I would like to offer you my sincerest thanks for all you did to make Car Free Day a success this year.
We saw thousands take to the streets across the City to experience and enjoy open streets and all the possibilities they hold. From programming to promotion and planning, your contribution to this effort was key to making the second year of Car Free NYC a bigger and better event. We made waves nationally and internationally and I expect this effort to grow in the coming years. We could not have done any of this without you.
In the coming months, we will hear from Cubic Transportation Systems about the impacts of this year's events, as well as how they differed from our successes last year. Yet, regardless of the results, I am confident that New Yorkers enjoyed and appreciated what you helped to provide and will therefore continue to be open to more permanent car-free streets going forward.
Our great partners at the NYC Department of Transportation played a major role in this event and I must give a special thanks to Commissioner Trottenberg and her team in helping with the logistics and organizing much of the programming along the Broadway corridor. The forward-thinking DOT has also begun to move in a more car-free direction with the first ever "Shared Street," which featured prominently at 23rd Street and Broadway on Saturday. I am hopeful this program will expand in the coming months and years so that more spaces are pedestrianized across our city.
As we've discussed, this is not just about removing cars from our streets for a day, it is about placing emphasis on investing more in our public transportation systems. It is about creating conditions where areas that are currently reliