neighborhoods

Partially
Completed

Register 25 new school

gardens with Grow to Learn
NYC per year, and retain at
least 75% of registered school
gardens year to year

Completed

Reduce impediments to
agriculture in relevant laws and
regulations

Completed

Construction of the 19th lighting installation is expected

to begin in 2015.

Complete 26 multi-purpose
fields

Completed

Complete 19 new lighting

installations

Partially
Completed

PA R K S A N D P U B L I C S PA C E

Initiative

nyc.gov/onenyc

Continue to expand
usable hours at
existing sites

In Progress

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Chapter Initiative
Number

266

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Highland Park: Complete

renovations including reservoir
perimeter lighting, path
restoration, and new entry
points

Completed

McCarren Park: Complete

construction of pool and
year-round recreation center

Completed

Ocean Breeze Park: Complete

2,500-seat field house

Partially
Completed

Highbridge Park: Restore

bridge and access paths within
park to improve connectivity
between Northern Manhattan
and the Bronx

Partially
Completed

The High Line: Construct

Section 2 (20th to 30th streets)
and pursue acquisition of
Section 3

Completed

Dreier-Offerman Park (Calvert

Vaux Park): Construct new
sports fields, lighting, and
pedestrian paths as part of
Phase 1 construction

Completed

Fort Washington Park:

Complete phase I construction

Partially
Completed

Soundview Park: Complete

construction of Metcalf
Playground, Rosedale
Amphitheater, and Metcalf
Track & Field

Partially
Completed

Rockaway Park: Complete

construction of Phase I

Completed

Brooklyn Bridge Park:

Complete Pier 5, re-open
Empire Fulton Ferry Park and
Squibb Bridge

Completed

Transmitter Park: Construct

1.5-acre site, including a
playground, benches, and trees

Completed

East River Park Esplanade:

Substantially complete park
elements

Completed

East River Park: Complete

reconstruction of seawall and
esplanade

Completed

Governors Island: Commence

parkland and infrastructure
development

Partially
Completed

Hunters Point, Queens:

Complete construction of a
new five-acre park

Completed

Bushwick Inlet Park: Continue

phased acquisition,
remediation, and development
of parks

Partially
Completed

CREATE DESTINATION-LEVEL SPACES FOR ALL TYPES OF RECREATION

PA R K S A N D P U B L I C S PA C E

Chapter Initiative
Number

nyc.gov/onenyc

Create and upgrade

flagship parks

In Progress

Work continues on the Ocean Breeze Park Field House.

The restoration of bridge and access paths within
Highland Park is approximately 85% complete, with full
completeion by July 2015. The third and final section of
the Highline, from 30th Street to 34th street, was
completed in 2014. Phase 3 of Fort Washington Park,
which includes a 1.2-mile greenway to north of the
George Washington Bridge was opened in June 2014.
The final phase of construction, which includes pedestrian
and ADA access, greenway connections, and shore
stabilization and Dyckman Street is 75% complete and is
expected to be completed by July 2015. Phase 1 of
Soundview Park , including the running track, was opened
to the public in spring 2014. The Rosedale amphitheater
and Metcalf playground will open in Spring 2015. The
Metcalf Playground comfort station is still under
construction and a completion date is pending. Package
3 of the East River Esplanade was opened to the public in
April 2014. This portion of the park is located underneath
the FDR between Pike/Allen and Rutgers Slip; it contains
active recreational uses including basketball courts,
petanque courts, and exercise equipment. Phase 1 of
Governors Island park and public space project was
opened to the public in May 2014. In addition,
infrastructure investment is complete, potable water,
electric, seawall, maritime and historic building
stabilization projects are complete, on time and
on-budget. One additional parcel for Bushwick Inlet Park
was acquired by the City in December 2014 and another
parcel is expected to be acquired in June 2015. Together,
these parcels comprise 15.5 acres and include the actual
inlet at the mouth of Bushwick Creek. In addition, National
Grid ,who is responsible for remediating a portion of the
park already owned by DPR, is expected to begin
remediation of the 50 Kent Site, in Fall 2015. Bush
Terminal Park opened to the public in November 2014.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

267

nyc.gov/onenyc

Initiative

Convert former
landfills into public
space and parkland

Increase
opportunities for
water-based
recreation

Initiative
Status

In Progress

In Progress

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Stapleton, Staten Island: Begin

construction of six-acre
waterfront esplanade

Partially
Completed

Steeplechase Park: Complete

construction of Steeplechase
plaza and restoration of
carousel

Partially
Completed

Orchard Beach: Replenish with

clean sand, and expand the
South Jetty

Completed

Long Island City, Queens:

Complete design and
reconstruction of pier in the
Anable Basin

Partially
Completed

Hudson River Park: Construct

an upland esplanade in Tribeca
and reconstruct Pier 97

Completed

Bush Terminal: Complete

remediation of open space and
advance Phase l of park

Completed

Over 10,000 people visited Freshkills Park in 2014 through

organized events and tours. Construction of North Park
and Phase 1 of East Park, comprising an additional 509
acres in total, are funded. Designs for North Park are
completed and construction services will be procured in
2015,. Designs for East Park are expected to be
completed by June 2016,. Construction services would be
procured as soon as the design is complete for that area.
The New Springville Greenway is on schedule at 70%
completion and is expected to be completed in Summer
2015.

Freshkills Park: Develop the

first public access areas
overlooking Main Creek and
continue capping and closing
of east and west mounds

Partially
Completed

Pelham Landfill: Open to the

public

Partially
Completed

Ferry Point Park: Complete

Community Park

Completed

DPR continues to pursue funding to complete the

expansion of launch platform at Hunts Point-Riverside
Park and for the repair and replacement of floating docks
at Dyckman Street Marina.

Develop multi-agency task

force to assess opportunities
for expanding the blue network
across the city for water-based
recreation

Completed

Complete expansion of launch

platform at Hunts PointRiverside Park

Partially
Completed

Complete repair and

replacement of floating docks
at Dyckman Street Marina

Partially
Completed

Activate West Harlem Piers

Parks excursion boat pier and
ferry barge

Completed

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Chapter Initiative
Number

268

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Since the inception of the plaza program, DOT has

initiated 63 plazas projects throughout the city, 43 of
which are currently open to the public. Ten plaza capital
projects have been completed, with another two in
planning, 20 in design, and 12 in construction. Another 33
plazas have been opened with interim materials. This
program involves a comprehensive outreach process and
enjoys broad community support. To date, DOT has
installed more than 1,250 benches throughout the five
boroughs, exceeding the 2011 goal by more than 100%.
The City continues to encourage the revitalization of
underutilized arcades in Lower Manhattan with new active
uses including the Water Street POPS 2014 Summer
Events Programming. A zoning text amendment is
expected to be referred in 2015. DOTs The Street Seats
program enables seasonal public open spaces, generally
including seating and tables, at locations where sidewalk
seating is not available. To date, four Street Seats have
been installed, two in Manhattan and two in Brooklyn.

Complete construction on 13
plazas

Completed

Install 500 benches throughout

the city

Completed

Approve the urbanSHED

Design Competition winning
design. Work with City
agencies, buildings owners,
contractors and professionals
on adoption of the new design

Completed

Release recommendations to
further streamline the
permitting process for sidewalk
cafes

Completed

Amend zoning to facilitate

revitalization of underutilized
arcades in Lower Manhattan
with new active uses

Completed

Open four new pop-up cafes

Partially
Completed

DPR and the Natural Areas Conservancy (NAC) continue

to advance and pursue projects with other agencies,
non-profits, and universities to study urban systems. The
US Forest Service Urban Field Station is currently
engaged in over 20 joint research projects with various
other institutions. In addition, the NAC ecological and
social assessments were completed this fall, painting a
vivid picture of the social and ecological services provided
by natural areas in NYC.

Conduct five joint research

projects via the NYC Urban
Field Station

Completed

Align pathways, hours of

operation, and bicycling rules
on neighboring park sites

Partially
Completed

In 2014, DPR completed an additional 0.8 lane miles of

the Soundview Greenway along Lafayette Avenue in
Soundview Park. DPR also completed three lane miles of
the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway from 187th Street to
the northern tip of Manhattan on the West Side.
Construction began on Randalls Island Connector and
ongoing construction on Food Center Drive as part of
completion of Phase I of South Bronx Greenway. DOTs
Greenways program includes the Brooklyn Waterfront
Greenway, Bronx River and South Bronx Greenways, the
Manhattan Waterfront Greenway (EDC/DOT/DPR), the
Jamaica Bay Greenway (DOT/DPR), and the Harlem River
Greenway. Two Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway capital
projects will begin construction in 2015: Flushing Avenue
and West Street. An additional six segments of this
greenway, which totals six miles, are in design at DDC.
The Bronx River Greenway was extended to the Bryant
Avenue Pedestrian Bridge. The Concrete Plant Park and
Starlight Park are seamlessly linked. Capital projects are
in development for these segments of the Bronx River
Greenway. The 2nd edition of the Street Design Manual
was released in October 2013. DOT has distributed over
675 copies of the new Manual (including 112 through
CityStore) and made presentations to all relevant City
agencies. DOT will continue to update the manual on a
regular basis.

Continue to build and expand

greenway waterfront network
including Brooklyn Waterfront
Trail, Queens East River Trail,
Soundview Greenway, South
Bronx Greenway, Staten Island
South Shore greenway and
Manhattan waterfront greenway

Partially
Completed

Release update to Streets

Design Manual that contains
guidance on landscaping and
the use of other sustainable
elements

Completed

RE-IMAGINE THE PUBLIC REALM

PA R K S A N D P U B L I C S PA C E

PA R K S A N D P U B L I C S PA C E

Chapter Initiative
Number

10

nyc.gov/onenyc

Activate the
streetscape

Improve collaboration
between City, state,
and federal partners

Create a network of
green corridors

In Progress

In Progress

In Progress

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

269

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

PROMOTE AND PROTECT NATURE

11

12

Conserve natural
areas

Support ecological
connectivity

In Progress

In Progress

In Progress

As of April 2015, more than 949,000 trees have been

planted as part of the Million Trees Initiative. DPR
continues to develop its stewardship program,
transitioning from planting trees to caring for them. The
Young Street Tree Pruning project continues with 10,000
trees pruned in 2014.

Plant a total of 695,000 trees

Completed

Explore methods to ensure

long-term survival of existing
urban forest

Partially
Completed

The Natural Areas Conservancy continues to work closely

with NYC Parks to advance and expand its work in natural
areas.

Explore the establishment of a

natural area conservancy to
preserve the citys remaining
wild lands

Completed

DPR is now transitioning from the design and construction

of greenstreets in the right of way to retrofitting parkland
to better manage stormwater. DPR has completed design
for the first stage of restitution/restoration work in
conjunction with the Belt Parkway Seven Bridges project,
which includes the planting of thousands of trees and
anticipates construction to begin in the summer of 2015.
In 2014, DPR kicked off Phase 2 of that project, between
Plumb Beach and Rockaway Parkway, with construction
anticipated to begin in Summer 2016. DPR also began
design for the Canarsie West Trail Connector in 2014,
which will include a bike path through Canarsie Park that
connects to the Jamaica Bay Greenway.

Complete 80 greenstreets per

year

Partially
Completed

Conduct a study to determine

best practices for promoting
biodiversity in green roof
design and construction

Partially
Completed

Restore parkway landscapes to

improve landscape connectivity

Partially
Completed

Develop a framework to
comprehensively address
landscape issues on building
sites in City codes and
regulations

Partially
Completed

Create green standards for City

government building site
development and renovations

Partially
Completed

Expand access to free tree care

workshops and tool kits to
stewardship groups across the
five boroughs

Partially
Completed

Institute DPRs network

meetings for at least one park
in every borough

Completed

Increase training activities and

networking forums at catalyst
parks

Completed

Increase attendance at
programming to more than
15,000 across all catalyst parks
annually

Completed

Develop digital library tracking

system for cataloging
sustainable aspects of capital
projects

Completed

Develop sustainable design

checklist to be used with all
DPR capital projects that
comply with national
Sustainable Sites standards

Completed

Develop indicators to measure

existing and new sustainability
initiatives at DPR related to
water, material resources,
energy, fuel, and partnerships

Completed

Initiative

Initiative
Status

15

nyc.gov/onenyc

Support and
encourage
stewardship

Incorporate
sustainability through
the design and
maintenance of all
public space

In Progress

In Progress

DPR continues to cultivate stewards, transitioning our

volunteer days from exclusively planting days to
stewardship days. The Young Street Tree Pruning project
continues with 10,000 trees pruned in 2014. In 2014, DPR
led 85 small scale stewardship workshops throughout the
year as well as spring and fall stewardship days and
planting events.

The City continues to incorporate sustainability through

the design and maintenance of all public space when
practicable.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

270

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Release first version of the

Sustainable Parks Plan to
promote accomplishments,
train and educate DPR staff in
best practices, and improve
sustainability initiatives across
the agency

Completed

OER established the NYC Environmental Review and

Assessment program to provide comfort letters to
facilitate land transactions and support more lending on
brownfields with emphasis in low-income communities.
OER worked with the environmental insurance industry to
develop Pollution Liability policies tailored to the needs of
projects enrolled in the VCP. OER has included financial
escrow analysis and environmental insurance premiums
as reimbursable items under the NYC BIG Program.

Establish programs for financial

institutions to increase lending
for properties in the NYC VCP

Completed

Establish programs with the

insurance industry to deliver
preferred insurance policies for
properties in the NYC VCP

Completed

In Progress

To increase the capacity of small businesses and

small- and mid-size developers to conduct brownfield
cleanup and redevelopment, OER established the Pro
Bono Environmental Assistance program. This will help
achieve social equity goals by assisting CBOs, non-profit
community developers, and small businesses in
developing cleanup plans in the VCP, and establishing the
CBO Peer Assistance program to assist CBOs and
community developers with brownfield land transactions,
cleanup and site redevelopment. OER is working with the
NYC Brownfield Partnership to increase industry
awareness of environmental hardship claims and have
encouraged legal specialists to join the Pro Bono
Environmental Assistance program to deliver advice on
hardship relief.

Establish a brownfield pro bono

referral program to provide
inexperienced developers with
advice on how to conduct
investigations and cleanups

Completed

In Progress

OER strengthened cleanup standards for waterfront

industrial properties to achieve social equity goals by
minimizing environmental impact in environmental justice
communities associated with severe storm events. OER is
engaging community and industry experts in Community
Brownfield Planning Areas, community development
organizations, and the Brownfields Industry Task Force to
improve OER programs and get feedback on
improvements to SPEED, our online environmental
research engine. OER established the Look Back mode
and Stand-Still mode for enrollment in the VCP, and
approved cleanup plans for first projects using each
mode. OER also launched workshops to train the
environmental industry to effectively navigate the VCP.
OER has institutionalized exit interviews with volunteers
completing cleanup projects in the VCP and have used
the feedback to improve program delivery. OER is
currently building the EPIC (Environmental Project
Information Center) online interface for community
members and volunteers using the BCP and are targeting
launch in Fall 2015. OER collaborated on the
Streamlining Site Cleanup in NYC report with EPA to
illustrate the use of Triad approaches on VCP projects.

Establish flexible NYC BCP

provisions to allow for land
preparation for resale

Completed

Perform market outreach to

improve the SPEED real estate
search engine to promote
brownfield cleanup and
redevelopment

Completed

Collaborate with community

development corporations to
advance the cleanup and
redevelopment of property
across the city

Completed

Establish a web-based
application that automates and
streamlines the navigation of
City cleanup programs

Partially
Completed

In partnership with the EPA,

implement approaches and
improve Triad tools to
accelerate property
investigation and cleanup

Completed

Encourage cleanup and

redevelopment of waterfront
sites by proposing
amendments to the Zoning
Resolution that would allow
greater flexibility for
non-residential uses and floor
area

Redirected

Increase participation
in the NYC Voluntary
Cleanup Program by
partnering with
lenders and insurers

Completed

Increase the capacity

of small businesses
and small- and
mid-size developers
to conduct
brownfield cleanup
and redevelopment

Enable the
identification,
cleanup, and
redevelopment of
brownfields

ENSURE THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACE

14

Initiative Status Description

DEVELOP PROGRAMS TO ACCELERATE BROWNFIELD CLEANUP AND REDEVELOPMENT

BROWNFIELDS

PA R K S A N D P U B L I C S PA C E

13

Plant one million

trees

Chapter Initiative
Number

PA R K S A N D
P U B L I C S PA C E

Chapter Initiative
Number

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

271

Chapter Initiative
Number

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Build upon existing

state and federal
collaborations to
improve the Citys
brownfield programs

Completed

The State delegated authority to OER to operate the NYC

Clean Soil Bank to enable free exchange of clean native
soil to achieve cost savings and resiliency, and improve
social equity by advancing affordable housing and
community projects. OER has established a program to
unlock abandoned properties in disadvantaged
neighborhoods through a case-by-case waiver of State
environmental liens with NYC OMB and NYS Office of the
State Comptroller, and we are now enabling these sites to
proceed to auction. OER has extended the Memorandum
of Agreement between New York State and the City for
operation of the VCP and delegation of State liability
protection and petroleum cleanup oversight to OER until
2016. OER has advocated for legislation to enable full
statewide liability release for VCP cleanups and has
advocated for and obtained State legislation that provides
a waiver of State hazardous waste disposal taxes and
fees for VCP projects which will greatly lower cost of
cleanup in the VCP. OER has received recognition from
EPA that provides comfort on federal environmental
liability for volunteers using the VCP and enables VCP
cleanups to qualify for EPA grants, and worked with EPA
to allow property owners near federal superfund sites to
acquire federal liability protection for cleanup and
redevelopment.

Develop stronger liability

protection at the state level

Completed

Chapter Initiative
Number

Completed

Develop a pilot program for

environmental lien forgiveness

Completed

STRENGTHEN INCENTIVES FOR BROWNFIELD CLEANUP AND REDEVELOPMENT

nyc.gov/onenyc

Study the economic

value of brownfield
redevelopment in
New York City

Leverage the NYC

Voluntary Cleanup
Program to establish
funding and other
incentives for
cleanup and
redevelopment

Completed

Completed

8
Completed

OER is pursuing unique research that will evaluate the

social and environmental justice benefits of brownfield
cleanup and redevelopment in the VCP in low-income and
disadvantaged communities in NYC. OER has completed
the financial analysis of the first three years of over 260
cleanup projects to assess the amount of affordable
housing that will be created (3,850 new units), job creation
(4,500 permanent new jobs and 19,500 construction jobs),
leveraging of private investment ($8.4 billion in new
investment).

Assess the fiscal and

employment benefits of
brownfield redevelopment in
New York City

OER established a series of programs to achieve social

equity goals including the Affordable Housing Cleanup
Fund using EPA grants to support cleanup of affordable
housing projects in the VCP. OER established Preferred
Community Development Grants to prioritize City funding
for cleanup of affordable housing, community facilities,
and community-supported projects. OER established the
NYC Green Property Certification program to encourage
more developers to work with government on cleanups to
ensure that disadvantaged communities with a
disproportionate number of brownfields are better
protected from environmental pollution. We received
$500,000 from the NYS Regional Economic Development
Council to fund cleanup of VCP projects to promote
affordable housing and economic development in
disadvantaged communities. OER launched the
Brownfield Certification program in collaboration with
NYS DEC to enable small businesses and community
development corporations to claim Federal IRS tax
deductions for brownfield cleanup costs incurred under
the VCP, and OER is advocating in Congress for
reauthorization of these deductions which expired in
2011. OERs pre-application meetings include discussions
of available financial and technical assistance tailored
toward redevelopment of individual projects. Additionally,
OER will launch the Financial Assistance Search Tool
(FAST) to help CBOs, community developers, and others
find available grants in our Brownfield Incentive Grant
(BIG) program.

Develop programs that align

incentives for neighborhood
housing or infrastructure
revitalization with brownfield
incentives

Completed

Establish brownfield
redevelopment financial
counseling program

Completed

Develop a web-based,
brownfield financial assistance
search tool

Completed

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

272

Support communityled planning efforts

Support local and

area-wide community
brownfield planning
efforts

In Progress

In Progress

BROWNFIELDS

BROWNFIELDS

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

DEEPEN OUR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY BROWNFIELD

PLANNING, EDUCATION, AND SERVICE
7

Develop stronger liability

protection at the federal level

Initiative

OER has designated 19 place-based Community Brownfield

Planning Areas and has established nine additional areas for
designation under this plan. Future plans are to continue to
expand into new neighborhoods. This will expand the reach of
OER community assistance programs, including eligibility for
up to $50,000 in OER grant funding to CBOs for grass-roots
community brownfield planning. OER functions as an
ombudsman for CBOs trying to work with City agencies to
help them achieve local community planning goals. OER is
providing special attention, benefits, and resources to
brownfield sites in the East New York Community Brownfield
Planning Area. OER has extended funding for OER grants to
support community brownfield planning through 2015. OER
has established the CBO Peer Assistance Program and
selected an experienced CBO (SoBro) to perform brownfield
financial and real estate peer counseling and assistance for
other CBOs with less experience on brownfield
redevelopment, and are developing a brownfield management
reference manual for CBOs that provides best management
practices. OER has advocated for reforms to BOA designation
and for continued State funding of the BOA community
planning grant program.

Establish 25 NYC Place-Based

Community Brownfield Planning
Areas

Completed

Provide focused City assistance

and services to designated
CBPDs for brownfield and
sustainability planning

Completed

Pilot incorporation of brownfield

planning into early stages of
redevelopment planning with
East New York Sustainable
Communities project

Completed

Identify 8-12 new Place-Based

Community Brownfield Planning
Areas in neighborhoods
disproportionally impacted by
clusters of brownfields

Completed

OER has established a program to build capacity of CBOs

and other community brownfield planners by sharing best
management practices for brownfield planning, assisting
CBOs in working with city agencies, and helping them
navigate the VCP. OER has acquired HUD funding to
complete our online community planning portal to help
CBOs achieve their revitalization goals. Working with NYS
Department of State, OER is encouraging development of
new community brownfield planning areas in regions of
New York City heavily impacted by Superstorm Sandy and
are involved, in cross-government collaboration with NY
State, in the NY Rising program and Regional Economic
Development Council to promote community resiliency
planning.

Conduct a study to identify best Completed

management practices for
community planners undertaking
community brownfield planning
efforts
Completed
Establish training and other
programs to build the capacity of
community-based organizations
in brownfield redevelopment,
planning, and implementation
Partially
Develop online community
Completed
planning portal to provide
cutting edge tools to community
brownfield planners
Completed
Support pilot program
established by New York State
Department of State for
area-wide community brownfield
planning and cross-government
collaboration

nyc.gov/onenyc

Increase the
transparency and
accessibility of
brownfield cleanup
plans

Completed

OER has developed a wide variety of programs to promote

transparency including provisions for New York Citys three
library systems to assist patrons with online access to VCP
project information and OER educational information. OER
established an online repository of documents for all
projects in the VCP. A public contact list is developed for
each VCP project, and OER publishes three fact sheets for
release to these contacts at each stage of cleanup. A
Community Protection Statement is developed for each
cleanup project in the VCP and is written in six languages to
promote wider dissemination of plans for community
protection. OER established the BrownfieldWorks! program
to place workforce development graduates on cleanup
projects in the VCP. OER expanded our grant program to
fund salaries for BrownfieldWORKS! trainees and launched
a professional mentorship program by OER staff to assist
trainees in getting full time jobs. OER produced four
educational videos and posted them on OERs website to
inform communities of the importance of community
engagement on brownfields to address environmental
injustice and about OER programs for investigation and
cleanup. OER recently produced a new video on the
meaning and value of certification of properties under the
NYC Green Property Certification Program and will release
that under this plan.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Establish an online document

repository for VCP project
information

Completed

Establish advanced methods for Completed

the communication of brownfield
project information to New York
City communities
Develop web-based educational Completed
tools to help all stakeholders
understand brownfield cleanup
and redevelopment processes
Expand the NYC
BrownfieldWORKS! training
program

Completed

273

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Number

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Chapter Initiative
Number

EXPAND THE USE OF GREEN REMEDIATION

Completed

11

Promote green space

on remediated
brownfield properties

Completed

OER was delegated the authority by NY State to establish

the NYC Clean Soil Bank to promote recycling of clean
soil from VCP redevelopments. The Clean Soil Bank
promotes social equity and economic development goals
including cost-free reuse on affordable housing projects,
wetland restoration, climate change resiliency projects
and City capital construction projects. OER established
Climate Resiliency and Green Remediation Surveys that
are performed free of charge to ensure that cleanup and
redevelopment projects in the VCP are prepared for the
impacts of climate change and will minimize future
community environmental impact during severe storm
events. OER established a Sustainability Statement in all
cleanup plans and a Sustainability Report in all final
cleanup reports to promote green remediation and
development. Recycled concrete aggregate is now reused
for backfill on many VCP projects. Hundreds of new trees
have been planted as part of final development on VCP
projects approved in the first three years of operation to
support Million Trees and also provide groundwater
quality polishing. High efficiency stormwater management
techniques and green infrastructure education are
provided by Climate Resiliency and Green Remediation
Surveys performed by OER for projects in the VCP.

Establish the Sustainability

Statement in all cleanup plans

Completed

Accelerate adoption of green

remediation practices by
establishing a program for
green remediation audits of
cleanup plans under the VCP

Completed

Encourage the use of recycled

concrete aggregate (RCA) as
substitute for conventional
backfill material

Completed

Develop tree-based
phytoremediation approach for
end-of-cleanup polishing, also
promoting the MillionTreesNYC
program

Completed

Establish green remediation

storm water management
approaches on remedial sites
and expand green
infrastructure implementation
as part of redevelopment

Completed

OER has completed environmental investigations that

enable the creation of parks in underserved
neighborhoods in Staten Island and Brooklyn. Cleanup
was performed by OER using federal funds to enable
creation of a park at Mariners Marsh on Staten Island. The
NYC Clean Soil Bank was used to provide free soil for
shaping of park space at Fresh Kills Park and numerous
brownfield cleanups are in progress or completed on
coastal parkland. OER has established conceptual plans
for raised-bed community garden space suitable for use
on brownfield sites. OER has established the NYC Clean
Soil Bank and are working with CBOs to provide clean soil
free of charge for backfill for affordable housing and other
social equity uses. We have established OER funded
grants to fund investigation and cleanup of properties to
enable community uses.

Create three Pocket Parks in

collaboration with community
planning organizations

Completed

Create design for state-of-theart community gardens on

remediated brownfields

Completed

W AT E R W AY S

Promote green
remediation in the
NYC Brownfield
Cleanup Program

BROWNFIELDS

10

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Complete
cost-effective grey
infrastructure
projects to reduce
CSOs and improve
water quality

Completed

DEP has completed the shotcreting of an old brick sewer

as of April 2014. The Avenue V Pumping Station has been
operating at the new wet weather capacity of 80 MGD as
of October 2014. DEP placed the Gowanus Flushing
Tunnel in full operation as of April 23, 2014 with a 10-day
test to verify the system was working correctly, completed
on May 3, 2014. The Gowanus Pumping Station has been
placed into operation with the CSO Screening System as
of November 22, 2014 and fully tested as of December
24, 2014. The Flushing Tunnel System and the Pumping
Station System has been placed into full operation.
Substantial completion for Lower English Kills aeration
was issued March 31, 2014.

Complete Paerdegat Basin

CSO Facility

Completed

Complete Alley Creek CSO

Facility

Completed

Complete Avenue V Pumping

Station

Completed

Complete upgrades to the

Gowanus Canal Pumping
Station

Completed

Complete upgrades to the

Gowanus Canal Flushing
Tunnel

Completed

Construct an aeration system

for Lower English Kills in
Newtown Creek

Completed

Complete a destratification
facility at Shellbank Creek

Completed

Expand the sewer

network

In Progress

In 2013, DEP and DDC completed design and bid projects

in the Twin Ponds Area, Sheldon Avenue Area, and Richard
Avenue area. These projects will install new sanitary and
sewer storm infrastructure areas and the Twin Ponds
projects will have Bluebelt components. In 2013, the City
also initiated a program to advance sewer construction
where possible to alleviate flooding in targeted areas
affected by repeat events. Two accelerated construction
projects were completed in late 2013, with studies
underway for similar projects in southeast Queens.

Completed over 60 miles of

new or reconstructed sewers
from FY08 to FY12

Completed

Optimize the existing

sewer system

Completed

In 2010, DEP implemented more efficient work practices

and used in-house staff to expand our sewer cleaning
operations. In 2011, the City finished inspecting all 138
miles of interceptor sewers and in 2012, DEP completed
the first two-year cycle of interceptor cleaning. In total, DEP
removed 30 million gallons of material, freeing up storage
capacity of 3.06 million gallons. Collectively, this translates
into a reduction of combined sewer overflows of 100
million gallons per year. In addition, in 2012, DEP inspected
the remaining 219 tide gates and repaired or replaced
those deemed necessary. Reported sewer backups
continue to decline. In 2013, DEP cleaned more than 760
miles of sewers and continues to expand several programs
to address sewer backups, including programmatic
degreasing and improved sewer backup response
practices. In addition, DEP expanded the pilot to evaluate
sewer manhole sensors and installed additional devices for
a total of 64 throughout the city. These sensors measure
the elevation of wastewater in the sewer and wirelessly
transmit that information to DEPs computer systems,
allowing DEP to dispatch crews promptly and fix the
problem before it results in a sewer backup. In November,
the City released the second annual State of the Sewers,
which includes key performance indicators for sewer
maintenance and construction for each borough.

Continue to inspect each tide

gate once per month as per
standard operating procedure.

Completed

Clean 138 miles of interceptor

sewers

Completed

Expand Bluebelt system into

Queens

Completed

W AT E R W AY S

CONTINUE IMPLEMENTING GREY INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES

1

Upgrade wastewater
treatment plants to
achieve secondary
treatment standards

Completed

In May 2011, the City certified that Newtown Creek

Wastewater Treatment Plant meets federal Clean Water
Act (CWA) standards for secondary treatment two years
ahead of schedule. All 14 of the Citys wastewater
treatment plants now meet CWA secondary treatment
standards.

Certify that the Newtown Creek

WWTP meets secondary
treatment standards

Completed

Upgrade treatment
plants to reduce
nitrogen discharges

Completed

In 2013, DEP completed a $237 million upgrade to the

Wards Island Wastewater Treatment Plant that reduced
the amount of nitrogen discharged from the plant by
nearly 50 percent. DEP has completed the construction at
the Tallman Island Wastewater Treatment Plant as of May
1, 2014. The remaining plant upgrades and stabilization
work at the Bowery Bay, Wards Island, and Tallman Island
Plants, as well as at the 26th Ward and Jamaica Plants,
are projected to be complete in February 2016.

Complete upgrades at the

Wards Island WWTP

Completed

Complete upgrades at the

Tallman Island WWTP

Completed

Complete upgrades at the

Bowery Bay WWTP

Completed

USE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE TO MANAGE STORMWATER

6

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

274

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Expand the Bluebelt

program

In Progress

In 2013 DEP continued to develop the Springfield

Gardens Bluebelt in southeast Queens and accomplished
a critical milestone for the Mid-Island Bluebelt by
completing the Final Generic Environmental Impact
Statement. The first capital project in the Mid-Island
Bluebelt is scheduled to start construction in Fall 2014
and will involve the restoration of New Creeks west
branch. In addition, the City has advanced a second
Mid-Island Bluebelt project called Last Chance Pond,
estimated at approximately $35 million.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

275

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Build public green

infrastructure
projects

In Progress

By the end of 2014, DEP and the Departments of Parks

and Recreation, Design and Construction and the
Economic Development Corporation had initiated
construction on multiple area-wide contracts covering
approximately 27,000 acres of the City. DEP is currently in
construction or in final design phase on approximately
2,000 bioswales and stormwater greenstreets.

28 GI sites have been

completed, with an additional 5
substantially completed.

Partially
Completed

Capture the first inch of runoff

from 70 additional acres of
impervious surface

Partially
Completed

By 2015, DEP committed over $13 million to 33 grantees

through the Green Infrastructure Grant Program. In 2014,
DEP also conducted a targeted outreach campaign to
property owners that would be eligible for the Grant
Program, and accepted applications in both the spring
and the fall. In addition, DEP investigated a pilot a
mini-grant program for homes and small properties. DEP
continued to meet with the Water Infrastructure Steering
Committee (formerly the Green Infrastructure Steering
Committee) on a range of stormwater management and
water quality issues, including resiliency and the Long
Term Control Plan process. DEP also continued to engage
with a broad range of stakeholders including
neighborhood associations, community boards, elected
officials, schools and environmental organizations.

Implement a green
infrastructure grant program

Completed

Throughout 2014, the City continued to track compliance

with the 2012 stormwater performance standard (or
stormwater rule) for new development and significant
redevelopment. Compliance is tracked through house
connection and sewer connection proposals received by
DEP. In 2014 the City adjusted its reporting methods to
more accurately track compliance and eliminate
redundancy. Since the stormwater rule for new
development and significant redevelopment took effect in
2012, approximately 260 sites were required to comply.
Planned source control technologies on those sites
include 100 blue roofs, 160 tanks, 11 drywells, and 8
perforated pipe systems. Of these, approximately 60
connections have been constructed; this includes 27 blue
roofs, 29 tanks, 3 drywells, and 1 perforated pipe system.
Pursuant to LL80 of 2013, DEP and DOT are planning to
pilot porous paving materials in the roadway and on city
sidewalks. Monitoring will be conducted and a final report
will be submitted to city council in 2016. DEP collaborated
with DCP on the Open Industrial Uses Study to suggest
appropriate stormwater controls for open industrial sites.

Require greater on-site

detention and infiltration for
new development and
redevelopment

Completed

Require greater storm water

runoff controls from
construction sites

Partially
Completed

Study potential code changes

to incorporate blue roofs on
existing buildings

Partially
Completed

Develop new design standards

for sidewalks

Partially
Completed

Study improved regulation of

open industrial uses to reduce
runoff

Completed

First initiated in 2011, DEPs Parking Lot Stormwater Pilot

Program generates revenue for operation and
maintenance of the Citys wastewater system. The
program applies a stormwater discharge fee to
stand-alone parking lots that contribute runoff to the
Citys wastewater system, but that do not receive City
water service. DEPs stormwater charge increased from
$0.06 per square foot in 2013 to $0.063 in 2014, to
account for rate structure increases. In 2014, DEP billed
557 accounts for $501,882.68. Parking lot owners who
implement green infrastructure practices are exempt from
the stormwater discharge fee. The Green Roof Tax
Abatement program was fully in place and available to
property owners for only three to four months of 2014,
therefore DEP will gather another year of data to
determine the efficacy of the program. There were no
applications for the green roof tax abatement in 2014.

Evaluate the feasibility of using

price signals to reduce storm
water runoff

Completed

Evaluate the efficacy of the

green roof tax abatement

Completed

Engage and enlist

community
stakeholders in
sustainable storm
water management

Modify codes to
increase the capture
of storm water

Completed

In Progress

W AT E R W AY S

Initiative

10

nyc.gov/onenyc

Provide incentives for

green infrastructure

Completed

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Seek input through the Green

Infrastructure Citizens Group

Chapter Initiative
Number

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Participate in the Superfund

investigation and feasibility
study in the Gowanus Canal

Partially
Completed

Participate in the Superfund

investigation in Newtown Creek

Partially
Completed

Submit application to dredge

CSO mounds for Gowanus
Canal and Flushing Creek

Completed

Begin CSO dredging in

Paerdegat Basin

Completed

Complete dredging in Hendrix

Creek

Completed

REMOVE INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION FROM WATERWAYS

11

Actively participate in
waterway clean-up
efforts

In Progress

Completed

The City worked with other responsible parties throughout

2014 to ensure that the implementation of the selected
remedy addresses contamination results in a clean and
safe waterway, and incorporates principles of social
justice. In 2014, the City conducted sampling of
groundwater and point sources in Newtown Creek,
including stormwater and CSOs, providing more data to
support the Superfund investigation. In 2014, the DEP
Gowanus Canal maintenance dredging project was
superseded by the National Grid dredge of the entire
canal. Application to dredge CSO mounds in Flushing
Creek were prepared for submittal. Completion of
dredging in Paerdegat Basin certified by DEP on Nov. 18,
2014 and approved by DEC on Dec. 1, 2014. Completion
of dredging in Hendrix Creek certified by DEP on October
17, 2011 and approved by DEC on May 3, 2012.

PROTECT AND RESTORE WETLANDS, AQUATIC SYSTEMS, AND ECOLOGICAL HABITAT

12

276

W AT E R W AY S

Chapter Initiative
Number

13

nyc.gov/onenyc

Enhance wetlands
protection

Restore and create

wetlands

In Progress

In Progress

In 2014, the City continued to develop wetland resources,

including the one foot Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of
wetland areas, which has been completed. This
information will be used in discussions with state and
federal partners to potentially update existing wetland
maps and the methodology to produce them. The City is
also working with federal and state partners through the
USACEs Rockaway Reformulation in Jamaica Bay and
the NY Rising Program, which are currently evaluating
proposals that will help protect existing infrastructure and
increase the resiliency of coastal ecosystems.

Major construction in the Paerdegat Basin was completed

in December 2013, and the project has moved into the
monitoring and maintenance phase. Restoration
construction of Pugsley Creek Park was completed in
summer 2013; restoration construction of Soundview Park
was completed in fall 2013. Bronx River fish passage
construction was completed at River Park, at the 182nd
Street Dam, to allow upstream access for spawning for
river herring. The fish passage will be open when the first
migration season begins in spring 2015. The USACE has
re-started site evaluations and is continuing discussions
with local agency partners in the development of
restoration concepts for sites identified in the 2008 Bronx
River Ecosystems Feasibility Study. Construction
documents for Randalls Island shoreline restoration are
nearing completion. Presentation to Public Design
Commission is expected in January 2015 and
construction is expected to begin in 2015. Restoration
construction of Dreier Offerman Park was completed in
summer 2013. Meadow Lake restoration contract has
been bid and awarded and is expected to begin
construction in 2015. Freshkills North Park restoration
construction was completed in summer 2013. DPR is
undertaking the Spring Creek and Sunset Cove projects,
which together total over $15 million. The projects will
restore marshland and upland forest to improve the bays
ecological function and resiliency to coastal storms as
well as create new recreational opportunities. DEP has
already invested $8 million to complete the restoration of
Yellow Bar, Black Wall and Rulers Bar, with an additional
$7 million expected to be allocated based on
recommendations in the USACE Jamaica Bay
Reformulation Study due in April 2016.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Transfer at least five

City-owned wetlands to DPR

Completed

Work with state and federal

partners to update wetlands
maps

Partially
Completed

Modify the Waterfront

Revitalization Program to
designate additional sites of
ecological importance

Completed

Evaluate the vulnerability of salt

marshes through additional
monitoring

Partially
Completed

Develop a comprehensive
strategy for wetlands

Completed

Complete Paerdegat Basin

restoration

Completed

Complete Pugsley Creek Park

restoration

Completed

Complete Soundview Park

restoration

Completed

Complete Bronx River

restoration - all phases

Partially
Completed

Complete Randalls Island

shoreline restoration

Partially
Completed

Complete Dreier Offerman Park

restoration

Completed

Complete Meadow Lake

restoration

Partially
Completed

Complete Freshkills North Park

restoration construction by
2013 summer

Completed

Invest $15 million in wetlands

restoration in Jamaica Bay

Partially
Completed

277

14

15

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Improve wetlands
mitigation

In Progress

The City, led by the NYCEDC, received approval on the

mitigation bank prospectus. Two drafts of the Mitigation
Banking Instrument (MBI) have been submitted to the
Interagency Review Team. A final signed MBI is expected
in February or March of 2015. The Public Comment
periods opened for Army Corps in-water construction
permits as well as the Community Development Block
Grant Program - Disaster Recovery action plan
amendment allocation.

Establish a wetland mitigation

banking or in-lieu fee program

Partially
Completed

DEP and DPR have worked with Baykeeper, the Harbor

School, Hudson River Foundation and other partners to
add spat on shell to the existing reef at Soundview Park
to expand it, and monitoring continued to evaluate its
effect. DPR is also designing a restoration project at
Sunset Cove in Jamaica Bay that will incorporate a pilot
oyster reef restoration project. In 2014, the City continued
to leverage grant funds to support aquatic habitat
improvement projects. DEP was awarded a $1 million
grant from the Department of Interior to expand the oyster
restoration efforts at the Head of Bay - Jamaica Bay. The
City is contributing an additional $375,000 to the project,
bringing the total to $1.375 million. Design will begin in
spring 2015 with expected construction to start in fall
2015. The oyster restoration project is being carried out in
partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension, Hudson
River Foundation, and the New York Harbor School.

Expand oyster pilot project and

conduct additional research

Partially
Completed

Develop a strategy to advance

restoration efforts

Partially
Completed

Complete ribbed mussel bed

pilot

Completed

Complete eel grass pilot

Completed

Improve habitat for

aquatic species

In Progress

ENSURE THE QUALITY OF OUR DRINKING WATER

W AT E R S U P P LY

New York State Department of Health released the final

version of the Revised 2007 Filtration Avoidance
Determination (FAD) on May 7, 2014. DEP continues to
implement the watershed protection program including
the land acquisition program.

Maintain the citys Filtration

Avoidance Determination (FAD)

Partially
Completed

Seek to acquire land by

contacting the owners of at
least 50,000 acres of land every
year

Completed

Completed

On December 17, 2014, Governor Cuomo announced his

intention to prohibit natural gas extraction using
high-volume hydrofracking in New York State.

Work with the State to secure

the prohibition of hydrofracking
within the citys watersheds

Completed

Completed

In October 2013, DEP announced the completion of the

Catskill/Delaware Ultraviolet Treatment Facility. The $1.5
billion Catskill/Delaware UV Facility will provide an added
layer of protection against pathogens and other harmful
microorganisms for the drinking water consumed by more
than 9 million residents of New York City and portions of
Westchester County.

Complete construction

Completed

Construction of the above grade structures continues.

Startup and testing of both Plants A & B continued.
Modifications of Valve Loops in Plants A & B were
completed. The City is on schedule to begin full
operations no later than 2015.

Complete construction

Continue the
Watershed Protection
Program

In Progress

Protect the water

supply from
hydrofracking for
natural gas

Complete the
Catskill/Delaware
Ultraviolet (UV)
Disinfection Facility

Complete the Croton

Water Filtration Plant

In Progress

Chapter Initiative
Number

W AT E R S U P P LY

Chapter Initiative
Number

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Connect the
Delaware and Catskill
Aqueducts

In Progress

By late March 2014, all seven holes were cored into the
Catskill Aqueduct. Meetings have been held with the DEP
and design consultant in regards to start-up and flow
testing for the development of standard operating
protocols and procedures. Substantial completion is
anticipated on, or about, June 30, 2015 with a final
completion date, on, or about, June 29, 2016.

Start construction

Partially
Completed

Pressurize the
Catskill Aqueduct

In Progress

In 2014, DEP refined project objectives and reached

consensus on capacity requirements supporting release
of a final Facility Plan in February 2015 that identifies the
need for a secondary pressure tunnel between Kensico
and Eastview. The project will commence a Basis of
Design effort during 2015, with active design to
commence in 2016. Construction is anticipated to
commence in 2019.

Complete Facility Planning and

Basis of Design Report

Partially
Completed

Maintain and
upgrade dams

In Progress

The reconstruction of Gilboa Dam is 95% complete.

Design for the new low level outlet and Schoharie Release
Chamber was completed and the pre-bid meeting was
recently held and construction is anticipated to
commence in 2015. All engineering assessments as
required by NYS were completed. Engineering studies are
underway for the rehabilitation of the Ashokan Reservoir
dam and dikes, which is phase one of the reconstruction
of the New Croton Dam began in July 2013 and is
expected to be substantially completed in July 2016. This
work includes the mechanical replacement and other
structural repair to the outlet works.

Begin rehabilitation of the

Gilboa Dam

Completed

Begin engineering assessments

for dams as required by the
State

Partially
Completed

MODERNIZE IN-CITY DISTRIBUTION

9

Complete City Water

Tunnel No. 3

In Progress

In October 2013, the City announced the activation of the

Manhattan portion of Stage 2 of City Tunnel No. 3. The
Brooklyn-Queens section is scheduled for completion in
2018.

Activate Stage 2 in Manhattan

Completed

10

Build a backup
tunnel to Staten
Island

In Progress

In 2012, in partnership with the Port Authority of New York

and New Jersey and the New York City Economic
Development Corporation, DEP launched tunneling
operations for construction of the Staten Island Siphon.
During Hurricane Sandy, the Staten Island shaft site was
inundated with water and the tunnel boring machine was
damaged, delaying the project for approximately one year.
The tunnel boring machine has been refurbished from the
flooding, and tunneling operations and resumed in April
2014.

Begin construction

Partially
Completed

11

Upgrade water main

infrastructure

In Progress

DEP initiated construction in Coney Island and continues

to make substantial progress on key water supply
projects in targeted areas, such as the Rockaways. Some
major improvements were also made citywide. Completed
projects include a trunk water main replacement in
Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, valued at $14.5 million and a
trunk water main project on E59th Street, Manhattan
Community Boards 6 and 8, valued at $33.5 million. This
project was a key component in the activation of City
Water Tunnel No. 3, connecting Shaft 31B to the
distribution network. Finally, DEP invested over $30
million in three distribution water main projects in Queens,
improving water quality and distribution in Community
Boards 4, 6, 8, 9 and 13.

Replace 80 miles of water

mains

Completed

Partially
Completed

MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT DELIVERS WATER TO NEW YORK CITY
5

nyc.gov/onenyc

Repair the Delaware

Aqueduct

In Progress

Design of the bypass tunnel and Wawarsing repairs was

completed in late 2014 and public bidding for
construction commenced in January 2015. The bypass
tunnel contract was bid on March 27, 2015. This contract
is expected to be awarded in May 2015 and registered in
July 2015. The project continues to be on schedule and
on budget. The New Croton Aqueduct was completed on
June 30,2013. The Jamaica groundwater system design
has been decides into four groups. The first three groups
have passed through facility planning, and the Basis of
Design Reports are approved. Design will progress to 30
percent compete for the last group by the end of 2015.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Break ground on the aqueduct

bypass

Partially
Completed

Complete upgrades to the

Cross River Pumping Station

Completed

Complete design for the

upgrades to the Croton Falls
Pumping Station

Completed

Complete rehabilitation of the

New Croton Aqueduct

Completed

Begin design for the upgrades

to the Jamaica groundwater
system

Partially
Completed

278

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

279

Chapter Initiative
Number

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Chapter Initiative
Number

IMPROVE THE EFFICENCY OF THE WATER SUPPLY

13

Increase operational
efficiency with new
technology

Increase water
conservation

Completed

In Progress

As of January 2015, the City has installed Automated

Meter Reading (AMR) devices for over 97 percent of
customers. In February 2012, the City expanded the Leak
Notification Program to proactively notify large building
owners of potential leaks and enable owners and
managers to quickly respond and fix leaks before they
become a costly problem. Since starting the program in
March 2011, more than 72,000 customers have saved an
estimated $60 million in otherwise wasted water or
damaging leaks. Since January 2012, DEP staff have
replaced over 19,000 underperforming meters.

Complete the installation of

AMR devices citywide

Completed

Replace 10,000 large water

meters

Completed

Optimize delivery by integrating

forecasting models into
operations

Completed

In 2014, the City officially released the Water Demand

Management Plan, launched the Municipal Water
Efficiency Program, and completed conservation retrofits
in 60 schools, 12 fire houses, and over 150 spray
showers. The overall program will target municipal
buildings for water savings of nine million gallons per day
and cost $60 million by 2019. The City completed analysis
of costs and benefits of widespread replacements of
inefficient toilets and developed a strategy to achieve an
optimal flow. The City launched the Toilet Replacement
Program in August of 2014 to replace approximately
200,000 fixtures in its first Phase. On August 8, 2012, the
Local Law 41 of 2012, the Plumbing Code Revisions Bill
(Intro 807A) was signed into law. The new law
incorporates greywater reuse standards into NYC
Plumbing Code by bringing it up to date with the 2009
edition of the International Plumbing Code and making
amendments to the Code that reflect the unique character
and needs of the City. DEP is in the process of developing
a guidance document outlining various processes and
making the plumbing code requirements more accessible.

Release a design manual for

water conservation in buildings

Completed

Pilot advanced strategies for

water conservation in City
buildings

Completed

Launch a process to replace all

old, inefficient toilets in City
Buildings

Completed

Analyze the costs and benefits

of widespread replacements of
inefficient toilets and develop a
strategy to achieve an optimal
flow

Completed

Develop comprehensive
greywater reuse standards

Partially
Completed

IMPROVE AND EXPAND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPTIONS

T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

nyc.gov/onenyc

Improve and expand

bus service
throughout the city

In Progress

The following SBS corridors have been launched:

Nostrand Avenue (Nov 2013), LaGuardia (May 2014), 34th
Street (Nov 2011) and Hylan Blvd (Sept 2012). Additional
enhancements will be completed to the Williamsburg
Bridge plaza stop on the Nostrand Ave. Corridor in 2015.
Design for the Woodhaven Blvd. Corridor is underway.
The Corridor is expected to launch after capital
reconstruction in 2017. In the interim, initial bus priority
improvements will be installed on the Corridor in the
summer of 2015.Transit Signal Priority has been installed
on three corridors and design is underway for an
additional eight corridors. It is expected that all 11
corridors will be active by summer 2016, with additional
corridors will follow in the future. The MTA has installed
Bus Time real time information on every route in New York
City. Improvements to bus access to the Ed Koch
Queensboro Bridge were completed in 2011.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Launch Nostrand Ave.,

Brooklyn SBS Corridor

Completed

Launch LaGuardia, Queens

SBS corridors

Completed

Launch 34th Street, Manhattan

SBS Corridor

Completed

Launch Hylan Blvd., Staten

Island SBS Corridor

Completed

Launch initial Woodhaven Blvd.

Partially
Completed

Implement bus operations

improvements on all routes,
with transit signal prioritization
on eleven routes in five
boroughs

Partially
Completed

Install Bus Time on all 31 bus

routes in Staten Island and B63
in Brooklyn

Completed

Improve bus priority of Ed Koch

Queensboro Bridge and
approaches

Completed

280

T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

W AT E R S U P P LY

12

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Improve and expand

subway and
commuter rail service

In Progress

Construction of the 7 Line Extension is nearly complete

and is scheduled to open for revenue serivice Q2 2015.
The first phase of Second Avenue Subway is scheduled
to be completed in December 2016. The major remaining
work involves station finishes and systems. Construction
continues on East Side Access, with revenue service
expected to begin in December 2022.

Complete construction of 7
Line extension to the Hudson
Yards area of far west Midtown

Partially
Completed

Continue construction of first

phase of Second Avenue
Subway

Partially
Completed

Continue construction of East

Side Access, the LIRRs direct
service to Grand Central Terminal

Partially
Completed

Complete analysis for North

Shore Transportation
Improvements, Staten Island

Completed

Expand for-hire
vehicle service
throughout our
neighborhoods

Completed

TLC issued the first Street Hail Livery (SHL) permit in June
2013 and by November 2013 had issued all 6,000 permits
in the programs first year. By March 2014 over 4,300
Boro Taxis, including nearly 250 wheelchair accessible
Boro Taxis, were already in service providing call-ahead
and street hail service in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten
Island, and Northern Manhattan neighborhoods that had
previously lacked access to safe, convenient and legal
street hail service. TLC has commenced the second
issuance of SHL Permits.

Allow livery vehicles to accept

street hails outside of
Manhattan

Completed

Promote car-sharing

Completed

The City, through DCAS, currently operates the largest

fleet share program in the United States. In 2014 DCAS
worked with Zip Car to better identify usage patterns with
shared vehicles to further enhance operations. DCAS
renewed its contract with Zip Car in January 2015.

Assess car-sharing potential for

City fleet vehicles

Completed

Expand and improve

ferry service

In Progress

The City will launch a new Citywide Ferry Service that will
knit together existing East River routes with new landings
and services to Astoria, the Rockaways, South Brooklyn,
Soundview and the Lower East Side. Service will launch
in 2017. Further expansion to Stapleton and Coney Island
will constitute a second phase of expansion, pending
additional funding. The project will include the
construction of multiple new ferry landings.

Launch East River service pilot

to support the continued
redevelopment of the East
River waterfronts

Completed

Make bicycling safer

and more convenient

In Progress

DOTs bike-sharing program launched in May 2013. In

2014, DOT installed 41.3 miles of bike facilities. In
addition, the bike counting methodology was improved by
installing loop induction counters on the four East River
Bridges. The new counters provide a more robust data set
by counting cyclists all year round. As of January 2015,
DOT installed 2,318 bike racks at 336 stations; 45 bike
corrals; and has a total of over 22,400 bike racks (or
provides 44,800 bike parking spaces). Bike commuting
has doubled from 2007 levels.

Double bike commuting from

2007 levels

Completed

Launch pilot bike-sharing

program

Completed

Install bike racks near 15

subway stations

Completed

As of December 2014, pedestrian countdown signals have

been installed at more than 4,400 intersection, with another
4,500 intersections expected to be completed by the end of
2016. The City Council adopted a zoning text amendment
in May 2013 that partially adopts new guidelines of public
parking garages that promote pedestrian safety.
Construction was complete for one Safe Routes to Transit
projects in 2014. Nine additional locations will be
constructed in 2015 and 11 to follow in 2016-17. Eight Safe
Routes to School projects were completed since April 2014,
bringing the total number of complete to 40. As of January
2015, 13 locations are under construction and 29 additional
locations are in the final design phase. DOTs WalkNYC
Wayfinding program has installed 100 wayfinging signs in
neighborhoods in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and
Queens. As of April 2015, DOT has installed an additional
50 WalkNYC signs and developed a map-based Greenway
network sign for future deployment. DOT has also designed
and launched SBS Wayfinding signs (incorporating real time
bus arrival information) and subway station neighborhood
maps using the WalkNYC database and graphic standards.

Install countdown pedestrian

signals at 1,500 intersections

Completed

Adopt new guidelines for public

parking garages that promote
pedestrian safety

Partially
Completed

Continue to implement Safe

Routes to Transit projects,
including nine Bus Stops under
Els

Partially
Completed

Implement 32 Safe Routes to

School projects

Completed

Design a standardized,
consistent pedestrian
wayfinding system

Completed

nyc.gov/onenyc

Enhance pedestrian
access and safety

In Progress

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

281

Chapter Initiative
Number

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

DOT is engaged in outreach to neighborhoods across the

City to expand the use of the agencys innovative
curb-management toolbox. In January 2013, NYCDOT
completed conversion of the parking meter system to
multi-space pay stations. In total, this system has over
13,000 Muni-Meters. In addition, by Winter 2015, the
Department will have modernized all meters to
state-of-the art Smart meters. DOT expanded Midtown in
Motion, an ITS congestion-reduction project, from 34 St.
to 57 St., river to river. DOT also installed cameras and
traffic detection equipment on select coastal storm
evacuation routes including Woodhaven Blvd, Flatbush
Avenue and Hylan Blvd.

Expand ParkSmart program to

three new neighborhoods

Partially
Completed

Install 4,500 Muni-Meters

Completed

Install Intelligent Transportation

Systems (ITS) approach to
reducing congestion in selected
areas

Completed

In May, 2013, Manhattan Core Text Amendment was

adopted, enacting improvements to off-street parking
regulations to ensure that the right amount of parking
spaces is being provided to support Manhattan Core
businesses, residents and visitors while also addressing
the citys sustainability objectives to encourage public
transit and reduce energy use and greenhouse gas
emissions.

Explore modifications to
Manhattan Core parking
regulations

Completed

Explore revisions to off-street

parking requirements in areas
close to the Manhattan Core

Completed

The City has received $450,000 in grants from FHWA and

EPA to implement off-hour delivery programs modeled
after the NYC off-hour delivery program. In addition, DOT
has received a NYSERDA Grant Funding Award of
$112,500 to pursue low noise truck tests and $625,000 in
FHWA funds to expand the program. DOT expanded paid
commercial parking with the installation of 275
MuniMeters in the Financial District, the Meatpacking
District, and sections of Broadway.

Implement new peak and

off-peak delivery windows in
congested areas

Partially
Completed

Implement commercial paid

parking at high-demand
loading zones citywide

Partially
Completed

Improve landside access to the

New York Container Terminal

Partially
Completed

The City is in the process of procuring a consultant to

assist in a food system resiliency study. This study is
expected to be completed in 2016. Work has begun on
rehabilitation of track serving Hunts Point cooperative
warehouses; tracks for Building B are complete. Doubling
of lead track and transload platform are currently in
design. The City is working to expand transload
operations.

Study the Sheridan Corridor in

the Bronx

Completed

Launch a study of New York

Citys food distribution
pathways

Partially
Completed

Accommodate more inbound

freight trains at Hunts Point

Partially
Completed

Establish new rail transfer hubs

in Brooklyn and Staten Island

Partially
Completed

Increase rail and waterborne

freight deliveries to the South
Brooklyn Marine Terminal

Completed

Advocate for federal investment

in NE Corridor passenger rail
and improved aviation traffic
control

Partially
Completed

Launch study of JFK air cargo

industry

Completed

Improve truck access to JFK

Partially
Completed

Chapter Initiative
Number

T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

10

11

12

nyc.gov/onenyc

Pilot technology and

pricing-based
mechanisms to
reduce traffic
congestion

Modify parking
regulations to
balance the needs of
neighborhoods

Reduce truck
congestion on city
streets

Improve freight
movement

Improve our
gateways to the
nation and the world

In Progress

Completed

In Progress

In Progress

In Progress

The City continues to advocate for improved aviation

traffic control, including investments in NextGen
technology in the New York Region. The JFK Air Cargo
Study was released in 2013. NYCEDC in conjunction with
the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has begun
work on a market and commodity assessment and
strategic plan for the JFK focused industry. EDC, in
conjunction with City DOT and the PANYNJ conducted a
series of outreach meetings in the fall of 2014 with local
community boards, elected officials and trade groups
regarding a change to traffic regulations that would allow
for industry standard 53 foot trailers to access cargo
facilities at JFK Airport. City DOT published a draft rule
and solicited public input on the proposed change. (DOT)
The City adopted a traffic rule change to allow 53-foot
trailers to access the JFK Airport as long as they used
major highways and did not enter local streets. Public
hearings were held in October 2014. The rule will be come
effective in March 2015. CCTV cameras will be installed at
key access points to JFK to monitor compliance.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE PHYSICAL CONDITION OF OUR ROADS AND TRANSIT SYSTEM
13

Seek funding to
maintain and improve
our mass transit
network

In Progress

The $32 billion capital program was submitted to the

Capital Program Review Board (CPRB) in October 2014
for statutory review. At that time it was vetoed without
prejudice. MTA awaits CPRB direction for resubmission.
The City continues to stress the need to fully fund the
MTAs 2015-2019 Capital Plan and is urging our federal
and state partners to develop a funding solution for the
Citys transit infrastructure.

Fund MTA Capital Program

beyond 2011

Partially
Completed

14

Maintain and improve

our roads and
bridges

In Progress

DOT owns, operates, and maintains 789 bridges and

tunnels throughout New York City. Over the past four
years DOT has spent more than $1 billion on the bridge
capital program. In 2014, DOT repaved 1,000 lane miles
of city streets and filled over 254,000 potholes. Legislation
for joint bidding of public works projects was signed by
the Governor in summer 2014.

Seek opportunities to improve

bridge conditions

Partially
Completed

Seek opportunities to improve

the state of repair of the citys
streets

Partially
Completed

Seek legislation for joint

bidding of public works
projects

Completed

Work with multiple energy

stakeholders to encourage
clean energy supply
investments, effective incentive
programs, shared data
collection and management,
and coordinated energy
forecasting

Partially
Completed

LL87 submissions were collected for the second year in

2014. More than 1,000 submissions have been collected.
The City is continuing to implement, enforce, and expand
the Greener, Greater, Buildings Plan (GGBP). The final
benchmarking report on 2013 data and the public
disclosure of 2014 data were both released in September
2014. Through One City: Built to Last, the City has
proposed to expand GGBP requirements to mid-sized
buildings between 25,000 to 50,000-square feet. A fully
operational Benchmarking Help Center will be established
to assist with GGBP compliance.

Complete the development of

rules and guidelines and fully
enforce the Greener, Greater
Buildings Plan

Partially
Completed

Complete an annual analysis

and report on benchmarking
results

Completed

Green Codes Task Force proposals enacted into law

include: requirements for commissioning of energy
systems; increased boiler efficiency; standards for
attaching rooftop solar PV panels, standards for mold
prevention, increased lighting efficiency on Construction
sites; and required insulation of pipes exposed during
construction. The 2014 NYC Energy Conservation Code
update was enacted with significant improvements to
energy performance requirements.

Complete the incorporation of

the Green Codes Task Force
proposals into law

Partially
Completed

Propose amendments to the

Zoning Resolution and City
codes to remove the barriers to
energy efficient building
envelopes and the sitting of
clean energy on buildings

Completed

Work with the International

Code Council and ASHRAE to
bring New York Citys codes
and the model codes into
greater alignment

Completed

IMPROVE ENERGY PLANNING

1

Increase planning
and coordination to
promote clean,
reliable, and
affordable energy

In Progress

The City continues to advocate for clean, reliable, and

affordable energy with multiple stakeholder groups, as
part of its 80 x 50 plan to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by 80 percent by 2050 and a 30 percent
reduction in building-based emissions. One City: Built to
Last, released in September 2014, lays out a ten-year
plan that will help New York City reduce citywide energy
use in buildings and promotes the adoption of cleaner
energy and innovative building technologies. Following
the release of One City: Built to Last, the City launched a
technical working group of experts in real estate,
architecture, engineering, and affordable housing to help
inform the direction of future policies.

INCREASE OUR ENERGY EFFICENECY

2

EN ERGY

T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

REDUCE CONGESTION ON OUR ROADS, BRIDGES, AND AT OUR AIRPORTS

Initiative

282

nyc.gov/onenyc

Implement the
Greener, Greater
Buildings Plan

Improve our codes

and regulations to
increase the
sustainability of our
buildings

In Progress

In Progress

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

283

EN ERGY

nyc.gov/onenyc

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Improve compliance
with the energy code
and track green
building
improvements
citywide

In Progress

Through One City: Built to Last, the City has committed to

enhancing Energy Code enforcement by allocating
resources to ensure that requirements are fulfilled both in
the design and construction phase. The City will also
begin a comprehensive effort to track retrofits in private
buildings through a new outreach and technical
assistance program called the Energy and Water Retrofit
Accelerator.

Aim to achieve compliance by

2017

Partially
Completed

Develop a green report card

and an online tracking tool for
green building improvements

Partially
Completed

Through One City: Built to Last, the City allocated funding

to implement new energy efficiency related GreeNYC
campaigns for New Yorkers to reduce residential energy
consumption and develop a strategy to encourage
efficiency upgrades in smaller buildings.

Develop a strategy to increase

the energy efficiency of smaller
buildings

Partially
Completed

Execute GreeNYC public

education campaigns to
encourage New Yorkers to
reduce energy consumption at
home

Completed

Launch an energy efficiency

competition between residential
neighborhoods throughout the
five boroughs

Not Started

The technical working group launched as part of One City:

Built to Last will consider strategies to improve energy
efficiency in historic buildings. The City, in partnership
with the Building Energy Exchange, has also begun
developing a website that will provide comprehensive,
updated information on energy efficiency that will include
information about energy efficiency strategies for historic
buildings.

Work with historic preservation

societies and energy code
councils to reconcile the energy
codes with preservation
requirements

Partially
Completed

Partner to create a handbook

of energy efficiency strategies
for historic buildings

Completed

In One City: Built to Last, the City announced it will create

an Energy and Water Retrofit Accelerator to help building
owners implement energy efficiency projects and navigate
financing and incentive offerings, including products that
are available through the New York City Energy Efficiency
Corporation (NYCEEC). The City will also build out the
Building Energy Exchange as a physical resource center
for energy efficiency strategies and technologies and
create a web portal as a single source of information
about energy efficiency financing, incentives, and other
resources.

Create a not-for-profit
corporation, the New York City
Energy Efficiency Corporation
(NYCEEC), to provide energy
efficiency financing

Completed

Create an information center to

provide comprehensive,
updated information on energy
efficiency funding and tax
incentives

Partially
Completed

Through One City: Built to Last, the City has committed to

upgrading the skills of building staff in both City-owned
and private buildings by offering low or no-cost training in
energy efficiency best practices. These expanded
trainings are expected to reach a total of more than 7,000
building operators and will reach new constituencies,
including building supers and operators who speak
English as a second language.

Work with Amalgamated Green

to ensure that we have a
qualified workforce to
implement our sustainability
policy

Completed

Partner to launch Green Light

New York, an energy efficiency
education center for building
professionals

Completed

Incorporate Energy Code

training into licensing and
continuing education
requirements for electricians

Partially
Completed

Adopt national standards for

energy efficiency professionals

Completed

Develop and implement a

sustainable contractors
designation program for
electricians, plumbers, and
general contractors

Completed

Improve energy
efficiency in smaller
buildings

Improve energy
efficiency in historic
buildings

Provide energy
efficiency financing
and information

Create a 21st century

energy efficiency
workforce

In Progress

In Progress

In Progress

In Progress

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Chapter Initiative
Number

10

284

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Make New York City

a knowledge center
for energy efficiency
and emerging energy
strategies

In Progress

In 2014, the New York City Economic Development

Corporation partnered with New York University to open
the Urban Future Lab, a business incubator in Downtown
Brooklyn that supports startup companies, showcases
innovation, and provides programming focused on
sustainable infrastructure and urban resiliency. The
creation and ongoing operation of the Urban Future Lab is
expected to generate over 9,000 new jobs by 2025. With
the release of One City: Built to Last, the City committed
to creating an Energy and Water Retrofit Accelerator to
help building owners implement energy efficiency projects
and navigate the complex market for energy services and
to engage new communities in developing more energy
efficient and resilient communities. As part of the Retrofit
Accelerator, the City will support the creation of a web
portal for information on energy efficiency. Finally, the City
is working with Broadway theatres, museums, and other
iconic cultural institutions to deepen their commitments to
improving energy efficiency.

Work with an academic partner

to create a world-class energy
efficiency engineering and
building science program

Partially
Completed

Partner with an academic

institution to develop a
standardized energy database
and make this data widely
available

Partially
Completed

Partner with our cultural

institutions to showcase the
best new building strategies

Partially
Completed

With the release of One City: Built to Last, the City

updated the GHG reduction goal for City-owned buildings
to a 35 percent reduction by 2025. As part of this goal,
DCAS has implemented the new Accelerated
Conservation and Efficiency (ACE) competitive capital
program that rigorously evaluates agency-identified
energy projects and provides funding for cost-effective
greenhouse gas reduction projects that agencies
implement using their own contracts. The City continues
to explore opportunities for alternative contracting
vehicles in order to increase our capacity to implement
the most impactful energy efficiency projects across our
diverse building portfolio.

Pursue a variety of
procurement mechanisms for
30 x 17, including Energy
Savings Performance
Contracting

Partially
Completed

Incentivize City agencies to

reduce energy consumption by
improving operations and
maintenance

Partially
Completed

DCAS has implemented the Expenses for Conservation

and Efficiency Leadership (ExCEL) program to provide
competitively-awarded expense funding to support
Agencies energy priorities including the implementation
of energy efficient retrofits, operations and maintenance
measures, training, tools and studies at City agencies.

Create standards and a

handbook for high
performance, green renovations
of typical space types

Partially
Completed

DCAS created a program called the Preventative

Maintenance Collaborative, in partnership with OMB, to
help fund maintenance programs at Agencies to
implement industry best practices, perform regular routine
maintenance on building systems, optimize operations,
save energy and ensure equipment longevity.

Create a board to review new

technologies and pilot them in
City buildings

Partially
Completed

DCAS launched the Innovative Demonstrations for Energy

Adaptability (IDEA) program and designated the Phase 1
to focus on building controls with implementation
complete and monitoring underway. Phase 2 of the IDEA
program is going to focus on energy storage.

Incorporate energy-aligned
lease language in City
government leases, and
promote energy aligned leases
in the private sector

Partially
Completed

New York City government to

pilot net-zero school, a Passive
House project, and a deep
energy retrofit project

Partially
Completed

Continue to support the

University and Hospital
Challenges, and develop
stretch goals

Partially
Completed

Provide energy
efficiency leadership
in City government
buildings and
operations

In Progress

EN ERGY

Chapter Initiative
Number

DCAS has added standard energy-aligned lease language

for all new city leased facilities.
The first net-zero school is currently under construction in
Staten Island by School Construction Authority. DCAS is
exploring additional public buildings to serve as additional
net-zero or Passive House pilot projects.
11

nyc.gov/onenyc

Expand the NYC

Carbon Challenge to
new sectors

In Progress

The NYC Carbon Challenge continues to expand. With

the release of One City: Built to Last, the City committed
to expand the Challenge to new sectors, increase the
number of participants in existing sectors, and encourage
participants to commit to deeper carbon reductions.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

285

Chapter Initiative
Number

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Launch at least two new

Carbon Challenges

Completed

Chapter Initiative
Number

14

PROVIDE CLEANER, MORE RELIABLE, AND AFFORDABLE ENERGY

EN ERGY

13

Support costeffective re-powering

or replacement of our
most inefficient and
costly in-city power
plants

In Progress

Encourage the
development of clean
distributed
generation

In Progress

Partially
Completed

The City continues to work with the New York State

electricity market operator to ensure that the latest
repowering market rules will encourage the entry of
cleaner and more efficient generation sources, and extend
appropriate preferences to renewable power in
recognition of its value in advancing our public policy
goals. The City has provided comments to the FERC in
response to NYISOs application of Buyer-Side mitigation
rules that appear to be disincentivizing entry of new
generation.

Advocate for a wholesale

energy market design that does
not discourage sensible
repowering and new generation
projects

The City installed a 15 MW cogeneration plant at Rikers

Island, which was operational as of January 2015, and a
100 KW fuel cell at City Hall. DEP has led the first of
several advanced contracts related to the installation of a
new 12 MW cogeneration plant at the North River WWTP
and will complete design in 2015. DEP is evaluating the
feasibility of developing cogeneration at the Wards Island
WWTP and, in partnership with DCAS, conducted a
preliminary analysis of cogeneration potential at 26th
Ward Wastewater Treatment Plant. DCAS also completed
a cogeneration feasibility study of Woodhull Hospital. In
June 2014, NYCEDC completed a Smart Grid
demonstration project at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, as
part of the DOEs Smart Grid Demonstration Program
(administered by Con Ed).

Examine the feasibility of

developing clean DG at various
City-owned sites and assets

Completed

Work with utilities and project

developers to streamline
permitting and interconnection
processes and to improve
coordination of electric and gas
distribution planning

Partially
Completed

Advocate for cost-effective

ratepayer-funded incentives to
catalyze clean DG development

Partially
Completed

The NYC Mayors Office of Sustainability (MOS) has

submitted comments to the Public Service Commission
regarding Standard Interconnection Requirement tariffs,
which streamline permitting and utility interconnection
processes for small systems. In particular the City has
called for increasing the threshold from 2 MW to 5 MW,
greater enforcement of interconnection review deadlines,
increased transparency in interconnection costs and
feeder capacities.

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

Foster the market for

renewable energy in
New York City

With the release of One City: Built to Last, the City set a goal
of installing 250 MW of solar PV installations in private
buildings by 2025. As part of this goal, Sustainable CUNY
issued an RFP supported by the Department of Energy for Solar PV installers
to participate in a pilot program to conduct a NYSolar Smart Solarize in
Community Board 6 in Brooklyn. The chosen installer(s) will work with
Sustainable CUNY and partners to form a group purchasing program to drive
community adoption of Solar PV. Building off of this pilot, along with lessons
learned from other solarize campaigns, a broader group purchasing program
will be developed by Sustainable CUNY. An accounting methodology for
solar energy purchased through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was
developed for the NYC Carbon Challenge.

In Progress

Under the leadership of CUNY, the City, NYSERDA, NYPA, NYSIO and the
utilities are working together to expand the NY Solar Map and Portal with
support from the US Department of Energy. An expanded tool is expected to
be launched in September 2015. Through the NYC Solar America Cities
Partnership, NYCEDC continues to work with MOS, Sustainable CUNY, Con
Edison and multiple City and State agencies to develop and pilot innovative
tracking software designed to streamline the permitting process, both
speeding up solar adoption in NYC and reducing the soft costs of
installation.

EN ERGY

12

Initiative

The City has raised barrier issues with NYSERDA as part

of their Clean Energy Fund development and is
developing comments regarding NYS PSC Stand-by
Rate rules that currently create a barrier to expanded DG
development. In addition, DEP and Con Ed have
coordinated on gas distribution pipeline replacement
planning.

With the release of One City: Built to Last, the City has committed to installing
100 MW of solar PV installations on City-owned buildings property by 2025.
So far the City has committed to constructing and interconnecting substantial
solar PV projects at an additional 24 schools by 2016; of which 2 MW at nine
schools is actively in design. Building on the success of the pilot PPA, DCAS
is also developing a large-scale solar PPA. In June 2014, NYCEDC completed
a Smart Grid demonstration project at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, as part of
the DOEs Smart Grid Demonstration Program (administered by Con Ed). The
project includes 100kW of rooftop solar PV and a 170kW VRLA battery.
Under a pilot solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) led by DCAS, 1.8 MW
of solar PV was installed at four sites across the city including two high
schools, a maintenance facility and a wastewater treatment plant, with DEPs
Port Richmond WWTP being the largest solar PV system on City property.
MOS is coordinating efforts among DSNY, DPR, DEC and SunEdison to
develop solar at the Fresh Kills Landfill. The City selected SunEdison to
develop up to 8 MW of solar PV at Fresh Kills landfill, and negotiations are
ongoing to complete that project. This system will be built, owned, and
operated by SunEdison, who will also sell the energy generated to third
parties. DEP has advocated to the NPS to include solar in its Master Plan for
the development of Fountain Avenue Landfill. The City submitted comments
to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in July 2014 supporting
NYPAs application for an offshore wind development proposal of between
350MW and 700 MW, and urging BOEM to act in a manner that ensures the
highest and best use of federal resources, noting a potential conflict with an
offshore LNG proposal. The U.S. Department of Interior has issued a
statement of competitive interest for offshore wind farm applications in
federal waters, and now has an active agency review process under way.
DEP received a license from FERC for the development of a 14 MW
hydroelectric plant at its Cannonsville Dam on May 13, 2014. DEP is starting
the design phase. In addition, a system-wide evaluation of traditional, small,
and micro hydroelectric potential in the water supply, water distribution, and
wastewater systems was completed in November 2013. The report did not
indicate substantial opportunities for additional development. However, DEP
continues to monitor the evolution of innovative micro hydroelectric
technology that may become feasible for implementation. DEP is working
with National Grid to clean up digester gas from the Newtown Creek WWTP
to pipeline quality gas to produce renewable natural gas for sale to
customers. Construction to begin before the end of 2015. Newtown Creek
WWTP will accept food waste to enhance a waste gas to grid project. That
system is expected to be operational in Winter 2015.

The City has submitted comments to the Public Service

Commission supporting the State Reforming Energy
Vision initiative (REV). The goal of REV is to change the
paradigm of central generating facilities as the majority
component of energy generation to include a much
higher component of distributed energy generation
resources to increase grid reliability. In its comments, the
City has made recommendations to enhance the REV
process, the Clean Energy Fund and the Green Bank
development. The City is a member of the REV Market
Design working group.

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Work with stakeholders to

explore ways to pool consumer
purchasing power and demand
for locally produced renewable
energy

Partially
Completed

Work with Energy Service

Companies to conduct
greenhouse gas accounting for
local purchases of Renewable
Energy Credits

Completed

Develop an online solar map

and a solar PV performance
monitoring network to promote
market growth and improve
integration with utility planning

Partially
Completed

Work with Con Edison and

other parties to explore the
development of a one-stop,
centralized website for permit
application and tracking

Partially
Completed

Install small-scale solar PV and

solar thermal projects at
City-owned sites

Partially
Completed

Explore public-private
partnerships to develop utility
scale solar energy projects at
capped municipal landfills

Partially
Completed

Work with state and federal

regulators to support
cost-effective proposals for
both public and private offshore
wind projects that will benefit
New York City

Partially
Completed

Explore the feasibility of

developing small scale
hydroelectric projects at
upstate reservoirs and in water
and wastewater distribution
systems in a cost-effective and
environmentally sensitive
manner

Partially
Completed

Undertake waste-gas-to-grid
and cogeneration projects at
City-owned buildings and
infrastructure sites

Partially
Completed

Reuse as an energy resource

60% of anaerobic digester gas
produced in our wastewater
system by 2017

Partially
Completed

DEP has almost $500 million allocated in its capital improvement plan for
2013-2017 to increase the capture and beneficial use of digester gas from
38% to 58%. DEP is also in design on a 12 MW cogeneration system at the
North River Wastewater Treatment Plant that will use biogas, generated as
byproduct of the wastewater treatment process, as a fuel source.

nyc.gov/onenyc

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286

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

287

Chapter Initiative
Number

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Chapter Initiative
Number

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

Ensure the reliability

of New York City
power delivery

In Progress

In Progress

EN ERGY

16

Encourage
conversion from
highly polluting fuels
by increasing natural
gas transmission and
distribution capacity
and improving
reliability

The New Jersey/New York pipeline was in installed

November 2013. Subject to approval by the Federal
Regulatory Commission, the Williams pipeline is expected
to enter service before the 2015 peak winter gas demand
season. Natural gas development and distribution
regulations and safety standards continue to be reviewed
at the Federal, State and City level. The City will continue
to consider opportunities to safely ensure the supply of
natural gas.

NYSDEC Staff has proposed that IPEC be subject to

forced outages during summer months as an alternative to
a closed cycle cooling system. The City will submit expert
testimony in June, 2015 on the adverse impacts on system
reliability, energy affordability and emissions. The NYS
Department of Environmental Conservation has proposed
denial of a water discharge permit for the Indian Point
power plant. Entergy, the Indian Point owner, has
challenged that decision and agency proceedings on the
challenge are now ongoing at DEC. The City has intervened
in the DEC case and submitted expert testimony to ensure
that critical electric reliability and environmental concerns
are fully considered in the DEC hearing process.
The City is now working with Con Edison to ensure that
necessary transmission system upgrades in the
Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland (PJM) grid territory are
completed and financed in a manner that is equitable to
New York ratepayers. With City support, the ChamplainHudson Power Express transmission line was granted a
certificate of approval by the PSC in 2013, and the relevant
federal permits in late 2014. If built as projected, it would
deliver up to 1000 MW of clean hydropower from Quebec,
Canada to Astoria, Queens by 2018.
DCAS has implemented a new Demand Response
program for municipal facilities, including City University of
New York campuses, and wastewater treatment plants.
The City is on track to increase the number of City
buildings enrolled in the program to shed load during peak
demand events to at least 50 MW by 2018.

17

nyc.gov/onenyc

Develop a smarter
and cleaner electric
utility grid for New
York City

In Progress

DCAS is leading an effort to enable real time electricity

metering capabilities in larger locations participating in
demand response program and continues to work with
utilities to enhance utility hosted metering programs and
initiatives. The City has supported Con Edisons initiatives
to pilot alternative approaches, including utilitydispatchable DG and targeted energy efficiency measures
to meet peak demand growth, in selected networks in lieu
of traditional distribution capacity investments. The City
submitted two proposals, one for private sector and one
for public sector, in response to Con Eds request for
information for their Brooklyn-Queens Demand
Management network. In proceedings at the PSC, the
City has and will continue to advocate for improved
alignment of incentive programs to encourage greater
participation by the citys large energy consumers in
demand management programs.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Work with pipeline developers,

regulators, and community
stakeholders to facilitate the
permitting and development of
appropriately sited natural gas
transmission lines

Partially
Completed

Work with utilities, regulators,

and stakeholders to accelerate
natural gas distribution
upgrades in the areas where
they can have the most impact
in reducing residual fuel usage
and improving air quality

Partially
Completed

Advocate for improved

regulations and safety standards
for natural gas production and
transmission nationwide

Partially
Completed

Support the continued safe

operation and relicensing of the
Indian Point Energy Center

Partially
Completed

Explore more robust

interconnection with
neighboring power systems
such as the Pennsylvania-New
Jersey-Maryland (PJM) grid

Partially
Completed

Continue to evaluate the costs,

benefits, and feasibility of other
transmission line proposals that
could deliver cleaner energy to
New York City

Partially
Completed

Increase ability of City buildings

to shed load during peak
demand periods and
emergency events to 50 MW

Partially
Completed

Lay the foundation for a

smarter grid by deploying an
Energy Enterprise Metering
System (EEMS) in thousands of
City-owned buildings

Partially
Completed

288

Milestone
Status

Explore opportunities to
leverage city wireless
communication assets to assist
utilities in conducting
automated meter reading for
power and gas customers

Partially
Completed

Partner with utilities, the private

sector, and academic
institutions to demonstrate the
viability of virtual generation to
allow buildings to sell energy
curtailment services on
wholesale electricity markets

Partially
Completed

Support Con Edisons efforts to

capitalize on lessons learned in
smart-grid demonstration
projects and to scale up
cost-effective technologies that
will help reduce consumption
or improve grid reliability

Partially
Completed

Work with regulators, utilities,

building owners, and energy
companies to encourage
deeper participation by
commercial and industrial
consumers in market-based
programs to reduce peak
demand

Partially
Completed

Maintain a street-level air

monitoring network to track
neighborhood air quality
differences over time

Partially
Completed

Expand the methods and

pollutants measured to look
more closely at specific types
of emission sources and
exposure settings

Partially
Completed

Reduce the Citys fleet by at

least 5%

Completed

Implement the Clean Fleet

Transition Plan

Partially
Completed

Install over 60 electric vehicle

charging units at City-owned
facilities and garages

Completed

Expand the use of biodiesel in

the Citys fleet

Completed

Complete upgrades of 400

vehicles through existing
Congestion Mitigation and Air
Quality (CMAQ) and other
funding sources

Completed

Install Diesel Particulate Filters

(DPFs) on 685 buses

Completed

UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF THE CHALLENGE

AIR QUALIT Y

15

EN ERGY

MODERNIZE OUR TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

2014 Milestone

Monitor and model

neighborhood-level
air quality

In Progress

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene continued

to monitor criteria air pollutants at 60 core street-level
sites throughout the city. In June 2014, monitoring began
at 15 additional sites in high poverty neighborhoods and
five additional continuous air quality monitors were
deployed. DOHMH published additional air quality reports
including: neighborhood-specific Outdoor Air and
Health reports on its Environment and Health Data
Portal, online charts summarizing trends in levels of
criteria pollutants over 5 years, and three scientific reports
on: spatial variation in noise, health benefits of converting
to cleaner heat fuels and NYC air pollution exposure and
birth weight.

REDUCE TRANSPORTATION EMISSIONS

2

nyc.gov/onenyc

Reduce, replace,
retrofit, and refuel
vehicles

In Progress

The Clean Fleet Transition Plan is now codified fleet policy

as per the rollout of the Fleet Management Manual (FMM)
in October 2013. It requires that all agencies replace
vehicles with equal or more fuel efficient options and that
any departures from that be approved in writing by the
Chief Fleet Officer. The City, through DCAS enforces
CFTP issues all the time, with most replacements
resulting in fuel efficiencies. DCAS continues to add
plug-in and natural gas vehicles to the fleet along with
some right sizing and downsizing.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

289

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Facilitate the
adoption of electric
vehicles

In Progress

DOT is participating in the EV advisory committee, a five

year initiative that commenced in 2014. This committee
will provide an annual report to City Council. In addition,
EDC is exploring the use of the Skyport parking garage as
a potential charging station for multiple fleet vehicles.

Work with Con Edison and auto

manufacturers to streamline the
installation process for home
EV chargers

Completed

Work with parking garage

owners, co-op boards,
consumers, and Con Edison to
ensure that each group
understands the technical and
consumer needs associated
with EV chargers

Partially
Completed

Work with private and

non-profit parties to inform
New Yorkers about the benefits
and use of EVs

Partially
Completed

Work with Congress to pass

legislation to explicitly allow
state and local governments to
incentivize fuel-efficient
vehicles

Partially
Completed

Launch an electric vehicle taxi

pilot program

Completed

In 2014 the City continued working on a campaign to

educate motorists about idling regulations, particularly
near the most sensitive populations schools in areas
with high asthma rates. The Health Departments New
York City Community Health Survey and latest data show
that New York City has the highest asthma rates among
children in the country, and in particular the communities
of East Harlem, and Mott Haven and Hunts Point in the
Bronx, persist in having the highest rates in the city. DEP
has conducted targeted enforcement at more than 88
schools and as a result, idling prohibited signage has
been installed; DEP also works with the NYPD to increase
targeted enforcement where idling problems are identified.
DEP also, through the enforcement responsibilities under
the New York City Air Pollution Code, conducts annual
outreach to all agency fleet directors of the adverse
effects of illegal idling by City fleet vehicles. Additionally,
DEP annually sends idling reminder letters to city schools,
alerting staff and parent organizations of the idling laws.

Improve compliance of existing

anti-idling laws through
targeted enforcement and
education

Completed

DOT has completed upgrades and retrofits on Staten

Island ferries and 20 privately-operated vessels.

Complete engine upgrades on

four Staten Island ferries

Completed

Retrofit 20 private ferry boats

with Diesel Oxidation Catalysts
(DOCs) and repower nine
additional vessels to improve
fuel efficiency

Completed

Work with the State to repeal

the exemption on Petroleum
Business Tax for bunker fuel

Not Started

Work with the Port Authority

and other partners to
implement the actions outlined
in the Clean Air Strategy for the
Port of New York and New
Jersey

Partially
Completed

Install shore-power capability

at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

Partially
Completed

Look for additional

opportunities at other facilities
to connect ships to the citys
grid

Partially
Completed

Reduce emissions
from taxis, black
cars, and for-hire
vehicles

Reduce Illegal Idling

In Progress

Completed

AIR QUALIT Y

Initiative
Status

nyc.gov/onenyc

Retrofit ferries and

promote the use of
cleaner fuels

Work with the Port

Authority to
implement the Clean
Air Strategy for the
Port of New York and
New Jersey

In Progress

In Progress

The Green Taxis Act of 2011 was introduced in 2011

and referred to Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation.

The City continues to work with PANYNJ on the Clean Air

strategy. The new strategy will be released by PANYNJ in
2015. The Brooklyn Cruise Terminals shore power is
estimated to be completed by summer of 2015, with
vessel commissioning in Fall of 2015.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Chapter Initiative
Number

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

In 2011, the City launched the NYC CleanHeat Program,

which provides technical, educational, and financial
assistance to property owners to convert to cleaner fuels
at a faster pace than required by regulation. The program
goal is a 50 percent reduction of fine particulate matter
emissions (PM 2.5) from the use of heavy heating. The
program helped more than 1,000 buildings convert their
heavy heating oil to a cleaner fuel this year, and the City is
working to help all buildings convert their No. 6 oil to a
cleaner fuel by July of 2015.

Launch a program to
encourage and support the
early phase-out of Number 4
and 6 heating oil

Completed

Release Requests for

Proposals to enter into energy
performance contracts for City
schools

Completed

Complete boiler conversions at

15 schools

Completed

REDUCE EMISSIONS FROM BUILDINGS

8

AIR QUALIT Y

Initiative

Promote the use of

cleaner-burning
heating fuels

Completed

UPDATE CODES AND STANDARDS

9

Update our codes

and regulations to
improve indoor air
quality

In Progress

Local Law 72 mandates minimum filtration requirements

for mechanical ventilation systems in buildings. Local Law
72 established limits on volatile organic compounds in
carpet and carpet cushion in the city. Title 15 of the NYC
Rules removes obstacles to asbestos removal.

Propose regulations to reduce

exposure to toxins released by
building materials

Completed

10

Update our air quality

code

Completed

The City completed a revised draft update of the Air

Pollution Control Code, which addresses currently
unregulated sources such as cooking emissions, and
continued to engage stakeholders and city agencies to
discuss the potential changes to the Code. The revised
draft code was completed in 2014 and sent to City Council.

Update the NYC Air Code

Completed

Water fountains designed to accommodate reusable

bottles are currently being tested for deployment. In 2014,
DSNY and GreeNYC launched a Stop Junk Mail
campaign to encourage New Yorkers to reduce the
number of catalogs and other junk mail they receive and
request paperless service for most household bills. In
2014, our partner organizations diverted more than 16
million pounds of material from the waste stream,
contributing to a reduction of more than 10,000 metric
tons of greenhouse gas emissions and an energy savings
of 150 billion BTUs.

Install redesigned drinking

fountains in public spaces and
parks to encourage adoption of
reusable water bottles

Partially
Completed

Implement public education

campaigns to reduce litter,
encourage switching to
reusable bags and reusable
water bottles for tap water, and
to encourage New Yorkers to
reduce paper consumption

Partially
Completed

GreeNYC partnered with GrowNYC to promote the use of

reusable bags at all greenmarkets through signage,
pledges and distribution of reusable bags. In 2013, DSNY
and Housing Works partnered to launch re-fashioNYC, a
textile recycling program for buildings with 10 or more
units that benefits Housing Works, an NYC-based
non-profit organization. As of January 2015, more than
500 buildings in all five boroughs participated in
re-fashioNYC, and another 500 buildings had applied to
join the program. In 2014, DSNY and GrowNYC partnered
to host 59 Stop N Swap events, one per community
district. DSNY has continued to support ReuseNYC and
the NYC Center for Materials Reuse, which promotes
innovation in materials reuse.

Implement public education

campaign and leverage online
platforms to encourage and
increase reuse of materials

Completed

Encourage businesses,
institutions, and individuals to
reuse materials

Completed

Encourage businesses to
recycle, and use recyclable and
recycled materials through
corporate challenges,
partnerships, or recognition
programs

Partially
Completed

Improve access to residential

waste generation and diversion
rate data

Completed

Implement new residential

recycling penalties

Not Started

REDUCE WASTE BY NOT GENERATING IT

1

Increase the reuse of

materials

In Progress

Completed

INCREASE THE RECOVERY OF RESOURCES FROM THE WASTE STREAM

3

290

Promote waste
prevention
opportunities

SOLID WAST E

Chapter Initiative
Number

nyc.gov/onenyc

Incentivize recycling

In Progress

DSNY has a number of programs in place to help

incentivize recycling including expansion of public
recycling bins and revising commercial recycling rules to
simplify recycling for businesses.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

291

SOLID WAST E

nyc.gov/onenyc

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Improve the
convenience and
ease of recycling

In Progress

In 2014, DSNY increased the number of public space

recycling baskets to more than 3,000 across the City.
DSNY is prioritizing neighborhoods with historically low
diversion rates for the placement of new public space
recycling baskets to increase public awareness about
recycling in those neighborhoods. On January 1, 2015,
DSNY issued a determination that expanded polystyrene
foam, commonly known as styrofoam, is not recyclable
in the Citys metal, glass, and plastic recycling program.
As of July 1, 2015, foam food-service products and
packing peanuts will be banned in New York City,
eliminating this non-recyclable product from the waste
stream. DSNY and the Department of Small Business
Services will conduct outreach to small businesses to
help them find affordable and sustainable alternative
products. Removing non-recyclable materials from the
waste stream makes recycling simpler and more
streamlined.

Increase recycling in public

spaces and parks

Partially
Completed

Expand recycling education

programs

Partially
Completed

As part of the New York City Building Code update

passed on December 30, 2013, a provision was added
through Local Law 141 of 2013 that increases the
proportion of alternative cementitious material to Portland
cement in concrete exposed to deicing chemicals from 25
percent to 35 percent for a single alternative material. For
multiple alternative materials, the total amount must not
exceed 50 percent.

Require use of recycled content

in building materials

Completed

Require recycling of building

materials

Partially
Completed

DSNY has expanded the curbside organics collection

program to service more than 100,000 households, 700
schools, and several agencies and institutions. In Spring
2015, DSNY is adding an additional 40,000 households.
DSNY continues to support the expansion of community
compost sites and food waste drop-off sites in all five
boroughs, giving New Yorkers the opportunity to compost
in their neighborhoods. DEP is continually looking for
opportunities to recover energy from its biosolids in a
fiscally responsible manner. Although we have contracts
to beneficially use approximately 30 percent of the
biosolids the City produces, the vendors compost facility
has run into some regulatory problems. As such, no
biosolids are currently being reused beneficially. It is
expected that the beneficial reuse contractor will resolve
their regulatory problems in 2015 and beneficial use can
resume. Pilot program to take in food waste from schools
and process it into a bioslurry for anaerobic digestion at
the Newtown Creek WWTP were completed in May 2014.
Construction for a 250 tons per day system is beginning
in 2015.

Expand opportunities for

communities to compost food
waste

Partially
Completed

Expand leaf and yard waste

composting

Partially
Completed

Complete the curbside

organics feasibility study

Partially
Completed

Implement a public-private
textiles recycling program in
every borough

Completed

Encourage use of new

technologies to increase
recovery of commercial food
waste

Partially
Completed

Encourage in-city opportunities

to recover yellow grease and
convert it to biofuel

Partially
Completed

Pursue opportunities to
beneficially use biosolids

Partially
Completed

DOTs use of road renovation spoils (RAP) increased with

the rebuilding of the Brooklyn Municipal asphalt plant.
DOT increase RAP use to 50 percent from 40 percent at
the Brooklyn facility, which supplies half of DOTs asphalt
need. DSNY continues to explore and identify additional
markets for recycled materials.

Explore expansion of
designated plastics

Completed

Promote beneficial use of

dredge and road renovation
spoils

Partially
Completed

Proposals were received to develop a conversion

technology facility to dispose of waste. The RFP was
cancelled in 2014 because none of the proposals were
cost-effective, there were also siting concerns raised by
elected officials and residents.

Solicit proposals to develop

conversion technology facilities
to dispose of waste

Cancelled

Revise City codes

and regulations to
reduce construction
and demolition waste

Create additional
opportunities to
recover organic
material

Identify additional
markets for recycled
materials

Pilot conversion
technologies

In Progress

In Progress

In Progress

Cancelled

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Chapter Initiative
Number

Initiative
Status

Reduce the impact of

the waste system on
communities

In Progress

Partially
Completed

292

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

With the construction of the Sims recycling facility at the

South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, DSNY expanded the
Citys metal, glass, and plastic recycling program to include
all rigid plastics. This change has contributed to an
increase in curbside diversion rates from 14.7 percent in
the first four months of FY14 to 15.3 percent in the same
period in FY15. After a year of operation, the North Shore
MTS will begin accepting commercial waste in limited
quantities. Investments in railroad development and rail
access at transfer stations in the Bronx, Queens, and
Brooklyn have created opportunities for those communities
to export some commercial waste in sealed railcars.

Achieve significant progress

toward completion of the
Hamilton (Brooklyn) and North
Shore (Queens) Marine Transfer
Stations

Completed

Open the Sims recycling facility

Completed

Promote export of commercial

waste by barge and rail

Partially
Completed

DSNY and BIC are working together to simplify

commercial recycling rules and streamline the data
submission process for carters and transfer stations.
DSNY has also published the 2012 Commercial Waste
System study and continues to explore opportunities to
improve NYCs commercial waste system.

Complete the Comprehensive

Commercial Waste System
Study and implement
recommendations

Completed

Improve access to commercial

carter information and disposal
practices

Partially
Completed

On January 1, 2015, a state law banning the curbside

disposal of electronic waste took effect. DSNY has
engaged in extensive public education and outreach to
help New Yorkers comply with this law, including issuing
warnings to residents who improperly set out electronics
for curbside collection. In April 2015, DSNY established a
rule allowing Sanitation Officers and Enforcement agents
to issue tickets to residents for improper disposal of
electronic waste. As of April 2015, more than 4,000
buildings in all five boroughs have applied to participate in
e-cycleNYC, an electronics recycling program DSNY
created in partnership with Electronics Recycling
International for buildings with 10 or more units. More
than 900 of those buildings currently participate, and
DSNY is working with GrowNYC to bring additional
buildings into the program. New Yorkers can also recycle
electronic waste at more than 95 drop-off locations
citywide. DSNY has opened a new Household Hazardous
Waste Site in Manhattan and extended hours at sites in all
five boroughs. In 2015, DSNY will expand the number of
SAFE Disposal events to 10 from 5 in each borough. In
2014, New Yorkers brought nearly 700,000 pounds of
electronics, pharmaceuticals, and household hazardous
waste to SAFE Disposal events for proper recycling,
handling, and disposal. DSNY continues to support
programs and policies that encourage extended producer
responsibility of hazardous and toxic products. In 2015,
DSNY established new rules that allow the Department to
bill the manufacturers of CFC-containing items for the
cost of refrigerant recovery.

Expand Household Hazardous

Waste collection program

Completed

Enhance the publics access to

information about and
participation in the NYS
e-waste program

Partially
Completed

Promote product stewardship

programs for high toxicity
products

Partially
Completed

Develop best practices that

address solid waste reduction
for procurement and
incorporate into
Environmentally Preferable
Purchasing

Partially
Completed

Incentivize city vendors to

recover and reuse products

Not Started

IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

9

Require new residential

buildings to provide space for
recycling

Initiative

10

11

Improve commercial
solid waste
management data

Remove toxic
materials from the
general waste stream

In Progress

In Progress

SOLID WAST E

Chapter Initiative
Number

REDUCE THE CITY GOVERNMENTS SOLID WASTE FOOTPRINT

12

nyc.gov/onenyc

Revise City
government
procurement
practices

In Progress

Continue to research procurement best practices to

reduce solid waste.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

293

Chapter Initiative
Number

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Improve the City

governments
diversion rate

Completed

DSNY has expanded curbside organics collection to

service more than 700 schools and many agencies and
other institutions. Waste from New York City schools is
comprised of 40 percent paper, 40 percent organic
material, 10 percent metal, glass, and plastic, and 10%
other items, making them ideal candidates for intensive
recycling programs. DSNY has partnered with DOE to
launch the Zero Waste Schools initiative to make targeted
investments in staff training, student curriculum, and
recycling infrastructure with the goal of zero waste from
participating schools sent to landfills. DSNY has also
partnered with the New York City Housing Authority to
develop an aggressive plan to bring all NYCHA
developments into compliance with the Citys recycling
laws over the next five years. In 2015, NYCHA will invest
$15 million to create new recycling centers and will train
residents and staff on the importance of proper recycling.

Improve quality of and access

to City government solid waste
generation data

Completed

Develop pilot at targeted City

buildings to measure diversion
rate

Completed

Ensure all DOE schools have

sustainability plans (including
recycling) and designate a
sustainability coordinator

Completed

Sponsor packaging contest

with design schools and
corporate sponsors for
products with high city agency
consumption

Completed

The City released its most recent annual inventory of

greenhouse gas emissions in November 2014,
demonstrating a 19 percent decrease in emissions.

Expand GHG inventory to

include neighborhood level
analysis and reporting

Completed

The City has adopted a goal to reduce greenhouse gas

emissions 80% by 2050.

Complete study to determine

strategies to reduce citywide
GHG emissions by 80% below
2005 levels by 2050

Completed

SOLID WAST E

13

Initiative

Chapter Initiative
Number

In Progress

Assess opportunities
to further reduce
greenhouse gas
emissions by 80% by
2050

In Progress

C L I M AT E C H A N G E

ASSESS VULNERABILITIES AND RISKS FROM CLIMATE CHANGE

3

Regularly assess
climate change
projections

In Progress

The City continues to assess climate change projections

on a regular basis. For further updates on this initiative,
refer to the Citys resiliency program updates.

Institutionalize New York City

Panel on Climate Change
(NPCC) and establish process
to regularly update its climate
projections

Completed

Partner with the

Federal Emergency
Management Agency
(FEMA) to update
Flood Insurance Rate
Maps

In Progress

The City continues to partner with FEMA to update the

Citys flood insurance rate maps. For further updates on
this initiative, refer to the Citys resiliency program
updates.

Release draft updated Digital

Flood Insurance Rate Maps
(DFIRMS) for public comment

Completed

Develop tools to
measure the citys
current and future
climate exposure

In Progress

The City continues to develop tools to measure the citys

current and future climate exposure. For further updates
on this initiative, refer to the Citys resiliency program
updates.

Develop a climate risk

assessment tool

Completed

Develop an updated digital

elevation model using LiDAR
data to promote more accurate
sea level rise modeling

Completed

Launch effort to develop

publicly-available projected
flood maps that incorporate
sea level rise projections for
planning purposes

Completed

nyc.gov/onenyc

Update regulations to
increase the
resilience of buildings

In Progress

The City has updated regulations to increase the

resiliency of buildings. For further updates on this
initiative, refer to the Citys resiliency program updates.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Completed

Pursue amendments to
freeboard requirements to
require freeboard for wider
range of buildings to account
for climate change projections

Completed

294

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Incorporate consideration of
climate change within the
policies of the Citys Waterfront
Revitalization Program (WRP)

Completed

Launch study of effects of

rising water tables, inland
flooding, wind, and extreme
heat events on buildings

Completed

In Progress

The City continues to work with the insurance industry to

develop strategies to encourage the use of flood
protections in buildings. For further updates on this
initiative, refer to the Citys resiliency program updates.

Explore measures to promote

flood protection in areas that
may be subject to flooding
based on climate change

Completed

Protect New York

Citys critical
infrastructure

In Progress

The City continues to work to protect the citys critical

infrastructure. For further updates on this initiative, refer to
the Citys resiliency program updates..

Complete Climate Change

Adaptation Task Force
assessment and report and
begin to implement its
recommendations

Completed

Maintain the Climate Change

Adaptation Task Force with an
expanded focus on public
health and safety services

Partially
Completed

Assess the opportunities for the

incorporation of climate change
projections into design
specifications and standards
for critical infrastructure

Completed

Develop an inventory of best

practices for enhancing climate
resilience in coastal areas

Completed

Coordinate with academic

institutions, scientists,
engineers, and designers to
develop pilot projects to test
potential strategies and
evaluate their costs and
benefits

Completed

Coat an additional two million

square feet of cool roofs

Completed

Pursue a cool roof requirement

for existing buildings

Completed

Work with neighborhoods most

impacted by the urban heat
island effect to develop and
implement community-specific
strategies

Completed

Complete study on the impact

of climate change on public
health

Completed

Identify and evaluate

citywide coastal
protective measures

In Progress

The City continues to identify, evaluate, and implement

citywide coastal protection measures. For further updates
on this initiative, refer to the Citys resiliency program
updates.

PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH FROM THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

11

Conduct study of the urban

design implications of
enhanced flood protection for
buildings

Initiative Status Description

Work with the

insurance industry to
develop strategies to
encourage the use of
flood protections in
buildings

10

INCREASE THE RESILIENCE OF THE CITYS BUILT AND NATURAL ENVIROMENT

6

C L I M AT E C H A N G E

Release an annual
inventory of
greenhouse gas
emissions

Initiative
Status

REDUCE AND TRACK GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

1

Initiative

nyc.gov/onenyc

Mitigate the urban

heat island effect

Enhance our
understanding of the
impacts of climate
change on public
health

In Progress

In Progress

The City continues to mitigate the urban heat island

effect. For further updates on this initiative, refer to the
Citys resiliency program updates.

The City continues to enhance its understanding of the

impacts of climate change on public health. For further
updates on this initiative, refer to the Citys resiliency
program updates.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

295

Chapter Initiative
Number

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Integrate climate change

projections into the Citys
emergency management and
preparedness plans and
procedures

Completed

Launch a process to include

climate change as a hazard
assessed under the Natural
Hazard Mitigation Plan

Completed

INCREASE CITYS PREPAREDNESS FOR EXTREME CLIMATE EVENTS

C L I M AT E C H A N G E

12

Integrate climate
change projections
into emergency
management and
preparedness

In Progress

The City continues to integrate climate change projections

into emergency management and preparedness. For
further updates on this initiative, refer to the Citys
resiliency program updates.

CREATE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THOUGH PUBLIC INFORMATION AND OUTREACH

13

nyc.gov/onenyc

Work with
communities to
increase their climate
resilience

In Progress

The City continues to work with communities to increase

their climate resiliency. For further updates on this
initiative, refer to the Citys resiliency program updates.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Ensure that outreach efforts

target appropriate communities
and provide up-to-date climate
risk information

Completed

Improve the access to

publicly-available data on the
locations of hazardous material
storage in flood zones
throughout the city

Completed

296

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297

Chapter Initiative
No.

2013 Resiliency
Initiatives

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

C L I M AT E A N A LY S I S

STRENGTHEN THE QUALITY OF AVAILABLE CLIMATE ANALYSIS

1

Work with FEMA to improve

the flood-mapping process

In Progress

The City continues to work with FEMA to improve the flood

mapping process and provided expert analysis in FEMAs most
recent release of Preliminary FIRMs. The first Technical Mapping
Advisory Council meeting, on which the City sits, was held in
September 2014. The next one will be held in May 2015.

Implement
technical and
process
improvements

Completed

Work with FEMA to improve

the communication of current
flood risks

In Progress

The City has partnered with the Center For New York City
Neighborhoods (CNYCN) on its interactive webtool (floodhelpny.
org), which was launched in September 2014. Additionally, the
City is conducting a consumer education campaign and
developing tools for explaining flood risk and the changes that
are coming to the maps and insurance programs. Finally, the
City continues to advise FEMA on its local flood risk messaging
and online tools.

Launch a new
interactive tool

Completed

Call on the State and Federal

governments to coordinate
with the City on local climate
change projections

Completed

NOAA and the USACE have agreed to incorporate the most

recent NPCC projections into their climate models.

Obtain Federal
agreement to rely
on NPCC

Completed

Continue to refine local

climate change projections to
inform decision-making

Completed

The City released expanded NPCC projections to include

humidity and new projections through 2100. NPCC3 will focus
on the following: enhancing coordination across the entire New
York metropolitan region, looking at a neighborhood scale, and
studying the interactions of mitigation, adaptation, and equity.

Issue expanded
NPCC
projections;
release
evaluation metric
for climate
change

Completed

Explore improved
approaches for mapping
future flood risks,
incorporating sea level rise

In Progress

The City, with Stevens Institute of Technology, has completed its

study of Sea Level Rise mapping, which was incorporated into
the NPCCs most recent report. NPCC has also developed
future flood maps to show the projected floodplains.

Develop revised
future flood maps

Completed

Launch a pilot program to

identify and test strategies for
protecting vulnerable
neighborhoods from extreme
heat health impacts

In Progress

The City, in partnership with the Nature Conservancy, has

launched a new urban heat island working group to develop
new monitoring methods and tools for mitigating heat risk.

Launch pilot
program

Partially
Completed

C O A S TA L P R O T E C T I O N

INCREASE COASTAL EDGE ELEVATIONS

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

298

Continue to work with the

USACE to complete
emergency beach
nourishment in Coney Island

Completed

Over 600,000 cubic yards of sand have been placed on Coney

Island.

Complete beach
nourishment
projects

Completed

Continue to work with the

USACE to complete
emergency beach
nourishment on the
Rockaway Peninsula

Completed

Over 3,500,000 cubic yards of sand have been placed on the

Rockaway Peninsula.

Complete beach
nourishment
projects

Completed

Complete short-term beach

nourishment, dune
construction, and shoreline
protection on Staten Island

Completed

Over 26,000 linear feet of shoreline protection and reinforced

dunes have been installed on Staten Island. Additional
reinforced dune projects are expected to be installed in
Tottenville with State funds.

Complete beach
nourishment and
related projects

Completed

Install armor stone shoreline

protection(revetments) in
Coney Island

In Progress

The City launched a feasibility study that will generate specific

recommendations for investments in shoreline protection along
Coney Island Creek. The study is expected be finished in
December 2015, leading to design and construction, with over
$30 million in funds already available.

Begin design

Partially
Completed

Install armor stone shoreline

protection (revetments) on
Staten Island

In Progress

The City launched a citywide assessment of low-lying shorelines

that will generate specific recommendations for investments in
shoreline protection along the South Shore of Staten Island. The
assessment is expected to be finished in December 2015,
leading to design and construction, with over $30 million in
funds already available. This work will be coordinated with other
Federal and State investments underway on the South Shore.

Begin design

Partially
Completed

nyc.gov/onenyc

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299

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Raise bulkheads in low-lying

neighborhoods across the
city to minimize inland tidal
flooding

In Progress

The City launched a citywide assessment of low-lying shorelines

that will generate specific recommendations for investments in
shoreline protection across the city. The assessment is
expected to be finished in December 2015, leading to design
and construction, with approximately $40 million in funds
already available.

Launch study of
low-lying
neighborhoods;
begin selected
implementation

Partially
Completed

Complete emergency
bulkhead repairs adjacent to
the Belt Parkway in Southern
Brooklyn

Completed

Emergency repairs were completed in 2013.

Complete
bulkhead repairs

Completed

Complete bulkhead repairs

and roadway drainage
improvements adjacent to
Beach Channel Drive on the
Rockaway Peninsula

In Progress

Construction of all bulkhead repairs and related drainage

improvements is expected by Summer 2015.

Complete
bulkhead repairs
and related
drainage
improvements

Partially
Completed

Continue to work with the

USACE to complete
emergency floodgate repairs
at Oakwood Beach, Staten
Island

Completed

Emergency floodgate repairs were completed.

Complete
floodgate repairs

Completed

Complete tide gate repair

study at Flushing Meadows
Corona Park, Queens

In Progress

10

The City expects to receive approximately $5 million in FEMA

funds for this initiative and will launch the tide gate repair study
upon approval by FEMA.

Study tide gate

repairs

Partially
Completed

The City continues to work with the USACE on its Rockaway

Reformulation Study. Investment options on the beach and in
Jamaica Bay are currently being evaluated, with final selection
of preferred alternatives expected in 2015. Design and
construction will follow, with Federal funds already available.

Begin study of
flood risk
reduction
projects;
complete
identified
short- term dune
improvements

Completed

Begin study

Partially
Completed

C O A S TA L P R O T E C T I O N

MINIMIZE UPLAND WAVE ZONES

11

Continue to work with the

USACE to complete existing
studies of the Rockaway
Peninsula and implement
coastal protection projects

In Progress

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

17

Complete living shorelines

and floating breakwaters for
wave attenuation in Brant
Point, Queens

In Progress

The City, through DEP, has completed the installation of a

floating wave attenuator adjacent to a tidal wetland at Brant
Point, Queens as part of a five-month study to evaluate the
attenuation of wave energy against the wetland edge and
accretion of sediment.

Complete
construction

Completed

18

Continue to work with the

USACE to complete its Sea
Gate project in Southern
Brooklyn

In Progress

Construction is underway and is expected to be completed in

2015.

Complete
construction

Partially
Completed

PROTECT AGAINST STORM SURGE

19

Install an integrated flood

protection system in Hunts
Point

In Progress

The City was awarded $20 million through HUDs Rebuild by

Design program for continued design and implementation of a
pilot project, and the City subsequently allocated an additional
$25 million to the project. The City is coordinating these
investments with other City-funded projects and will launch the
next phase of design and implementation in 2015.

Begin design

Completed

20

Install an integrated flood

protection system in East
Harlem

In Progress

The City has allocated $1 million to begin planning and

preliminary design for this project, which will begin in 2015.

Begin design

Not
Completed

21

Install an integrated flood

protection system in Lower
Manhattan, including the
Lower East Side

In Progress

The City was awarded $335 million through HUDs Rebuild by

Design program for continued design and implementation of the
project, which is currently in design north of Montgomery Street.
A final conceptual design is expected to be completed in 2015,
with a goal of starting construction in 2017. The City and State
also allocated $6.75 million in additional funds to begin design
south of Montgomery Street, including funds for implementing
an $8 million in City funds for first-phase investment in Battery
Park. The City continues to pursue additional funds for this
project.

Begin design

Completed

22

Install an integrated flood

protection system at Hospital
Row

In Progress

The City is no longer pursuing an integrated flood protection

system for Hospital Row. In its place, the three primary hospitals
between 23rd Street and 34th Street are investing in higher
levels of flood protection and storm hardening measures, and
has secured hundreds of millions in FEMA funds at Bellevue
Hospital alone.

Launch
competition;
begin design

Completed

23

Install an integrated flood

protection system in Red
Hook

In Progress

The City and State have each committed $50 million for an
integrated flood protection system in Red Hook. The City has
released an RFP for design services and expects to begin
design in 2015.

Begin design

Partially
Completed

Call on and work with the

USACE to study and install
primary and secondary dune
systems in vulnerable
Rockaway Peninsula
neighborhoods (such as
Breezy Point)

In Progress

13

Call on and work with the

USACE to study and install
offshore breakwaters
adjacent to and south of
Great Kills Harbor

In Progress

In partnership with the City, the State has launched a study to

evaluate offshore breakwater designs in Great Kills. The study is
currently underway and anticipated to be completed in 2015.

Begin study

Completed

24

Continue to work with the

USACE to complete existing
studies on Staten Island and
implement coastal protection
projects

In Progress

The USACE is now expected to complete its draft feasibility

study for Phase 1 in May 2015, with a goal of starting
construction in 2017. The City has committed $50 million in
local matching funds for the project and expects to hear the
results of the USACE Phase 2 feasibility study in 2015.

Complete study

Partially
Completed

14

Call on and work with the

USACE to study and install
wetlands for wave
attenuation in Howard Beach
and to study further flood
protection improvements
within Jamaica Bay

In Progress

Design is already underway for wetlands and wave attenuation

investments in Howard Beach at Spring Creek and in Broad
Channel at Sunset Cove, with funds already available for
construction.

Begin study

Completed

25

Continue to work with Con

Edison to protect the
Farragut substation

In Progress

Through a settlement with ConEd, the State, and the City,

ConEd is investing in storm hardening at critical substations
across the city, as part of its $1 billion storm hardening program.

File comments
on rate case

Completed

26

Call on and work with the

USACE to study and install
local storm surge barriers at
Newtown Creek

In Progress

The City has launched a feasibility study for a Newtown Creek

local storm surge barrier.

Begin study

Completed

15

Call on and work with the

USACE to study and install
living shorelines for wave
attenuation in Tottenville

In Progress

The State was awarded $60 million through HUDs Rebuild by

Design program for implementation of the project.

Begin study

Completed

16

Continue to work with the

USACE to complete its
Plumb Beach breakwater and
beach nourishment project in
Southern Brooklyn

Completed

In partnership with DPR, the project was completed by the

USACE in 2014.

Complete
construction

Completed

12

nyc.gov/onenyc

The City expects to receive approximately $58 million in FEMA

funds for this initiative and will launch the dune system design
study upon approval by FEMA.

Chapter Initiative
No.

C O A S TA L P R O T E C T I O N

Chapter Initiative
No.

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

301

Chapter Initiative
No.

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

The USACE released its North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive

Study in January 2015. The City is now working with the USACE
to launch a new feasibility study for NY Harbor and its
tributaries, with the expectation that it will result in projects
ready for authorization by Congress.

Complete draft
study,
recommending
projects ready for
authorization by
Congress

Completed

Chapter Initiative
No.

Continue to work with the

USACE to complete its
comprehensive flood
protection study of New York
Harbor

Completed

28

Implement the WAVES Action

Agenda

In Progress

All of the recommendations from the Waves Action Agenda

have been completed or reconsidered.

Complete
scheduled
projects

Completed

29

Implement citywide
waterfront inspections to
better manage the Citys
waterfront and coastal assets

In Progress

The City has allocated funds to update its portfolio of waterfront

assets within its Waterfront Facilities Maintenance Management
System and is revising its Inspection Guidelines Manual to
better account for new coastal protection assets.

Implement
program

Partially
Completed

30

Study design guidelines for

waterfront and coastal assets
to better mitigate the effects
of flooding

In Progress

The City, through DPR, has launched a study to evaluate

resiliency design guidelines for waterfront and coastal
structures. This study will be completed in 2015.

Complete study

Partially
Completed

31

Evaluate soft infrastructure as

flood protection and study
innovative coastal protection
techniques

In Progress

In partnership with the City, the State has completed and

released a study to evaluate the effectiveness of natural and
nature-based infrastructure. The City continues to work closely
with State and Federal agencies to advance natural and
nature-based features as part of its coastal protection initiatives,
and the City, in partnership with NPS, has launched a CUNY-led
Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay to research
innovative resiliency measures.

Partner with the

planned Jamaica
Bay Science and
Resilience Center
and others to
begin studies

Completed

C O A S TA L P R O T E C T I O N

27

32

Evaluate the citys

vulnerability to drainage pipe
flooding and identify
appropriate solutions to
minimize those risks

In Progress

This work will occur as a regular part of all of the Citys coastal
protection projects.

Complete study
as part of other
coastal
protection
projects

Completed

33

Evaluate strategies to fund

wetland restoration and
explore the feasibility of
wetland mitigation banking
structures

In Progress

The City has allocated funds for the construction of wetland

restoration in Saw Mill Creek as part of a pending mitigation
banking program. Construction is expected to begin in 2015.

Complete study
of mitigation
banking

Completed

34

Work with agency partners to

improve the in-water
permitting process

In Progress

The City, through NYCEDC, is gathering information on all

relevant waterfront permit processes from federal, state and
local regulatory partners and is in the early stages of website
design that will make permitting more predictable.

Launch website

Partially
Completed

35

Enhance waterfront
construction oversight by
strengthening the Citys
waterfront permit and
dockmaster units

In Progress

Additional personnel have been added to the Waterfront Permit

Unit and new procedures have improved the permit filing
process. The City continues to explore methods to enhance
waterfront permitting.

Explore options
to enhance
waterfront
permitting and
dockmaster
function

Completed

Identify a lead entity for

overseeing the collaboration
on the USACE
comprehensive study and for
overseeing the
implementation of coastal
flood protection projects

Completed

The Office of Recovery and Resiliency (ORR) has been

designated as the lead entity for the Citys coastal protection
initiatives.

Identity lead
entity

Completed

Call on and work with the

USACE and FEMA to
collaborate more closely on
flood protection project
standards

In Progress

The City has convened FEMA and USACE to ensure that

projects are coordinated.

Identify risk
reduction
standards

Completed

36

37

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302

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

STRENGTHEN NEW AND SUBSTANTIALLY REBUILT STRUCTURES TO MEET THE

HIGHEST RESILIENCY STANDARDS MOVING FORWARD

BUILDINGS

IMPROVE COASTAL DESIGN AND GOVERNANCE

Initiative

Improve regulations for flood

resiliency of new and
substantially improved
buildings in the 100-year
floodplain

In Progress

The City has adopted changes to the zoning code, including a

new Flood Resilience Zoning Text Amendment. This action
clarified building and mechanical equipment elevation and
measurement, freeboard, alternative uses of ground floor space,
and parking issues; these zoning text changes are now in effect.
Sixteen updates were made to the building code, including
Local Law 83, which is designed to prevent the backflow of
sewage; Local Law 96, regarding the adoption of best available
flood maps; and Local Law 99, which allows the elevation of
certain building systems in flood-prone areas including
telecommunications cabling and fuel storage tanks.

Adopt changes
to Construction
Codes and
zoning

Completed

Rebuild and repair housing

units destroyed and
substantially damaged by
Sandy

In Progress

As of April 2015, the Mayors Office of Housing Recovery

Operations (HRO), through its Build it Back program, has made
over 9,200 offers to homeowners, started construction on 1,159
homes, and granted 3,298 reimbursement checks amounting to
over $60 million. As part of the Build it Back multifamily
program, run jointly with HPD, HPD has provided over $24
million in repairs and reimbursements to multifamily buildings,
benefiting over 6,400 households. HRO is quadrupling its
design and construction capacity in 2015 and has introduced a
number of new initiatives, including temporary rental assistance
to homeowners in construction, to assist applicants.

Disburse funds
to rebuild and
repair 500
buildings

Completed

Study and implement zoning

changes to encourage
retrofits of existing buildings
and construction of new
resilient buildings in the
100-year floodplain

In Progress

The City launched 10 land use resiliency studies (Harding Park,

Edgewater Park, West Chelsea, East Village/Lower East Side/
Two Bridges, Canarsie, Gerritsen Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Old
Howard Beach/Hamilton Beach/Broad Channel, Rockaway
Beach/Rockaway Park, Staten Island East Shore). Additionally,
the City released a report Retrofitting Buildings for Flood Risk to
offer guidance to building owners that are making resiliency
investments.

Begin studies for

5-10
neighborhoods
and citywide
strategies

Completed

Launch a competition to
encourage development of
new, cost-effective housing
types to replace vulnerable
stock

In Progress

The City is no longer pursuing this competition. In its place,

HPD has developed prototypes for new cost-effective housing
to replace vulnerable structures.

Launch and
award Phase I of
competition and
launch Phase II

Completed

Work with New York State to

identify eligible communities
for the New York Smart
Home Buyout Program

In Progress

The City continues to coordinate with the State on its buyout

program in Oakwood Beach, Ocean Breeze, and Graham
Beach.

Identify all
projects and
complete
transactions

Partially
Completed

Amend the Building Code

and complete studies to
improve wind resiliency for
new and substantially
improved buildings

In Progress

The City amended its building code to clarify current

wind-resistance specifications for faade elements and expects
to launch a wind study in 2015.

Implement initial
Building Code
changes

Completed

RETROFIT AS MANY BUILDINGS AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THEY WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY

MORE RESILIENT THAN THEY ARE TODAY
7

Encourage existing buildings

in the 100-year floodplain to
adopt flood resiliency
measures through an
incentive program and
targeted requirements

In Progress

The City released a report Retrofitting Buildings for Flood Risk

to offer guidance to building owners that are making resiliency
investments. The City continues to seek funding for a building
resiliency incentive program.

Implement code
changes and
launch incentive
program

Partially
Completed

Establish Community Design

Centers to assist property
owners in developing design
solutions for reconstruction
and retrofitting, and connect
them to available City
programs

Completed

In 2014, the City, in collaboration with Pratt University and other

local partners, held a series of events in the Rockaways,
Brighton Beach, Coney Island, Staten Island, and Canarsie to
assist property owners in developing design solutions for
reconstruction and retrofitting, insurance issues and provide an
opportunity to connect with other related City programs.

Launch centers
in targeted
neighborhoods

Completed

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BUILDINGS

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Retrofit public housing units

damaged by Sandy and
increase future resiliency

In Progress

NYCHA has secured over $3 billion of FEMA funds to make

resiliency investments across all of its Sandy-damaged
developments. Design has begun for over 30 developments.

Install backup
generators in
vulnerable
buildings; launch
planning efforts
for undamaged
but vulnerable
buildings

Partially
Completed

10

Launch sales tax abatement

program for flood resiliency in
industrial buildings

Completed

A sales tax abatement for flood resiliency in industrial buildings

was approved by the IDA board in 2013, prioritizing 1-2 story
buildings with at least 4 feet between their actual ground
elevation and the applicable base flood elevation.

Launch program

Completed

11

Launch a competition to
increase flood resiliency in
building systems

In Progress

The City launched a competition and expects to award $30

million to deploy innovative resiliency technologies to small
business locations. In August 2014, RISE : NYC selected 27
technologies as finalists in the program. These finalists had the
opportunity to participate in a public Technology Demo Night on
October 7, 2014. Following the Technology Demo Night, the
RISE : NYC evaluation team expects to select winning
proposals in early 2015.

Launch
competition and
select winners

Partially
Completed

The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) has issued a

Frequently Asked Questions guide about making changes to a
landmarked building, particularly in regard to adding or
relocating mechanical equipment for buildings in flood hazard
areas. Additional flood resiliency guidance will be developed by
LPC over time on a case-by-case basis as the outcomes of
individual cases are determined.

Issue written
guidance

The New York City building code has been amended to expand
the existing DOB Faade Inspection Program to include rooftop
structures and equipment. The New York City building code and
the New York City mechanical code have been amended to
strengthen provisions to prevent wind damage to certain
buildings and building systems. The City is also in the process
of launching a study of the impacts of future wind events on
buildings.

Implement initial
Building Code
changes

In 2013, the City enacted several laws increasing protection

against utility service interruptions.

Implement
changes to
Construction
Codes

Completed

The City is no longer pursuing the Business Resiliency

Investment Program. In its place, the City, through SBS, will
launch a new $3 million Business PREP program in 2015 to
assist small businesses making resiliency investment and
operational changes.

Launch program
and begin
disbursing funds

Partially
Completed

12

13

14

Clarify regulations relating to

the retrofit of landmarked
structures in the 100-year
floodplain

Completed

Amend the Building Code to

improve wind resiliency for
existing buildings and
complete studies of potential
retrofits

In Progress

Amend the Construction

Codes and develop best
practices to protect against
utility service interruptions

Completed

Chapter Initiative
No.

ECONOMIC RECOVERY

Initiative

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Continue to support the

FRESH program to increase
the number of full-line
grocers in underserved
neighborhoods

In Progress

The City continues to advance the FRESH program. Additional

FRESH stores seeking benefits for new construction, expansion,
and renovation have received approval and authorization.
FRESH continues to pursue the most underserved
neighborhoods throughout the city.

Pursue FRESH
programs in
Sandy-impacted
neighborhoods

Completed

Reassess commercial
properties citywide to reflect
post-Sandy market values

Completed

For Fiscal Year 2014, DOF recognized Sandys impact by

making downward adjustments to the market values of more
than 88,000 properties. These adjustments led to tax reductions
for more than 50,000 properties affected by the storm. For the
Fiscal Year 2015 assessment roll, DOF inspected 5,400
properties that had received physical reductions on the Fiscal
Year 2014 roll in order to evaluate the current status of the
properties. Market values for properties in the surge zones will
remain at the Fiscal Year 2014 levels, unless the properties have
been repaired or rebuilt.

Establish new
market values
and lower
property taxes

Completed

Complete
affordability
study

Partially
Completed

TARGET AFFORDABILITY SOLUTIONS TO LOW-INCOME POLICYHOLDERS

1

ECONOMIC RECOVERY

Launch Business Recovery

and Resiliency Programs

In Progress

Launch Neighborhood Game

Changer Competition

Completed

The Neighborhood Game Changer competition has been

discontinued and funds have been reallocated to more effective
business resiliency programs and targeted resiliency
investments that will improve local commercial corridors.

Issue RFP and

select winning
proposals

Completed

Launch Neighborhood Retail

Recovery Program

In Progress

Last year, the Public Service Commission approved the NYC

Superstorm Sandy Business Incentive Rate program.

Launch Business
Incentive Rate for
retail and
approve
applications

Completed

Support local merchants in

improving and promoting
local commercial corridors

In Progress

The City, through the SBS, is currently providing ongoing

support to local merchants in Sandy-affected areas through
capacity building, retail faade and streetscape improvements,
and marketing/business attraction activities. The new Business
PREP program will expand these services.

Provide technical
assistance and
funding

Completed

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

The City provided input on the Homeowners Flood Insurance

Affordability Act of 2014, slowing the steep increases in flood
insurance premiums. While the National Academy of Sciences
affordability study is underway, the City is conducting its own
affordability studies to better understand the impacts of recent
reforms on New York Citys neighborhoods and residents. These
studies are expected to be completed in 2015.

Develop FEMA-endorsed
flood protection standards
and certifications for existing
urban buildings

In Progress

In October 2014, the City released a report Retrofitting Buildings

for Flood Risk to offer guidance to building owners that are
making resiliency investments. This document aligns current
building and zoning codes with new flood insurance regulations.

Complete
development of
building
standards and
FEMA review

Partially
Completed

Call on FEMA to recognize

mixed-use buildings as a
distinct building category

In Progress

FEMA has recently updated its insurance policy form to allow

applicants to indicate the percentage of a building that is used
for commercial purposes. The City will continue to advocate for
a distinct building category.

Create a
mixed-use
building category
within the NFIP

Partially
Completed

Completed

In Progress

DEFINE RESILIENCY STANDARDS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS

INCORPORATE RESILIENCY STANDARDS IN INSURANCE UNDERWRITING

4

Call on FEMA to develop

mitigation credits for
resiliency measures

In Progress

The City continues to advocate to FEMA for mitigation credits.

The City is working closely with FEMAs mitigation credits study
and has offered extensive technical comments for FEMAs
consideration that better represents building types that
withstand flood and mitigation approaches to reduce flood
losses in dense, urban settings. It is anticipated that FEMA will
complete its mitigation credits study in 2015.

Complete study
of mitigation
options and risk
reduction

Partially
Completed

Study approaches for New

York City to join FEMAs
Community Rating System
program

In Progress

FEMA is currently conducting a Community Assistance Visit, the

first step before joining the Community Rating System (CRS).
Based on the results of that visit, the City will evaluate its
participation in the CRS.

Complete study
of Citys ability to
be admitted to
CRS program
and cost-benefit
analysis

Partially
Completed

Complete
evaluation of
higher deductible
options

Partially
Completed

SUPPORT COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN IMPACTED AREA

1

Support Federal efforts to

address affordability issues
related to reform of the NFIP

Completed

INSURANCE

Chapter Initiative
No.

EXPAND PRICING OPTIONS FOR POLICYHOLDERS

6

304

nyc.gov/onenyc

Call on FEMA to allow

residential policyholders to
select higher deductibles

In Progress

The City advocated and provided technical assistance for the

Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2013, which
includes a provision for the development of higher deductible
policies. The Citys flood insurance affordability studies will
evaluate the benefits of a higher deductible option.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

305

Chapter Initiative
No.

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Chapter Initiative
No.

IMPROVE AWARENESS AND EDUCATION ABOUT INSURANCE

Support the goals of the NYS
2100 Commission to protect
New York State, consumers,
and businesses

In Progress

The City continues to coordinate and support DFS with the

implementation of its NYS 2100 Commission goals.

Support State
efforts

Completed

Call on New York State to

improve policyholder
awareness at the point of
sale or renewal

In Progress

The City advocated and provided technical assistance for the

Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2013, which
included provisions regarding establishing an insurance
advocate to support public outreach. In addition, the City has
met with insurance associations to develop ways of improving
point of sale communication. The City will continue to advocate
for improved agent training by FEMA and will utilize its
consumer education campaign to improve policyholder
awareness.

Support State
efforts to improve
policyholder
awareness

Completed

The City continues to coordinate with the Center for New York
City Neighborhoods on resources for the public around flood
risk and flood insurance. This includes working closely with the
Center on a flood risk website (floodhelpny.org). The Citys
consumer education campaign will launch in Summer 2015.

Complete
citywide
campaign

The City, in cooperation with DFS, has hosted a forum to

engage private insurance companies to discuss flood products
and mitigation strategies. The City continues outreach to
insurers to discuss flood products and mitigation strategies.

Establish regular
meetings with
leading insurers

INSURANCE

10

Launch a consumer
education campaign on flood
insurance

Launch an engagement
campaign targeting insurers

In Progress

In Progress

UTILITIES

Partially
Completed

In Progress

Work with utilities and

regulators to reflect climate
risks in system design and
equipment standards

In Progress

Work with utilities and

regulators to establish
performance metrics for
climate risk response

In Progress

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Work with utilities and the

PSC to harden vulnerable
overhead lines against winds

In Progress

ConEds $1 billion storm hardening program was approved by

the PSC and is currently underway across the City, which
includes efforts to underground a portion of its overhead wires
and to employ other measures to increase the resiliency of
overhead lines in high risk areas. In addition, the City completed
and released a study in 2013 assessing the relative value and
cost of selectively undergrounding power lines. The City is
assessing LIPAs storm hardening initiatives for the Rockaways,
including overhead lines, and will provide testimony as to its
adequacy in LIPAs 2015 Rate Case.

Complete Con
Edison rate case
proceeding and
Local Law 13
study

Completed

Work with utilities, regulators,

and gas pipeline operators to
harden the natural gas
system against flooding

In Progress

ConEds $1 billion storm hardening program was approved by

the PSC and is currently underway across the City, which
includes provisions to accelerate replacement of leak prone
pipe and harden tunnel head houses. National Grid has
commenced a program in in the Rockaway Peninsula to make
its gas system more resilient through accelerated replacement
of leak-prone mains and installation of automated meters and
other devices.

Complete Con
Edison rate case
proceeding

Completed

Work with steam plant

operators and the PSC to
harden steam plants against
flooding

In Progress

ConEds $1 billion storm hardening program was approved by

the PSC and is currently underway across the City, which
includes efforts to harden steam plants against flooding.

Complete Con
Edison rate case
proceeding

Completed

RECONFIGURE UTILITY NETWORKS TO BE REDUNDANT AND RESILIENT

ConEd continues to harden critical infrastructure under a

PSC-approved program. In addition, $164 million worth of work
is scheduled in 2016 and all work is scheduled to be completed
by 2021. The PSC recently approved National Grids request for
recovery of incremental capital costs for improvements in the
Rockaway Peninsula that will increase system resiliency and
replace leak-prone gas mains. The City is assessing LIPAs
storm hardening initiatives for the Rockaways and will provide
testimony as to its adequacy in LIPAs 2015 Rate Case.

Incorporate
cost-benefit
analysis tool into
regulatory
framework

Completed

ConEds $1 billion storm hardening program was approved by

the PSC and is currently underway across the City, which
includes provisions to plan for climate risks based on the most
recent NPCC climate projections. National Grids replacement of
leak-prone pipe also addresses climate risks by reducing
methane emissions. The City is assessing LIPAs storm
hardening initiatives for the Rockaways and will provide
testimony as to its adequacy in LIPAs 2015 Rate Case.

Submit
comments to
2014 NYISO
Reliability Needs
Assessment

Completed

The PSC introduced a statewide scorecard to measure utilities

performance in preparation for, and restoration from, major
outage events. There were no major storms in 2014, therefore
the scorecard was not used.

Complete Con
Edison rate case
proceeding

Completed

UTILITIES

Work with utilities and

regulators to develop a
cost-effective system
upgrade plan to address
climate risks

Initiative
Status

Partially
Completed

REDESIGN THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK TO SUPPORT RESILIENCY

1

Initiative

Work with industry partners,

New York State, and
regulators to strengthen New
York Citys power supply

In Progress

The City continues to participate in proceedings at the NYISO

and before the FERC to modify market rules to eliminate
barriers to entry of new resources. The City also continues to
participate in proceedings before the PSC related to relief of
transmission congestion and support for renewable energy
resources.

Continue
ongoing power
supply efforts

Completed

10

Require more in-city plants to

be able to restart quickly in
the event of blackout

In Progress

The City continues to work with the NYISO to ensure adequate

blackstart capability to meet future contingencies. The City
supported revisions to the NYISOs tariffs that would maintain,
as needed, the current complement of black start capable
generating units within New York City.

Continue
ongoing efforts

Completed

11

Work with Con Edison and

the PSC to develop a
long-term resiliency plan for
the electric distribution
system

In Progress

The City continues to participate in the Reforming Energy Vision

proceeding.

Complete Con
Edison rate case
proceeding

Completed

12

Work with utilities and

regulators to minimize
electric outages in areas not
directly affected by climate
impacts

In Progress

ConEds $1 billion storm hardening program was approved by

the PSC and is currently underway across the City, which
includes network reconfiguration in the Bowling Green and
Fulton network areas. Other efforts include adding sectionalizers
to reduce the number of customers affected by outages on the
radial system, the addition of smart grid technologies, and the
use of devices and equipment that allow for continuation of
service and/or expeditious restoration of service following
accidents, storm damage, or other events.

Complete Con
Edison rate case
proceeding

Completed

13

Work with utilities and

regulators to implement
smart grid technology to
assess system conditions in
real time

In Progress

ConEd is undertaking work to subdivide its network to limit the

degree a system disruption in one area will have on adjacent
areas.

Complete Con
Edison rate case
proceeding

Completed

14

Work with utilities and

regulators to speed up
service restoration for critical
customers via system
configuration

In Progress

ConEds $1 billion storm hardening program was approved by

the PSC and is currently underway across the City, which
includes efforts to install customer isolation switches to protect
high tension network supply feeders.

Complete Con
Edison rate case
proceeding

Completed

HARDEN EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE TO WITHSTAND CLIMATE EVENTS

4

Work with power suppliers

and regulators to harden key
power generators against
flooding

In Progress

Con Edison is proceeding with plans to harden generating

facilities. Discussions are ongoing at the NYISO and at the
Public Service Commission to develop potential compensation
mechanisms for power suppliers.

Launch effort
with stakeholders

Completed

Work with utilities and the

PSC to harden key electric
transmission and distribution
infrastructure against flooding

In Progress

ConEds $1 billion storm hardening program was approved by

the PSC and is currently underway across the City, which
includes efforts to harden key electric transmission and
distribution infrastructure against flooding. The City is assessing
LIPAs storm hardening initiatives for the Rockaways and will
provide testimony as to its adequacy in LIPAs 2015 Rate Case.

Complete Con
Edison rate case
proceeding

Completed

nyc.gov/onenyc

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

307

Chapter Initiative
No.

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Work with utilities and

regulators to speed up
service restoration via
pre-connections for mobile
substations

In Progress

The PSC introduced a statewide Scorecard to measure utilities

performance in preparation for, and restoration from, major
outage events. There were no major storms in 2014, therefore
the scorecard was not used.

Complete Con
Edison rate case
proceeding

Completed

16

Work with pipeline operators

to expand and diversify
natural gas supply

In Progress

The City continues to work with the PSC and the two delivery
utilities to ensure a safe natural gas infrastructure supplying the
five boroughs.

Continue
ongoing efforts

Completed

17

Work with utilities and

regulators to strengthen the
in-city gas transmission and
distribution system

In Progress

The City continues to work with the PSC and our two delivery
utilities to ensure a safe natural gas infrastructure supplying the
five boroughs.

Complete Con
Edison rate case
proceeding

Completed

18

Launch energy infrastructure

resiliency competition

In Progress

The City launched a competition and expects to award $30

million to deploy innovative resiliency technologies to small
business locations. In August 2014, RISE : NYC selected 27
technologies as finalists in the program. The RISE : NYC
evaluation team has selected winning proposals to be
announced in Spring 2015.

Select winners of
competition

Partially
Completed

15

Chapter Initiative
No.

The City is working with the PSC, ConEd, and the NYISO to
make the in-City demand response program more robust and to
ensure continuity of such programs.

Complete Con
Edison rate case

Completed

20

Work with government and

private sector partners to
expand the energy efficiency
of buildings

In Progress

In September 2014, the City worked with government and

private sector partners to release a ten-year citywide energy
efficiency plan, One City: Built to Last. As part of this plan, the
City committed to an 80% reduction in greenhouse gases by
2050. To put New York City on this pathway, the City also set a
30% reduction target for building emissions by 2025 and a 35%
reduction target for government buildings by 2025. These
targets will be met through leadership by example, resident
empowerment to take action, high energy performance
standards, equitable benefits to all neighborhoods, and
approaches informed by data analysis and stakeholder
feedback. The City is committing $1 billion to energy efficiency
improvements in municipal buildings. The City is also launching
a retrofit accelerator to assist the private sector in making these
same investments.

Launch Green
Light New York
Center

Completed

LIQUID FUELS

In Progress

UTILITIES

Work with utilities and

regulators to expand citywide
demand response programs

Initiative
Status

22

23

nyc.gov/onenyc

Work with public and private

partners to scale up
distributed generation (DG)
and micro-grids

In Progress

Incorporate resiliency into the

design of City electric vehicle
initiatives and pilot storage
technologies

In Progress

Improve backup generation

for critical customers

In Progress

Launch
micro-grid
feasibility study

The City continues to monitor the development of electric

vehicle-to-grid / vehicle-to-building standards, which are still
only in limited pilots nationally.

Continue
ongoing efforts;
implement and
pilot at Brooklyn
Army Terminal

Completed

Expand City
emergency
generator fleet by
20 to 30 units

Partially
Completed

The City is currently finalizing the contracting for 45 mobile

generator units.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

308

Milestone
Status

Call on the Federal

government to convene a
regional working group to
develop a fuel infrastructure
hardening strategy

In Progress

Working closely with the Columbia University Center on Global

Energy Policy, the City has convened relevant stakeholders,
including Federal and State agencies, the National Petroleum
Council, and private industry to discuss opportunities for a
coordinated and regional liquid fuels infrastructure resiliency
plan. A report will be released in October 2015.

Develop regional
strategy

Partially
Completed

Develop a reporting
framework for fuel
infrastructure operators to
support post-emergency
restoration

In Progress

The City, through NYCEDC, has developed a database of liquid

fuel assets in the New York metropolitan region. NYCEDC
expects to pilot this database with relevant governmental
agencies and begin input of data with industry in 2015.

Ensure
development of
IT systems and
information
reporting
framework

Partially
Completed

Work with Buckeye and New

York State to safely build
pipeline booster stations in
New York City to increase
supply and withstand
extreme weather events

In Progress

The City will continue to consider opportunities to safely ensure

the supply of liquid fuels.

Ensure booster
stations to
withstand climate
change impacts

Partially
Completed

Work with New York State to

provide incentives for the
hardening of gas stations to
withstand extreme weather
events

Completed

In 2013, New York State adopted into law a requirement that all
gas stations within a half-mile of a major highway or evacuation
route to build generator transfer switches and be able to source
generators during a power outage. NYSERDA also offered
incentives for generator transfer switches.

Assist in
launching
incentive
program

Not
Completed

Ensure that a subset of gas

stations and terminals have
access to backup generators
in case of widespread power
outages

Completed

In 2013, the State launched its FuelNY program, with gas

stations meeting a certain criteria within a half-mile of a highway
exit or hurricane evacuation route now required to have
quick-connects for generators.

Ensure creation
of a generator
pool and
pre-event
positioning plan

Partially
Completed

ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN TO RESPOND TO DISRUPTIONS

6

Explore the creation of a

transportation fuel reserve to
temporarily supply the private
market during disruptions

In Progress

The Federal government created a 22 million gallon gasoline

fuel reserve in NY Harbor. The State created a 3 million gallon
pilot gasoline fuel reserve on Long Island. For emergency diesel
needs, fuel oil from the federal Home Heating Oil Reserve can
be used, if appropriate emergency waivers are obtained. In
2015, the City will continue to work to advocate for a fuel supply
chain resiliency strategy for NYC, in partnership with State and
industry partners, that will focus on protecting critical assets.
The City will also explore funding for a Regional Resiliency
Assessment Program with the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security on the supply chain of fuels and other critical
commodities.

Evaluate
feasibility and
cost

Partially
Completed

Call on New York State to

modify price gouging laws
and allow flexibility of gas
station supply contracts to
increase fuel availability
during disruptions

In Progress

The City continues to pursue regulatory opportunities to ensure

the protection of consumers during fuel shortages following
emergency events. This initiative can be carried out through
legislation, or directly through executive action by the Governor
and New York Attorney General, and will be included in the
regulatory waiver playbook.

Secure passage
of legislation

Partially
Completed

Develop a package of City,

State, and Federal regulatory
actions to address liquid fuel
shortages during
emergencies

Completed

The City, through OEM, is enhancing its playbook with a robust

Citywide Emergency Fuel Operations Plan. This plan will provide
a strategy for fueling priority vehicles and equipment in the
event of a disruption to the supply chain. It will also include NY
National Guard pre-scripted mission requests to provide site
security. OEM anticipates completing the Citywide Emergency
Fuel Operations Plan in 2015.

Complete
rationing plan
and package of
regulatory
waivers

Completed

Completed

The City continues to participate in the Reforming Energy Vision

proceeding, which includes efforts to support distributed
generation and microgrids. The City is also working with ConEd
and the PSC on revisions to ConEds standby tariffs that would
lessen economic impediments to distributed generation, and is
working with the PSC and NYSERDA on funding opportunities
for distribute generation and micro-grids.

2014 Milestone

DIVERSIFY CUSTOMER OPTIONS IN CASE OF UTILITY OUTAGE

21

Initiative Status Description

SEEK TO HARDEN THE LIQUID FUELS SUPPLY INFRASTRUCTURE

REDUCE ENERGY DEMAND

19

Initiative

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

309

Chapter Initiative
No.

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Chapter Initiative
No.

IMPROVE THE CITYS ABILITY TO FUEL FIRST RESPONDERS AND PRIVATE CRITICAL FLEETS
In Progress

DCAS has ordered 35 fuel trucks. The pilot inspection unit has
arrived and arrival of all units is expected by the end of 2015.
DCAS is currently finalizing the contracting for 45 mobile
generator units. DCAS has installed automated fuel tracking for
all agencies except DSNY where installations will be completed
by the end of 2015.

Procure
equipment

ENSURE CRITICAL PROVIDERS OPERABILITY THROUGH REDUNDANCY AND

THE PREVENTION OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE
1

Improve design and

construction of new hospitals

Completed

The City has enacted several local laws to improve the design
and construction of new hospitals in the floodplain.

Amend
Construction
Codes

Completed

Require the retrofitting of

existing hospitals in the
500-year floodplain

In Progress

The City will explore re-introducing legislation that would require

retrofits to existing hospitals.

Amend
Construction
Codes

Not
Completed

Support the Health and

Hospitals Corporation effort
to protect public hospital
emergency departments
(EDs) from flooding

In Progress

The City, through HHC, has secured nearly $1.7 billion in

recovery and resiliency funding from FEMA to protect Bellevue,
Metropolitan, Coler, and Coney Island Hospitals. Design for
these projects will begin in 2015.

Determine
strategies and
identify funding
for each at-risk
ED

Completed

Improve the design and

construction of new nursing
homes and adult care
facilities

Completed

The City has enacted several local laws to improve the design
and construction of new nursing homes and adult care facilities
in the floodplain.

Amend
Construction
Codes

Completed

Require the retrofitting of

existing nursing homes in the
100-year floodplain

In Progress

The City will explore re-introducing legislation that would require

retrofits to existing nursing homes.

Amend
Construction
Codes

Not
Completed

Require the retrofitting of

existing adult care facilities in
the 100-year floodplain

In Progress

The City will explore re-introducing legislation that would require

retrofits to existing adult care facilities.

Amend
Construction
Codes

Not
Completed

Support nursing homes and

adult care facilities with
mitigation grants and loans

In Progress

The City expects to receive approximately $19 million in FEMA

funds for this initiative and will launch the nursing homes and
adult care facility mitigation grants program upon approval by
FEMA.

Develop and
launch program

Partially
Completed

Increase the air conditioning

capacity of nursing homes
and adult care facilities

In Progress

Prior efforts to advance this initiative have proven ineffective. The

City will identify alternative mechanisms for achieving the goals of
this proposal, and will explore using the nursing home and adult
care facility mitigation grant program to advance this initiative.

Develop and
launch program

Not
Completed

H E A LT H C A R E

REDUCE BARRIERS TO CARE DURING AND AFTER EMERGENCIES

9

Harden primary care and

mental health clinics

Not Started

The City continues to pursue funding to complete this initiative.

Develop and
launch program

Not
Completed

10

Improve pharmacies power

resiliency

In Progress

In 2014, DOHMH launched an emergency preparedness website

for pharmacies and will continue to populate this site with
helpful information to prepare for and respond to emergencies.

Implement
regulatory
changes

Completed

Encourage
telecommunications
resiliency

In Progress

In 2014, DOHMH developed and distributed a City Health

Information (CHI) publication dedicated to emergency
preparedness for health providers. The CHI is an evidence-based
clinical bulletin for healthcare providers throughout New York City.
This was developed as a best practice guide w to help
community-based providers understand the importance of
telecommunications resiliency as well as the options they might
consider and questions to ask when evaluating different solutions

Develop and
distribute best
practice guide

Completed

DOHMHs Primary Care Information Project (PCIP) sponsors

numerous initiatives to help primary care and mental health
providers citywide with EHR technical assistance for their
practices. In August 2014, DOHMH developed and distributed a
City Health Information (CHI) for healthcare providers
encouraging office preparedness as well as Electronic Health
Records (EHRs) and telecommunication redundancy.

Incorporate
resiliency into
EHR programs
and conduct
outreach

11

12

nyc.gov/onenyc

Encourage electronic health

record-keeping

In Progress

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

IMPROVE THE ABILITY OF COMMUNITIES TO PREPARE FOR AND RESPOND TO DISASTERS

Partially
Completed

C O M M U N I T Y P R E PA R E D N E S S

Harden municipal fueling

stations and enhance mobile
fueling capability to support
both City government and
critical fleets

Launch pilot program to

identify and address gaps in
community capacity

In Progress

OEM continues to work with the FEMA Long Term Recovery

Groups and other community based coalitions by attending
meetings and organizing workshops. NYC Citizen Corps is
developing a COOP training for CBOs and a Community
Preparedness Toolkit for community organizations to better
prepare and increase community capacity for emergencies.
Both efforts are expected to be complete by the end of 2015.

Complete pilot
assessment

Partially
Completed

Continue and Expand OEMs

Community Emergency
Response Teams

In Progress

Working in concert with DoITT, OEM will distribute one 700

megahertz radio to each CERT team throughout the city to
ensure communication among teams during an emergency.
OEM has also updated CERT curriculum to incorporate lessons
learned from Hurricane Sandy.

Expand
programs

Completed

Expand the Worker Connect

information technology tool
to serve as an Emergency
Services Portal

Not Started

The City continues to pursue funding to complete this initiative.

Create new
emergency
services portal
and strengthen
functionality of
Worker Connect

Not
Completed

Explore the creation of a new

online Emergency Notification
Contact System

Not Started

The City continues to pursue funding to complete this initiative.

Begin to create
voluntary
database

Not
Completed

INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY TO PROMOTE RESILIENCY

T E L E C O M M U N I C AT I O N S

Initiative

Establish an office within

DoITT to focus on
telecommunications
regulation and resiliency
planning

Completed

This office has been established at DoITT.

Establish and
operationalize
new office

Completed

Establish new resiliency

requirements for providers
using scheduled renewals of
the Citys franchise
agreements

In Progress

The City has begun to review existing franchise agreements and

commenced planning for framework of new resiliency
requirements. A new public communications structure (PCS)
franchise included resiliency and disaster recovery
requirements. DoITT is developing a framework of new
resiliency requirements for franchise renewals and continues to
explore opportunities for incorporating resiliency and disaster
recovery requirements in new franchises and contracts.

Establish
framework of
new resiliency
requirements

Partially
Completed

Establish regular
meetings with
cell providers;
develop criteria
for hardening cell
sites

Completed

ENABLE RAPID RECOVERY AFTER EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

3

Completed

Business continuity plans have been requested and obtained.

Planning for annual follow up meetings with franchisees is
underway. Regular meetings with franchisees are ongoing.

HARDEN FACILITIES TO REDUCE WEATHER-RELATED IMPACTS

4

Develop flood protection

standards for placement of
telecommunications
equipment in buildings

In Progress

The City has enacted several local laws to improve the design
and construction of telecommunications infrastructure in
buildings.

Implement
programs

Partially
Completed

Use the DoITT franchise

agreements to ensure
hardening of all critical
facilities

In Progress

The City has begun to review franchisees hardening measures

and plans for critical facilities, which includes site visits.

Audit critical
facilities and
provide guidance
for hardening

Partially
Completed

Work with cell providers to

encourage hardening of cell
sites

In Progress

The City conducts regular meetings with cell providers.

Discussions of carriers plans and efforts for hardening cell sites
are ongoing. DoITT will continue to encourage carriers to
continue undertake hardening measures at cell sites and to
assist in clearing any barriers to implementation within the City.

Establish regular
meetings with cell
providers; develop
criteria for
hardening cell
sites

Partially
Completed

Completed

310

Request business continuity

plans from current City
franchisees as permitted
under existing franchise
agreements

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

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Chapter Initiative
No.

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Chapter Initiative
No.

T E L E C O M M U N I C AT I O N S

CREATE REDUNDANCY TO REDUCE RISK OF OUTAGES

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

PREPARE THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM TO RESTORE SERVICE AFTER EXTREME CLIMATE EVENTS

Study options to increase

conduit infrastructure
redundancy and resiliency

In Progress

The City conducts regular meetings with conduit infrastructure

providers; these are ongoing. DoITT will continue to explore
further options, based on maps and information provided, for
improving the availability and redundancy of conduit in the City.

Launch study

Partially
Completed

Plan for temporary transit

services in the event of
subway system suspensions

In Progress

The City, through DOT, has worked with OEM to draft a

Transportation Playbook covering HOV restrictions, temporary
transit services, bike/pedestrian facilities and other traffic
management issues in an emergency situation.

Complete initial
planning

Completed

Continue implementation of
ConnectNYC

Completed

The City completed all build-outs from contracts signed in 2014.

Continued monitoring of active applications and applicant
negotiations are ongoing with participating ISPs.

Complete
second round of
applications and
begin installing
fiber connections

Partially
Completed

10

In Progress

DOT is working with other agencies to set up tabletop exercises

to review the Transportation Playbook. One resiliency planning
exercise has been held. DOT plans to hold further exercises
with agency partners to increase its preparedness.

Add telecommunications
provider quality and resiliency
to the WiredNYC and NYC
Broadband Map ratings

Completed

WiredNYC was officially launched on Sept. 30, 2014, which

included the release of broadband infrastructure maps in NYC.

Launch updated
maps

Completed

Complete initial
planning,
including multiple
planning
exercises and
one live drill

Partially
Completed

Identify critical transportation

network elements and
improve transportation
responses to major events
through regular resiliency
planning exercises

11

Develop standard plans for

implementing HighOccupancy Vehicle (HOV)
requirements

In Progress

DOT is planning to apply for federal funding to do further

contingency planning to respond to future climate events.

Complete plan

Partially
Completed

12

Plan for and install new

pedestrian and bicycle
facilities to improve
connectivity to key
transportation hubs

In Progress

The City, through DOT, has worked with OEM to draft a

Transportation Playbook covering HOV restrictions, temporary
transit services, bike/ped facilities and other traffic management
issues in an emergency situation. DOT continues to work with
partner agencies to regularly update the formal plans. Citi Bikes
planned Phase II expansion will double the size of the bike
share network to 12,000 bicycles and about 700 stations by the
end of 2017. The expanded network will cover several
neighborhoods that are vulnerable to weather-related
transportation interruptions, including Red Hook, Greenpoint,
and Long Island City.

Develop plan for

improvements;
begin
implementation
of most critical
components

Completed

13

Construct new ferry landings

to support private ferry
services

In Progress

The City will launch a new Citywide Ferry Service that will knit
together existing East River routes with new landings and
services to Astoria, the Rockaways, South Brooklyn, Soundview
and the Lower East Side. Service will launch in 2017. Further
expansion to Stapleton and Coney Island will constitute a
second phase of expansion, pending additional funding. The
project will include the construction of multiple new ferry
landings.

Identify locations
and launch
design

Completed

14

Deploy the Staten Island

Ferrys Austen Class vessels
on the East River Ferry and
during transportation
disruptions

In Progress

DOT has secured an FTA Hurricane Sandy Competitive

Resilience Grant, providing funds for two flex landings, which
will be capable of handling Austen-class vessels and can be
deployed at multiple locations, including East River terminals.
Existing ferry landings at Hunters Point and East 34th Street will
also be retrofitted to accommodate the New Generation Vessels
also being procured as part of the FTA grant.

Complete
operational plans
for various types
of deployment

Partially
Completed

15

Improve at all levels

communications about the
restoration of transportation
services

In Progress

The City, through DOT, has worked with OEM to draft a

Transportation Playbook covering HOV restrictions, temporary
transit services, bike/ped facilities and other traffic management
issues in an emergency situation. NYCDOT continues to work
with partner agencies to regularly update the formal plans and
improve communications.

Put
communications
plan in place

Partially
Completed

Reconstruct and resurface

key streets damaged by
Sandy

In Progress

The City, through DOT, continues to resurface and reconstruct

Sandy-damaged streets. As a result of Sandy damage,
NYCDOT is reconstructing 33 lane miles at a cost of $114
million and resurfacing 155 lane miles at a cost of $53 million.

Begin
reconstruction
and resurfacing

Completed

Integrate climate resiliency

features into future capital
projects

In Progress

The City, through DOT, is developing standard guidelines for

incorporating resiliency features into street reconstruction
projects. Bridge, Staten Island Ferry, and Traffic units have
already initiated projects with climate resiliency features.

Continue to
develop standard
guidelines

Completed

Elevate traffic signals and

provide backup electrical
power

In Progress

The foundations of traffic signals in flood prone areas are being

raised through the installation of coastal storm foundations
which will inherently raise control boxes as well. A total of 336
coastal storm foundations will be installed in areas south of the
Belt Parkway.

Begin effort

Completed

Protect NYCDOT tunnels in

Lower Manhattan from
flooding

In Progress

The City, through DOT, has completed design for the

rehabilitation of the damaged electrical, mechanical and
ventilation equipment for the Battery Park and West Street
underpasses. Construction is anticipated to commence by
Summer 2017.

Launch design

Completed

Install watertight barriers to

protect movable bridge
machinery

In Progress

The City, through DOT, has completed design for the

rehabilitation of the damages sustained to the electrical, and
mechanical equipment for the 13 movable bridges. Several of
these bridges will have the mechanical and electrical equipment
raised and protected above flood levels.

Launch design

Completed

Protect Staten Island Ferry

and private ferry terminals
from climate change-related
threats

In Progress

The City, through DOT, will be implementing wet and dry

flood-proofing protective measures at the St George and
Whitehall terminals and at the Staten Island Ferry Maintenance
Facility.

Design underway

Completed

Integrate resiliency into

planning and project
development

In Progress

The City, through DOT, has already begun making resiliency a

critical consideration in prioritizing capital projects. DOT is
developing standard guidelines for incorporating resiliency
features into street reconstruction projects.

Begin effort

Completed

Call on non-City agencies to

implement strategies to
address climate change
threats

Completed

The City continues to coordinate with the MTA and Port

Authority of New York & New Jersey in an effort to ensure
greater coordination of resiliency investments.

Engage with
non-City
agencies

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

PROTECT ASSETS TO MAINTAIN SYSTEM OPERATIONS

T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

Initiative

IMPLEMENT NEW AND EXPANDED SERVICES TO INCREASE SYSTEM FLEXIBILITY AND REDUNDANCY
Completed

312

16

Expand the citys Select Bus

Service network

In Progress

Seven SBS routes are currently in operation. Thirteen additional

routes will be added by 2018 including the Woodhaven line
which will service the Rockaways, a climate vulnerable area.

Implement four
SBS routes

Completed

17

Expand the network of bus

priority strategies on arterial
highways

In Progress

The City continues to pursue funding for this initiative.

Initiate planning
for first highway
priority corridor

Not
Completed

18

Expand ferry services in

locations citywide

In Progress

The City will launch a new Citywide Ferry Service that will knit
together existing East River routes with new landings and
services to Astoria, the Rockaways, South Brooklyn, Soundview
and the Lower East Side. Service will launch in 2017. Further
expansion to Stapleton and Coney Island will constitute a
second phase of expansion, pending additional funding.

Complete
Citywide Ferry
Study

Completed

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

313

Chapter Initiative
No.

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Chapter Initiative
No.

ADAPT PARKS AND EXPAND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE TO SHIELD ADJACENT COMMUNITIES FROM
THE IMPACTS OF EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

Restore city beaches

In Progress

Harden or otherwise modify

shoreline parks and adjacent
roadways to protect adjacent
community (See Coastal
Protection Initiative 30)

In Progress

Reinforce or redesign
bulkheads in coastal parks
(See Coastal Protection
Initiative 6; see Coastal
Protection Initiative 29)

In Progress

Expand the Citys green

streets plan, including for
Jamaica Bay

In Progress

All City beaches were opened to the public in time for the 2013
summer season and included new comfort stations to replace
those damaged by Sandy. DPR continues to improve recreational
opportunities and amenities at city beaches, including
reconstruction of damaged boardwalks.

Engage
community and
begin design
options

Completed

DPR, working with NYCEDC, has launched a new waterfront

inspection program and is developing design guidelines for the
flood zone to better enable parks to serve as a buffer for
adjacent areas.

Complete
preliminary
design
investigation for
pilot

Partially
Completed

DPR, working with NYCEDC, has launched a new waterfront

inspection program and will use the results of those inspections
to better manage its waterfront assets.

Inspect damaged
bulkheads on
parkland and
develop plan

Completed

Expand program
to area around
Jamaica Bay

Completed

The City, through DPR and in partnership with ORR, secured a

NFWF grant awarded to DPR for green Infrastructure in Brighton
Beach. Issued RFP for engineering services.

In Progress

The City, through DPR, has secured FEMA funds to upgrade and
fortify the 79th Street Boat Basin, Worlds Fair Marina,
Sheepshead Bay Piers, Bayside Marina, Lemon Creek,
Hammonds Cove, and Paerdegat Basin marinas.

Complete
preliminary
design
investigation

Completed

Relocate or increase the

resiliency of playgrounds and
athletic fields

In Progress

The City, through DPR, continues to assess and upgrade

playgrounds and athletic fields in at-risk neighborhoods for
increased resiliency. These include Tiffany Street Pier, Brigham
Park, Lindower Baseball Field, Red Hook Baseball Field, Fort
Washington, MacNeil Seawall, Rockaway Roller Hockey Rink,
Sandpiper Playground, New Dorp Soccer Field, Manresa Field,
Kaiser Park, and the Ocean Breeze Riding Area.

Complete
preliminary
design
investigation

Completed

The City, through DPR will begin design in 2015 at Tony Dapolito
Recreation Center and in 2015 will complete design for the
Asser Levy Recreation Center boiler. As funding is made
available, DPR will continue to assess and upgrade its facilities.

Complete
preliminary
design
investigation

Completed

At the Olmsted Center, DPR has completed procurement and

begun construction of flood mitigation measures, including the
incorporation of berms, stormwater detention areas, a flood
gate, flood vents, concrete wall panels, tide gates, and elevation
of the Annex.

Begin to
construct
protective
measures

Completed

The City continues to work with its Federal government partners

and outside institutions to improve and transform Jamaica Bay.
The General Management Plan was completed with a Record of
Decision in Summer 2014. The Science and Resilience Institute
at Jamaica Bay is developing a research and policy agenda and
recently hired a new executive director to lead the scientific
work in Jamaica Bay.

Continue to
advance
partnership and
launch
transformation

Completed

The City, through DPR and in partnership with ORR, secured a

NFWF grant for Tibbetts Brook. DPR will issue an RFP for
daylighting Tibbetts Brook in 2015. Additionally, a final draft of
the Alley Creek Watershed Plan was completed. A Bronx River
fish passage was constructed and the first phase of a pilot
stormwater capture program was completed at Shoelace Park.

Launch projects
in Alley Creek
and Bronx River
watersheds and
tidal wetlands in
Staten Island,
Bronx, and
Queens

Completed

Protect mechanical systems

at major park facilities and
buildings

In Progress

Move or protect critical

operations centers

In Progress

PROTECT WETLANDS, OTHER NATURAL AREAS, AND THE URBAN FOREST

9

10

nyc.gov/onenyc

Work with the Federal

government to transform
Jamaica Bay

In Progress

Increase the health and

resiliency of natural areas,
including Tibbetts Brook

In Progress

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

11

Improve the health and

resiliency of the citys urban
forest

Completed

The City, through DPR, has hired 20 foresters to improve the

health and resiliency of the citys urban forest. Tree Trust, through
the City Parks Foundation, has expanded several hundred tree
beds citywide this year. DPR will continue to increase pruning
capacity and operations and expand tree beds.

Hire and train 10

foresters

Completed

12

Increase growth of local plant

material for restoration work

Completed

Production of beachgrass at Floyd Bennett Field has been

completed for 2014. The grass was harvested at the end of
2014 and will be made available for dune plantings. The
production field will be replanted for the next growing season.

Launch
improvements to
Greenbelt Native
Plants Center

Completed

13

Establish a center for

resiliency and restoration
efforts in the Jamaica
Bay-Rockaway Parks

Completed

The Science and Resiliency Institute at Jamaica Bay launched in

2013 with a scientific consortium led by CUNY. In 2014, the
Institute played a key role in the Citys efforts to work with the
USACE in Jamaica Bay. The Institutes first executive director
was hired in 2014.

Launch initial
operations of
center

Completed

14

Quantify the benefits of the

citys ecosystems and green
infrastructure

In Progress

The City, through DPR, continued its work to quantify the

benefits of green infrastructure, including stormwater retention,
infiltration and sewer flow, evapotranspiration, and pollutant
removal.

Commission
studies on the
impact of the
citys green
infrastructure
program

Completed

15

Create climate adaptation

plans for all parks in the
100-year floodplain

In Progress

The City, through DPR, has mapped parks in the 100-year

floodplain and continues to implement improvements based on
its High-Performance Landscape Guidelines, which are currently
being revised.

Map and
catalogue
vulnerable sites

Completed

16

Map the citys overhead

utilities and street trees

In Progress

The City, through DPR, has mapped its street trees and met
with ConEd and looks forward to working with ConEd to
complete the necessary analysis.

Launch mapping
effort

Completed

PROTECT SITES WITH HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AND ENCOURAGE BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT

314

E N V I R O N M E N TA L P R O T E C T I O N A N D R E M E D I AT I O N

PA R KS

Fortify marinas and piers

Initiative Status Description

DEVELOP TOOLS FOR COMPREHENSIVE CLIMATE ADAPTATION PLANNING AND DESIGN

RETROFIT OR HARDEN PARK FACILITIES TO WITHSTAND THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

5

Initiative
Status

PA R KS

Initiative

Identify cost-effective
measures to safeguard
exposed substances in the
100-year floodplain

Completed

The Citys Open Industrial Uses study was completed in 2014,

identifying measures that can be undertaken to safeguard open
industrial uses, including those in the floodplain.

Complete Open
Industrial Uses
study

Completed

Develop a catalogue of best

practices for storing enclosed
hazardous substances in the
100-year floodplain

In Progress

Building on the results of the Open Industrial Uses Study, the

City, through DCP, has launched a study to evaluate measures
to improve resiliency in industrial zones. The study is expected
to be completed in 2016.

Begin process of
developing best
practices

Completed

Accelerate brownfield
cleanup in the 100-year
floodplain to prevent release
of pollutants

Completed

To accelerate cleanup of flood-prone areas, OER expanded the

NYC Brownfield Incentive Grant program to establish a new
Climate Change Resilience Bonus Cleanup Grant with funding
from the New York State Regional Economic Development
Council and city sources, to provide up to $10,000 in bonus
grants for cleanups in the NYC Voluntary Brownfield Cleanup
Program in the 100-year floodplain.

Launch
expansion of
existing
Brownfield
Incentive Grant
program

Completed

Explore strengthened cleanup

standards on industrial
waterfront brownfields

Completed

OER established new regulations to strengthen standards for

cleanup of waterfront industrial properties. The impact of future
storms on communities in coastal industrial areas will be lessened
by reducing the level of contaminants that can be left on
waterfront brownfield sites, especially environmental justice
neighborhoods that are already greatly overburdened by pollution.

Examine existing
soil cleanup
standards and
evaluate how to
strengthen
protections

Completed

Launch brownfield climate

change resiliency audits and
improve storm preparedness

Completed

OER is now performing resiliency surveys at no charge for

developers of brownfield sites in the Brownfield Cleanup
Program. These surveys educate developers on the most
protective building design practices to lower vulnerability to
severe storms and other effects of climate change and on
incentives to achieve these goals. After completing
approximately 20 surveys, OER will publish a report on findings
and best management practices to educate the broader
development community.

Begin audits of
brownfield
cleanup and
publish report
findings

Completed

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

315

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Launch full operations of the

NYC Clean Soil Bank

Completed

OER was delegated authority to make solid waste beneficial use

determinations by New York State and established the NYC
Clean Soil Bank in 2013 to enable no-cost exchange of clean
native soil from remediated brownfield sites to City construction
projects, including those designed to elevate grades and
promote climate change resiliency and new affordable housing
projects. In its first six months of operation, the Clean Soil Bank
enabled transfer of more than 67,000 tons of clean native soil
and saved the City and brownfield developers more than $2.5
million in soil disposal and purchase costs.

Launch NYC
Clean Soil Bank

Completed

Subject to available funding, the City will expand the information

available in SPEED to enable climate change resiliency
analyses, and to improve the efficacy of its use before, during,
and after future extreme weather. Using an existing State grant,
OER also will establish an innovative IT application for use by
community brownfield planners working to improve local
brownfield cleanup, development, and resiliency efforts. In 2014
OER worked to expand support for grass roots planning for
climate resiliency by creating networks of community-based
organizations. OER has established 15 new place-based
Community Brownfield Planning Areas in communities in all five
boroughs, including five new planning areas in neighborhoods
heavily impacted by flooding from Sandy (Red Hook in
Brooklyn, Edgemere in the Rockaways in Queens, Stapleton
and West Shore on Staten Island, and East Harlem in
Manhattan).

Complete update
to SPEED
database

Perform update of SPEED,

the Citys online
environmental research
engine

In Progress

W AT E R A N D W A S T E W AT E R

Adopt a wastewater facility

design standard for storm
surge and sea level rise

Completed

The City, through DEP, has adopted internal guidelines for

wastewater facility design for storm surge and sea level rise.
DEP will continue to implement these guidelines in new capital
projects.

Adopt new
design guidelines

Completed

Harden pumping stations

In Progress

The City, through DEP, has secured $156 million in Federal

funding to harden pumping stations and wastewater treatment
plants. DEP will continue to incorporate resiliency measures in
repairs and capital projects.

Incorporate
resiliency
measures in
repairs and
capital projects

Completed

The City, through DEP, has secured $156 million in Federal

funding to harden pumping stations and wastewater treatment
plants. DEP will continue to incorporate resiliency measures in
repairs and capital projects.

Incorporate
resiliency
measures in
repairs and
capital projects

Completed

Harden wastewater treatment

plants

In Progress

Explore alternatives for the

Rockaway Wastewater
Treatment Plant

In Progress

The feasibility study is underway to explore alternatives for the

Rockaway Wastewater Treatment Plan and is expected to be
completed in 2015.

Initiate feasibility
study

Completed

Develop cogeneration
facilities at North River
Wastewater Treatment Plant

In Progress

Funding has been secured for the cogeneration facilities at

North Rivers Wastewater Treatment Plant and the project is
currently in design.

Substantially
complete design
of cogeneration
facilities

Completed

Explore opportunities to
expand cogeneration and
other energy measures

In Progress

The Wards Island Wastewater Treatment Plants feasibility study

is currently underway.

Initiate feasibility
study

Completed

Encourage regional resiliency

planning

In Progress

DEP helped organize a workshop at the February 2014 New

York Water Environment Association annual conference on
Preparing for Climate Change Impacts to Wastewater
Infrastructure in Coastal Communities. DEP presented the NYC
Wastewater Resiliency Plan and invited utilities from Nassau
and Westchester counties to present on their resiliency projects.
DEP will continue to present NYCs wastewater resiliency
approach as opportunities arise.

Share results of
DEPs detailed
wastewater risk
and adaptation
analysis

Completed

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Initiative

Initiative
Status

316

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

IMPROVE AND EXPAND DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE

8

Reduce combined sewer

overflows with Green
Infrastructure

In Progress

DEP and partner agencies have initiated construction on

multiple area-wide contracts covering approximately 27,000
acres of the City. DEP is currently in construction or final design
on approximately 2,000 bioswales and stormwater greenstreets.
Consistent with the 2012 Amended CSO Consent Order, DEP
has also completed and submitted four long-term control plans:
Alley Creek/Little Neck Bay, Westchester Creek, Hutchinson
River and Flushing Creek. DEP will continue to comply with the
milestones set forth in the 2012 Amended CSO Consent Order.

Complete four
long-term control
plans

Completed

Reduce combined sewer

overflows with high-level
storm sewers citywide

In Progress

In July 2014, DEP began construction of an $18 million Bluebelt

and high level storm sewer project (HLSS) at Twin Ponds in the
Laurelton area. DEP will construct two miles of high level storm
sewers that will capture stormwater before it enters the
combined sewer and divert it directly to the Twin Ponds
Bluebelt.

Begin or continue
construction of 4
high-level storm
sewer capital
projects

Partially
Completed

10

Continue to implement and

accelerate investments in
Bluebelts across the city

In Progress

DEP continues to build out the South Richmond Bluebelt. The

Mid-Island Bluebelt construction is anticipated to begin in 2015.

Continue build
out of South
Richmond
Bluebelt and
begin
construction of
Mid-Island
Bluebelt

Partially
Completed

11

Build out stormwater sewers

in areas of Queens with
limited drainage systems

In Progress

DEP is installing 84 catch basins and approximately 2.8 miles of

new sewer lines in Springfield Gardens, Queens. As a
component of this project, stormwater from the surrounding
area has been redirected into a newly constructed wetland
conveyance system as part of the Springfield Lake Bluebelt
initiative, and now makes its way through Springfield Lake. In
2015, DEP will complete construction of the fourth phase of a
$175 million project to improve drainage in Springfield Gardens,
Queens.

Begin or continue
construction of
three storm
sewer build-out
capital projects

Partially
Completed

12

Periodically review rainfall

trends and implications for
stormwater infrastructure

Completed

The latest assessment of precipitation data was completed and

featured in the NYC Wastewater Resiliency Plan.

Create process
to reassess
precipitation data

Completed

Completed

PROTECT WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES FROM STORM SURGE

Chapter Initiative
No.

W AT E R A N D W A S T E W AT E R

E N V I R O N M E N TA L P R O T E C T I O N A N D R E M E D I AT I O N

Chapter Initiative
No.

PROMOTE REDUNDANCY AND FLEXIBILITY TO ENSURE CONSTANT SUPPLY OF HIGH-QUALITY WATER

13

Repair the leak in the

Delaware Aqueduct

In Progress

The construction of the access shafts is underway. The project

is currently on schedule to for completion in 2016.

Continue
construction of
bypass tunnel

Completed

14

Improve interconnection
between the Catskill and
Delaware aqueducts and
maximize capacity to deliver
water from the Catskill/
Delaware system

In Progress

Construction contracts are currently being procured.

Begin
construction of
inter-connection

Partially
Completed

15

Continue the Watershed

Protection Program to
maintain drinking water
quality

In Progress

DEP continues to implement the watershed protection program,

including the land acquisition program.

Incorporate
updates to
Long-Term
Watershed
Protection
Program

Completed

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317

Chapter Initiative
No.

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Chapter Initiative
No.

IDENTIFY AND HARDEN CRITICAL FOOD DISTRIBUTION ASSETS

Study the food distribution
system to identify other
prospective vulnerabilities

In Progress

The City is in the process of procuring a consultant to assist in a

food system resiliency study. This study is expected to be
completed in 2016.

Launch study

Completed

Expand upon prior energy

studies, to explore options
for cost-effective, continuous
power for the Hunts Point
Food Distribution Center

In Progress

The study has been completed and will inform ongoing energy
resiliency work in Hunts Point.

Expand current
study

Completed

Call on the State legislature

to pass City-sponsored
legislation mandating electric
generators for food retailers

In Progress

Continue to support the

FRESH program to increase
the number of full-line
grocers in underserved
neighborhoods

In Progress

Expand DCAS food

procurement pilots towards
contracts with larger, more
resilient distributors that have
active New York operations

Completed

Implement preparedness
measures for continued
availability of SNAP benefits
for vulnerable consumers
following large-scale power
outages

Completed

F O O D S U P P LY

Disseminate
State-issued
preparedness
guidelines

Completed

Legislation was introduced and has stalled at the State level.

OEM will explore other options.

Advance
legislation

Completed

The City continues to advance the FRESH program. Additional

FRESH stores seeking benefits for new construction, expansion
and renovation have received approval and authorization.
FRESH continues to pursue the most underserved
neighborhoods throughout the city.

Pursue FRESH
programs in
Sandy-impacted
neighborhoods

Completed

DCAS has registered a contract with Garner Environmental

Services effective July 1, 2014 which provides for emergency
procurement and delivery of meals ready to eat, other food
products, and mass feeding services in response to emergency
conditions.

Begin expansion
of suppliers

Completed

This initiative is completed. Waivers for immediate submissions

have been completed.

Prepare waiver
for immediate
submission if
necessary

Completed

The City, in cooperation with the State, has drafted and released
preparedness guidelines.

PROTECT SOLID WASTE FACILITIES AND DISPOSAL NETWORKS

SOLID WAST E

nyc.gov/onenyc

Harden critical City-owned

facilities

Work with third-party owners

to protect critical assets and
networks

In Progress

In Progress

In 2014, DSNY completed flood mitigation assessments of six

major facilities -- the Manhattan Borough Repair Shop, the
Manhattan District 3 Garage on Pier 36, a DSNY-owned office
building at 44 Beaver Street, the Brooklyn 11 District Garage,
the DSNY general supply warehouse in Greenpoint and the
Bronx 12 District Garage. As a result of these assessments,
DSNY has developed mitigation project proposals that will be
included in future facility capital upgrades. DSNY will continue
to Incorporate resiliency measures in repairs and capital
projects as appropriate.

Incorporate
resiliency
measures in
repairs and
capital projects

All long-term refuse and recycling vendors have taken steps to

reduce vulnerability to coastal flooding. In addition, DSNY has
identified and catalogued potential system vulnerabilities,
including those in the regions transportation network, that could
pose a threat to the Citys solid waste management system and
developed contingencies to operate in the case of an
emergency.

Develop an
inventory of
critical system
vulnerabilities
and catalogue
known risks

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

B R O O K LY N - Q U E E N S W AT E R F R O N T

Completed

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Work with the Port Authority

to continue a study of
innovative coastal protection
measures using clean dredge
material in Southwest
Brooklyn

In Progress

The City continues to work with the Port Authority on coastal

protection measures in Red Hook, as part of the Citys efforts to
implement an integrated flood protection system.

Complete study
and launch pilot
measures

Partially
Completed

Call on and work with the

USACE to develop an
implementation plan and
preliminary designs for a local
storm surge barrier along the
Gowanus Canal

In Progress

The City has launched a feasibility study for a Gowanus Canal

local storm surge barrier.

Complete
preliminary
feasibility study
and design and
launch USACE
study

Partially
Completed

Implement strategies to
protect Brooklyn Bridge Park
and DUMBO

In Progress

Construction of the John Street section of the Park is nearing

completion. A developer has been designated and construction
of the development site is expected to be completed in 2016.

Begin construction
of the John St.
section of the
park; designate
developer for John
St. lower site;
complete study of
DUMBO resiliency
measures

Partially
Completed

Support private investments

that reduce flood risk along
Newtown Creek

In Progress

The City expects to serve businesses along Newtown Creek

through its new Business PREP program, which will launch in
2015.

Advertise
support to
businesses;
provide technical
assistance

Partially
Completed

Create an implementation
plan for comprehensive
flood-protection
improvements on public and
private property along the
Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and
Long Island City coastlines

In Progress

The City will continue to work with the USACE to advance

projects in vulnerable locations citywide, including the
Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Long Island City coastlines. As
new waterfront development occurs, the City looks to leverage
opportunities created by new construction to advance flood
protection.

Commence
study

Completed

In Progress

The City is implementing upgrades to City-owned industrial

properties including electrical equipment elevation at Brooklyn
Army Terminal and Bush Terminal.

Commence
property
upgrades and
substantially
complete

Completed

IMPROVE THE RESILIENCY OF CONSUMER ACCESS

Call on New York State to
issue preparedness
guidelines to retailers in
anticipation of extreme
weather events

Initiative
Status

COASTAL PROTECTION

Initiative

BUILDINGS
6

Implement planned upgrades

to vulnerable City-owned,
industrial properties

Completed

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Completed

318

Improve connections
between Red Hook and the
rest of Brooklyn

Completed

DOT has completed work at this location to allow a better flow

of pedestrian traffic and public transit at this location.
Enhancements to Mill Street connection and BQE underpass
are complete.

Complete
enhancements to
Mill street
connection and
BQE underpass

Completed

Call for the MTA to explore

Red Hook-Lower Manhattan
bus connections

In Progress

The City will launch a new Citywide Ferry Service that will
include Red Hook. Service will launch in 2017.

Complete
assessment

Partially
Completed

Implement expanded free

summer weekend ferry
service from Manhattan to
Red Hook in 2013

Completed

The City will launch a new Citywide Ferry Service that will
include Red Hook. Service will launch in 2017.

Complete
summer 2013
service and
evaluate results

Completed

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

319

B R O O K LY N - Q U E E N S
W AT E R F R O N T

Chapter Initiative
No.

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Chapter Initiative
No.

COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY

10

Create and implement a

revitalization strategy for
targeted retail and community
spaces within Red Hook
Houses

Not Started

The City continues to pursue funding to begin this work.

Complete
assessment

Not
Completed

11

Implement planned and

ongoing investments by the
City and private partners

In Progress

The City continues to implement investments to increase

resiliency along the Brooklyn-Queens Waterfront.

Complete first
phase of Bush
Terminal Park

Completed

The City will continue to work with the USACE on its South
Shore phase 2 feasibility study and possibly through its CAP
program to advance projects in vulnerable locations along the
South Shore, including at Mill Creek.

Commence
study

Completed

Call on and work with the

USACE to study the
construction of a floodgate at
Mill Creek

In Progress

BUILDINGS
2

Assist Staten Island

University Hospital (SIUH) in
applying for hazard mitigation
funding

Completed

The City committed $28 million to both SIUH campuses to

upgrade the facilities against future climate risks. Prior to this,
the City provided technical assistance to SIUH in submitting
their HMGP grant application to the State for HMGP funding,
resulting in a State award of $12M in HMGP funding to protect
critical infrastructure at the North Campus.

Provide technical
support to SIUH

Completed

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
3

nyc.gov/onenyc

Implement and expedite

roadway and sewer capital
projects along Hylan
Boulevard, especially in
vulnerable South Shore areas

Call on and work with the

MTA to create an
implementation plan for the
relocation of Richmond Valley
SIR station to Page Avenue

In Progress

In Progress

NYCDOT is currently working on 13 street reconstruction

projects in the South Shore areas.

The City has called on the MTA to secure funding for this study.

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Commence
sewer
enhancement
and paving
projects;
complete
intersection
improvements

Partially
Completed

Commence
relocation
feasibility study

Not
Completed

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Study potential new ferry

routes serving Staten Island
and issue a Request for
Expressions of Interest (RFEI)
to gauge market interest

In Progress

NYCEDC is working to lease City-owned land adjacent to the

planned New York Wheel and Empire Outlets development for a
ferry landing to serve smaller vessels coming from various
locations across the harbor. In addition, further expansion to
Stapleton could constitute a second phase of expansion in the
recently announced Citywide Ferry Service, subject to the
availability of additional funding. Ferry Service to all boroughs was
examined in NYCEDCs Comprehensive Citywide Ferry Study.

Commence
Comprehensive
Citywide Ferry
Study

Completed

Secure available Federal

funding to implement the
Community Wildfire
Protection Plan for fire-prone
areas on the East Shore

In Progress

The City, through DPR, continues to seek funds for this initiative.

Apply for relevant

funding

Completed

Launch the first capital

project for the Mid-Island
Bluebelt in Midland Beach

In Progress

Construction of the first capital project for the Mid-Island

Bluebelt in Midland Beach is projected to start in 2015.

Finalize
Environmental
Impact
Statement; obtain
all necessary
permits; begin
property
acquisition

Completed

Explore expansion of the

Citys mitigation banking pilot
as a funding mechanism to
facilitate the construction of
the Mid-Island and South
Shore Bluebelts

Not Started

Upon successful demonstration of the Saw Mill Creek mitigation

banking pilot, the City will explore expanding mitigation banks
to other locations citywide.

Develop pilot
mitigation
banking structure

Completed

COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY

9

Issue a Request for

Expressions of Interest (RFEI)
for new concessions and
services at City-controlled
beaches in the East Shore

Completed

An RFEI for concessions on City-controlled beachfront issued in

2014 yielded several activations over the summer including:
Staten Island Beach Fest; 7 weekends of programming and
activations at Midland Beach, and; Fantasy Shore Amusement
Park at Midland Beach and the Sunset Festival.

Issue RFEI;
activities subject
to RFEI response

Completed

10

Create a comprehensive
revitalization plan for Great
Kills Harbor to increase
resiliency and to draw
additional investment

In Progress

The City submitted an application to NFWF for this project but

was not awarded funding. The City will continue to identify
possible funding alternatives for this initiative.

Complete plan

Not
Completed

11

Create a strategic plan for public

recreational land, including the
beachfront recreation areas and
open space

In Progress

As part of a strategic East Shore planning exercise, DPR

anticipates leading a conceptual recreation planning process for
the East Shore of Staten Island in 2015.

Complete plan

Not
Completed

12

Implement planned and

ongoing investments by the
City and private partners

In Progress

Ocean Breeze construction is ongoing. The New Stapleton

Waterfront construction commenced in early 2014 and is on
schedule for 2016 completion. A Brielle Avenue developer was
selected and is a preparing ULURP application.

Complete Ocean
Breeze track and
field athletic
complex; select
respondent for
Brielle Avenue
municipal site

Partially
Completed

COASTAL PROTECTION

320

SOUTH QUEENS

E A S T A N D S O U T H S H O R E S O F S TAT E N I S L A N D

E A S T A N D S O U T H S H O R E S O F S TAT E N I S L A N D

COASTAL PROTECTION

Initiative

Call for USACE to develop an

implementation plan to
mitigate inundation risks
through Rockaway Inlet,
exploring a surge barrier and
alternative measures

In Progress

The City continues to work with the USACE through the

Rockaway Reformulation study to evaluate a Rockaway Inlet
storm surge barrier that would reduce risk, as part of a
comprehensive strategy, in all vulnerable neighborhoods
surrounding Jamaica Bay.

Launch study

Completed

Develop an implementation
plan to address frequent tidal
inundation in Broad Channel
and Hamilton Beach,
incorporating international
best practices

In Progress

The City continues to evaluate resiliency options in Broad

Channel through DCPs Resilient Neighborhoods study.

Complete study

Partially
Completed

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

321

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Complete short-term dune

improvements on the
Rockaway Peninsula

In Progress

Short-term dune improvements were completed in 2014. The

City continues to work with the USACE on its Rockaway
Reformulation Study. Investment options on the beach and in
Jamaica Bay are currently being evaluated, with final selection
of preferred alternatives expected in 2015.

Complete dune
improvements

Completed

Completed

The winners of the Arverne East resiliency enhancement design

competition were announced in October 2013 and the City is
working with the developer and winning team to pursue
implementation.

Complete
competition and
announce winning
submission

Completed

BUILDINGS
4

Complete design competition

to enhance resiliency of
planned Arverne East Project

Chapter Initiative
No.

SOUTH QUEENS

Chapter Initiative
No.

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
5

Build a new multi-specialty

ambulatory surgical center on
the Rockaway Peninsula

In Progress

NYCEDC sold the Rockaway Courthouse to a private developer

in March 2015. The site will be renovated and reopened as a
medical center, providing new health care services to the
Rockaways.

With private
developer,
complete center
and make
operational

Partially
Completed

Expand ferry service to the

Rockaway Peninsula

In Progress

The City will launch a new Citywide Ferry Service that will knit
together existing East River routes with new landings and
services to Astoria, the Rockaways, South Brooklyn, Soundview
and the Lower East Side. Service will launch in 2017.

Construct flexible
ferry infrastructure;
commence
comprehensive
Citywide Ferry Study

Partially
Completed

All City beaches were opened to the public in time for the 2013
season and included new comfort stations to replace those
damaged by Sandy. DPR continues to improve recreational
opportunities and amenities at city beaches.

Complete
summer 2013
beach programs;
complete
near-term
restoration of the
boardwalk

Completed

The City continues to prioritize funding for the Rockaway Parks

Conceptual plan and is continuing to rebuild the Rockaway
boardwalk.

Continue to
address
substantially
damaged areas of
boardwalk;
explore options
for new
beachfront
destinations issue;
RFEI for cultural
programming
partners

Partially
Completed

The City continues to foster the revitalization of the Rockaway

Peninsula through investments such as the upcoming launch of
Citywide Ferry Service as well as pursuing funding
opportunities, jointly with the State, for targeted infrastructure
and resiliency improvements in key commercial corridors
throughout the Rockaways, including Beach 108th Street,
Beach 116th Street, Mott Avenue, and surrounding business
districts.

Complete
strategy

Partially
Completed

The City continues to foster the revitalization of the Rockaway

Peninsula through investments such as the upcoming launch of
Citywide Ferry Service as well as pursuing funding opportunities,
jointly with the State, for targeted infrastructure and resiliency
improvements in key commercial corridors throughout the
Rockaways, including Beach 108th Street, Beach 116th Street,
Mott Avenue, and surrounding business districts.

Complete plan

The Urban Land Institutes Technical Assistance Panel report

was completed. Beach 20th Street Plaza design has been
finalized and construction is expected to be completed in 2015.

Complete plan;
issue RFP for
NYC/DOT/MTA
controlled sites;
complete Beach
20th Street plaza

10

11

nyc.gov/onenyc

Explore opportunities for

long-term activation of the
beachfront

Develop a revitalization
strategy for the Beach 108th
Street corridor

Completed

In Progress

In Progress

Develop a comprehensive
commercial revitalization plan
for Beach 116th Street

In Progress

Develop a commercial
revitalization strategy for Far
Rockaway, potentially
involving repositioning of
City- and MTA-controlled
sites

In Progress

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

S O U T H E R N B R O O K LY N

SOUTH QUEENS

Get New Yorkers Back to

the Beach for summer 2013

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

12

Launch a satellite Workforce1

Career Center in Far
Rockaway

Completed

A Workforce1 Career Center satellite launched in Far Rockaway

in August 2013. SBS released an RFP for the Far Rockaway
Economic Advancement Initiative in 2014. In addition, SBS, in
collaboration with NYCHA, CEO, and Citi Community
Development, is also launching a $1.1 million investment to
expand place-based economic empowerment and mobility and
connect Far Rockaway residents to high-quality, full-time
employment.

Complete and
open Center

Completed

13

Implement planned and

ongoing investments by the
City and private partners

In Progress

The City continues to implement investments to increase

resiliency in South Queens.

Launch Jamaica
Bay/Rockaway
Restoration
Corps, complete
Beach 73rd
Street YMCA

Partially
Completed

COASTAL PROTECTION

COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY

7

Initiative

Call on and work with the

USACE to study additional
Sea Gate oceanfront
protections

In Progress

The City will continue to work with the USACE on its NY Harbor
study to advance projects in vulnerable locations citywide,
including Sea Gate. Bulkheads will be improved in Sea Gate
with State funds.

Launch study

Completed

Continue to work with the

USACE to study
strengthening the Coney
Island/Brighton Beach
nourishment

In Progress

The City will continue to work with the USACE on its NY Harbor
study to advance projects in vulnerable locations citywide,
including Coney Island and Brighton Beach.

Launch study

Completed

Call on and work with the

USACE to study Manhattan
Beach oceanfront protections

In Progress

The City will continue to work with the USACE on its NY Harbor
study to advance projects in vulnerable locations citywide,
including Manhattan Beach.

Launch study

Completed

Call on and work with the

USACE to study mitigating
inundation risks through
Rockaway Inlet, exploring a
surge barrier and alternative
measures

In Progress

The City continues to work with the USACE through the

Rockaway Reformulation study to evaluate a Rockaway Inlet
storm surge barrier that would reduce risk, as part of a
comprehensive strategy, in all vulnerable neighborhoods
surrounding Jamaica Bay.

Launch study

Completed

Develop an implementation
plan and preliminary designs
for new Coney Island Creek
wetlands and tidal barrier

In Progress

The City has launched a feasibility study for a Coney Island

Creek tidal barrier.

Complete
preliminary
feasibility study
and design and
identify next
steps

Partially
Completed

In Progress

NYCHA has assessed 1007 ground/first floor apartments in

approximately 250 Sandy damaged buildings. Design of dry
flood proofing measures has commenced. NYCHA will continue
to develop plans to protect ground/first floor apartments with
FEMA funding.

Complete
outreach process
and study

Partially
Completed

BUILDINGS
6

Study additional resiliency

initiatives for ground-floor
housing within NYCHA
buildings

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
7

Support CUNY launch of

study and pilot of new
technologies for high-rise
buildings

Not Started

The City will support CUNY in its efforts.

CUNY to identify
site and launch
study and pilot

Not
Completed

Study options to ensure

resiliency of private
cogeneration facilities in the
area

Not Started

In 2014, the City explored, with stakeholders in Southern

Brooklyn, opportunities to develop cogeneration facilities. The
City will continue to pursue future cogeneration opportunities
and work to secure funding for any necessary studies.

Launch study

Not
Completed

Construct new Coney Island

Hospital outpatient clinic to
replace the destroyed Ida G.
Israel facility

In Progress

HHC is building a temporary clinic on an HPD site near the

former Ida G. Israel facility. HHC is still searching for a suitable
permanent site.

Open interim
facility

Partially
Completed

Partially
Completed

Partially
Completed

322

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One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

323

Chapter Initiative
No.

Initiative

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Call for the USACE to

develop an implementation
plan for the reinforcement of
existing Belt Parkway edge
protections

In Progress

The City will continue to work with the USACE on its NY Harbor
study to advance projects in vulnerable locations citywide,
including along the Belt Parkway

Complete study

Partially
Completed

11

Restore recreational
infrastructure along Southern
Brooklyn Beaches

In Progress

DPR continues to restore recreational infrastructure along

Southern Brooklyn beaches.

Complete
restoration of
infrastructure and
facilities

Partially
Completed

12

Complete planned drainage

improvements in Coney
Island to mitigate flooding

In Progress

The first capital project in Coney Island is currently in

construction. The project includes the installation of a new
larger outfall at West 15th Street, new storm sewers,
replacement of existing sanitary sewers, replacement and
upgrading of existing trunk and distribution water mains in West
15th Street between Hart Place and Surf avenue, as well as the
replacement of existing storm sewers in a portion of Surf
Avenue between Stillwell and West 17th Streets.

Commence first
phases of
construction and
advance design
for future phases

Completed

The City is in conversations with Sea Gate leadership on

opportunities to assist its infrastructure repairs and is working
actively with the USACE to complete coastal protections in Sea
Gate. The City will continue to work with Sea Gate Association
to study private infrastructure and prepare scope for repairs.

Work with Sea

Gate Association
to study private
infrastructure and
prepare scope
for repairs

Partially
Completed

Sheepshead Bay neighborhood was not eligible for AvenueNYC

funding, as it is not low to moderate income, thus Brooklyn
Alliance did not apply for funding.

Assist local
merchant
organizing efforts

Not
Completed

The Coney Island entertainment district had a historic season in

2014, attracting millions of visitors. The new roller coasterthe
Thunderboltopened in June to great acclaim, and the Aquarium
commenced work on their Ocean Wonders expansion project, as
planned, and received key approvals from FEMA for major repair
efforts for damage from Sandy. Further investments in the Coney
Island entertainment district, including new rides and attractions,
are planned by private operators and developers in area. The City
will continue to support the Aquarium expansion including
completion of the Ocean Wonders expansion project which is
anticipated to be completed in 2016.

Complete phase
5 of amusement
area expansion
with new roller
coaster;
commence
Aquarium
expansion

Partially
Completed

10

Provide technical assistance

to support Sea Gate in
repairing Sandy-damaged
infrastructure

In Progress

15

Work with Brooklyn Chamber

of Commerce to assist in
organizing Sheepshead Bay
businesses

In Progress

Support area recovery

through the rebuilding and
expansion of the
entertainment district

In Progress

16

Study opportunities along

Coney Island Creek to
generate economic activity and
facilitate resiliency investments

In Progress

The City has launched a feasibility study for a Coney Island

Creek tidal barrier. As part of that study, NYCEDC continues to
seek feedback from local stakeholders on related economic
development opportunities.

Complete study
of economic
development
opportunities

Partially
Completed

17

Implement planned and

ongoing investments by the
City and private partners

In Progress

There have been continued investments over the past year in

Coney Islands recreational and amusement attractions. NYC
Parks Department has continued to progress renovations at
Calvert Vaux Park. A second phase of the West 8th Street
Access Project is under construction, further improving
pedestrian connections from the subway station to the
Boardwalk via a new plaza at West 10th Street. Construction will
soon commence on the Seaside Park and Community Arts
Center project, which will bring new open space and a cultural
attraction to a long-neglected landmark building on the
Boardwalk at West 21st Street. The City continues to work with
private partners to advance the revitalization of the Coney
Islands entertainment district, building on last years opening of
a state-of-the-art roller coaster and including progress on major
efforts such as the expansion of the New York Aquarium.

Complete Calvert
Vaux Park fields;
West 8th Street
Access Project;
Coney Island
Commons and
YMCA

Partially
Completed

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

Initiative
Status

Initiative Status Description

2014 Milestone

Milestone
Status

Create an implementation
plan and design for an
integrated flood protection
system for remaining
Southern Manhattan areas

In Progress

The City, with support from the State, allocated $6.75 million in
additional funds to conduct preliminary design and planning
south of Montgomery Street to Battery Park City. In addition, the
City allocated $8 million in capital funds for the implementation
of the first-phase of construction in Battery Park. The City
continues to pursue additional funds for further implementation,
building on the Rebuild by Design planning and design process.

Commence
competition and
design study

Completed

Conduct a study for a

multi-purpose levee along
Lower Manhattans eastern
edge to address coastal
flooding and create economic
development opportunities

Completed

The City completed this feasibility study, demonstrating that the

concept of a multipurpose levee was feasible. The City will
continue to pursue protections against long-term climate
change impacts.

Complete initial
feasibility study

Completed

In Progress

DOT made several safety improvements to Water Street,

including the creation of an expanded pedestrian plaza, and an
increase in time allowed for pedestrian street crossing.

Complete
temporary
improvements
and design
permanent
improvements

Completed

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
3

COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY

14

Initiative

COASTAL PROTECTION

324

Construct physical
enhancements to Water
Street

COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY

S O U T H E R N M A N H AT TA N

S O U T H E R N B R O O K LY N

13

Chapter Initiative
No.

Implement temporary
programming of Water Street
privately owned public
spaces (POPS)

Completed

DOT completed temporary art installations in Water Street and

Whitehall Plaza and art panel installations on Gouverneur Lane
and Water Street between Wall Street and Maiden Lane.
NYCEDC facilitated temporary improvements and activations of
POPS with local partner during Spring and Summer 2014.

Approve zoning
changes, select
programming
partner, and
commence
programming

Completed

Launch a program to enable

permanent improvements to
Water Street privately owned
public spaces (POPS)

Completed

DCP is currently working with NYCEDC and the Alliance for

Downtown New York (ADNY) to draft zoning text to facilitate
upgrades of the Water Street POPS and infill of the arcades for
retail use. By April 2015, NYCEDC and ADNY will be preparing
the land use application. By the end of 2015, the zoning text
should be in public review or completed.

Create design
criteria and solicit
design
proposals;
facilitate land use
approvals

Completed

Implement planned and

ongoing investments in the
South Street Seaport

In Progress

The City continues to implement investments in the South Street

Seaport.

Complete
resiliency
improvements to
Schermerhorn
Row and
Museum Block

Completed

Use the Job Creation &

Retention Program to attract
and retain businesses in
Sandy-impacted areas of
Lower Manhattan

In Progress

The Job Creation & Retention Program was extended through

2015 and the vast majority of project funding has been
expended on projects in southern Manhattan, with the
remainder of the funds to be expended by the end of the year.

Extend and
create a new
program to make
awards to new
and renewing
tenants

Completed

Expand Take the HELM

program (Hire and Expand in
Lower Manhattan)

In Progress

The Take the HELM program was created in 2012 to reward

innovative technology and creative companies for moving to
Lower Manhattan south of Chambers Street. Since 2012, two
successful iterations of the competition have been completed
and nine companies have been awarded cash prizes of
$250,000 for moving to or relocating in Lower Manhattan. In
2015, a third iteration of the program will help develop a more
resilient Lower Manhattan by building stronger networks and
deeper collaboration among tech/creative tenants.

Expand
competition and
make awards to
businesses new
to Lower
Manhattan in the
100-year
floodplain

Completed

Implement planned and

ongoing investments by the
City and private partners

In Progress

The City continues to implement investments to increase

resiliency in Southern Manhattan.

Complete
Hudson Yards
South Tower,
Peck Slip School

Partially
Completed

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

325

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327

nyc.gov/onenyc
#OneNYC

New York City Mayors Office to Combat

Domestic Violence, New York City Domestic
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(2012)

100-year The geographical area with a 1 percent or greater chance of flooding

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500-year The geographical area with a 0.2 percent chance of flooding in any
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BIC

City of New York Business Integrity Commission

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Employment Statistics (2011)

BOEM

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

CAU

Mayors Community Affairs Unit

CBO

Community-Based Organization

CEO

Center for Economic Opportunity

CERT

Community Emergency Response Teams

CSO

Combined Sewer Outflow

CUNY

City University of New York

DCA

New York City Department of Consumer Affairs

DCAS

New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services

DCP

New York City Department of City Planning

DDC

New York City Department of Design and Construction

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DEP

New York City Department of Environmental Protection

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Development Reader (2008)

DFTA

New York City Department for the Aging

DHS

New York City Department of Homeless Services

DOB

New York City Department of Buildings

DOC

New York City Department of Correction

DOE

New York City Department of Education

DOF

New York City Department of Finance

DOH

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

DOHMH

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

DOI

New York City Department of Investigation

DOITT

New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications

DOP

New York City Department of Probation

DOT

New York City Department of Transportation

Small Business First, City of New York (2014)

DPR

New York City Department of Parks and Recreation

State University of New York, Agency

Communication (2015)

DSNY

New York City Department of Sanitation

DYCD

New York City Department of Youth and Community Development

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EPA

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

FAA

Federal Aviation Administration

FDNY

New York City Fire Department

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FEMA

Federal Emergency Management Agency

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, North Atlantic

Coast Comprehensive Study (2015)

FERC

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

FHWA

Federal Highway Administration

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009-2014

FIRM

Flood Insurance Rate Map

U.S. Census Bureau, 2009-2013 5-Year American

Community Survey (2014)

FRESH

Food Retail Expansion to Support Health

HHC

New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation

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2009-2014
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to World Class: The Future of the New York
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Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority, A

High Quality Living Environment for All
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HPD

New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development

HRA

New York City Human Resources Administration

HRO

New York City Mayors Office of Housing Recovery Operations

HUD

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

LIPA

Long Island Power Authority

LIRR

Long Island Rail Road

LPC

Landmarks Preservation Commission

MMR

Mayors Management Report

MOIGA

New York City Mayors Office of Intergovernmental Affairs

MOS

New York City Mayors Office of Sustainability

MTA

Metropolitan Transportation Authority

NAC

Natural Areas Conservancy

NFIP

National Flood Insurance Program

NPCC

New York City Panel on Climate Change

NPS

National Parks Service

NYCEDC

New York City Economic Development Corporation

NYCEEC

New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation

NYCEM

New York City Emergency Management Department

NYCHA

New York City Housing Authority

NYCSCA

New York City School Construction Authority

NYPA

New York Power Authority

NYPD

New York City Police Department

NYSDEC

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

NYSDOH

New York State Department of Health

NYSDOS

New York State Department of State

NYSDOT

New York State Department of Transportation

NYSERDA New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

NYSOSC

New York State Office of the Comptroller

OER

New York City Mayors Office of Environmental Remediation

OMB

New York City Office of Management and Budget

ORR

New York City Mayors Office of Recovery and Resiliency

PANYNJ

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

SBS

New York City Department of Small Business Services

SCA

New York City School Construction Authority

SWMP

Solid Waste Management Plan

TLC

New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission

UHI

Urban Heat Island

USACE

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

USFS

United States Forest Service

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community

Survey, 2009-2013

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

328

nyc.gov/onenyc

One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City

329

Image Credits
Introduction, Today and Tomorrow

Page 9
(NYC Timeline)
Photo credit: NYC Municipal
Archives, Shutterstock
Page 18
(Town Hall Meeting)
Photo credit: Courtesy of
NYCHA

Page 19
(Clergy photo)
Photo credit: Raghavan Kumar

Page 21
(PAL Program)
Photo credit: NYCHA

Page 23
(5 boro bike tour)
Photo credit: NYC & Company

Page 24-25
(Skyline)
Photo credit: NYC & Company

Page 32
(Infrastructure needs)
Photo credit: DEP

Page 42-43
(Technology spotlight)
Photo: NYC & Company
Vision 1

Page 52
(Applied Science)
Photo/Rendering credit:
Kilograph

Acknowledgments
Page 92
(Ferry passengers)
Photo credit: Hannah Henn
Page 95
(Red Hook Container Terminal)
Photo credit: Joshua Nelson
Page 97
(Crowded baggage claim at LGA)
Photo credit: iStockPhoto,
Stephen Chernin
Page 101
(Students in a cafeteria at Frank
Sinatra School of the Arts High
School in Queens)
Photo credit: NYC Department of
Education
Vision 2

Page 127
(Saolme Urena de Henriquez
Campus School)
Photo credit: Julio Alvarado

Vision 3

Page 163
(Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge)
Photo credit: New York City
Department of Environmental
Protection

Page 163
(Port Richmond Waste Water
Treatment Plant solar panels)
Photo credit: Emily Dean,
Department of Citywide
Administrative Services

Page 194
(Brownfield site)
Photo credit: Mayors Office of
Environmental Remediation

Page 204
(Transmitter water bottle
refilling station
and fountain)
Photo credit: Design by WXY

Page 231
(Build it Back home)
Photo: Mayors Office of Housing
Recovery Operations
Page 232
(Retrofit strategy for an attached
home)
Rendering credit: NYC
Department of City Planning
Page 241
(Cortlandt Street Tunnel)
Photo credit: Cortland St Tunnel
Image MTA New York CIty
Transit / Marc A. Hermann
Page 247
(East Side Coastal Resiliency)
Rendering credit: Bjarke Ingels
Group

We would especially like to thank the following:

Page 250
(Multipurpose levee)
Rendering credit: NYC Economic
Development Corporation

LarianAngelo, First Deputy Director, Office of Management

and Budget

Cover image
Ramiro Olaciregui / Getty Images

William Goldstein, Senior Advisor to the Mayor for Recovery,

Resiliency, and Infrastructure

We would like to thank the New

York City Mayoral Photography
Office for the many photos they
provided for this report.

Mindy Tarlow, Director, Office of Operations

Vision 4

Page 131
(Brooklyn Public Library)
Photo credit: Shutterstock
Page 137
(Staircase)
Photo credit: Nikolas Koenig
courtesy of 1100 Architect
Page 137
(Riverside Health Center)
Photo credit: Nikolas Koenig
courtesy of 1100 Architect

Page 221
(Hunts Point Resiliency)
Rendering credit: PennDesign/
OLIN
Page 221
(Harding Park)
Photo credit: NYC Department of
City Planning

Page 223
(Sheryl Nash-Chisholm)
Photo credit: Red Hook Initiative

Page 81
(Casita Maria and Dancing in the
Streets)
Photo credit: Danza Fiesta at
Paseo Photo courtesy of Casita
Maria and Dancing in the Streets

Page 224
(CERT Volunteer)
Photo credit: NYC Emergency
Management Department

Richard Buery, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives

Carl Weisbrod, Chairman, New York City Planning Commission;

Director, New York City Department of City Planning

Project Director
Nilda Mesa, Director, Office of Sustainability
OneNYC Team
Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, Susan Ambrosini, Tina Chiu, Kate
Collignon, Sarah Currie-Halpern, Linara Davidson, Michael
DeLoach, Nellie Dunn, Casey Enders, Rick Fromberg, Danny
Fuchs, Ben Furnas, Pablo Illanes, Lolita Jackson, Asima Jansveld,
Morgan Jones, Purnima Kapur, Trevor Kenmure, Jee Mee Kim,
Kumar Kintala, Matthew Klein, Jonathan Law, Douglas Le,
Nicolas Lefevre-Marton, Jose Lewis, Gwendolyn Litvak, Xiao
Linda Liu, Anish Melwani, Morgan Monaco, Olivia Moss, Sophie
Nitkin, Joseph Pikiewicz, Albert Pulido, Vincent Riscica, Jack
Robbins, RoseAnn Ryan, Kavya Shankar, Jessica Singleton, Amy
Spitalnick, Jamie Torres Springer, Daniel Steinberg, Sonam
Velani, Kelly Wang, Dominic Williams, Adam Zaranko

Page 87
(Port Authority Bus Terminal)
Photo credit: Michael Nagle

nyc.gov/onenyc

Steering Committee
Anthony Shorris, Chair, First Deputy Mayor

Daniel A. Zarrilli, Director, Office of Recovery and Resiliency

Page 221
(Starlight Park)
Photo credit: NYC Department of
Parks and Recreation

Page 57
(Brooklyn Navy Yard - Building 92)
Photo credit: Tom Olcott

OneNYC is the product of the tremendous dedication, hard

work, and input from nearly all City offices and agencies, as well
as the immense number of community and non-profit
organizations, elected officials, experts, academics, and private
sector leaders who contributed their time and energy to share
their knowledge of the city, helping us shape the innovative
strategies and initiatives in OneNYC. We want to thank the
exceptionally hardworking and talented team at NYC &
Company for all of their assistance. And finally, OneNYC would
not have been possible without the help of over 10,000 New
Yorkers who voiced their opinions at town hall meetings and
online, providing invaluable insights and ideas about our city.
OneNYC is for themand for future generations.

The incredibly hardworking staffs at the following City

offices and agencies:
Office of the First Deputy Mayor, Office of the Deputy Mayor for
Health and Human Services, Office of the Deputy Mayor for
Housing & Economic Development, Office of the Deputy Mayor
for Strategic Policy Initiatives, Administration for Childrens
Services, Business Integrity Commission, Center for Economic
Opportunity, Civilian Complaint Review Board, Commission on
Human Rights, Community Affairs Unit, Department for the
Aging, Department of Buildings, Department of City Planning,
Department of Citywide Administrative Services, Department of
Consumer Affairs, Department of Correction, Department of
Cultural Affairs, Department of Design and Construction,
Department of Education, Department of Environmental
Protection, Department of Finance, Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene, Department of Homeless Services, Department
of Housing Preservation and Development, Department of
Information Technology and Telecommunications, Department
of Investigation, Department of Parks and Recreation,
Department of Probation, Department of Records and
Information Services, Department of Sanitation, Department of
Small Business Services, Department of Transportation,
Department of Youth and Community Development, Health and
Hospitals Corporation, Human Resources Administration,
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Mayors Sustainability Advisory Board

Co-Chairs
Larisa Ortiz, Larisa Ortiz Associates; Commissioner, New York
City Planning Commission
Donovan Richards, Jr., City Council, Chair, Committee on
Environmental Protection
Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of The Earth Institute, Quetelet
Professor of Sustainable Development, and Professor of Health
Policy and Management at Columbia University; Special Advisor
to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the
Millennium Development Goals

Members
Vincent Alvarez, President, New York City Central Labor Council

Bomee Jung, Deputy Director, Enterprise Community Partners,

City Planning Commission
Eric Klinenberg, Professor of Sociology, NYU
Gary LaBarbera, President of the NYC Building and
Construction Trades Council
Peter J. Madonia, CEO, The Rockefeller Foundation
Melissa Mark-Viverito, Speaker, New York City Council
Cheryl McKissack Daniel, President & CEO, McKissack &
McKissack
Michael Northrop, Program Director, Rockefeller Brothers Fund

Richard T. Anderson, President, New York Building Congress

Kate Orff, Founder & Design Director, SCAPE/Landscape

Architecture

Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and Executive Director, The

Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies

Adam Parris, Director of Jamaica Bay Science and Resilience

Institute at Jamaica Bay, CUNY

John Banks, President, Real Estate Board of New York

Lee H. Perlman, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice

President, Greater New York Hospital Association

Xavier de Souza Briggs, Vice President, Ford Foundation

Carlton Brown, CEO, Full Spectrum of NY, LLC
Marcia Bystryn, President, New York League of Conservation
Voters
Andrew H. Darrell, Chief of Strategy, Energy and New York
Regional Director at Environmental Defense Fund
Jenny Dixon, Director, The Noguchi Museum
Margaret ODonoghue Castillo, President-Elect, American
Institute of Architects, New York State
Ingrid Ellen, Faculty Director, Furman Center for Real Estate
and Urban Policy
Robert E. Englert, Director of Land Use, Planning &
Infrastructure
William Floyd, Head of External Affairs, Google
Peter Goldmark, Independent Consultant

Allison Sesso, Executive Director, Human Services Council of

New York
Peggy Shepard, Executive Director, WE ACT for Environmental
Justice
Kate Sinding, Senior Attorney and Deputy Director, New York
Urban Program of Natural Resources Defense Council
Lisa Sorin, Executive Director, Westchester Square Business
Improvement District
Amy Sugimori, Director of Policy and Legislation, Local 32BJ
SEIU
Mark Treyger, City Council, Chair, Committee on Recovery and
Resiliency
Thomas K. Wright, President, Regional Plan Association
Kathryn Wylde, President & CEO, Partnership for New York City
Elizabeth C. Yeampierre, Executive Director, UPROSE

Henry Gutman, Chairman of the Board, Brooklyn Navy Yard;

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
David R. Jones, President & CEO, Community Service Society of
New York

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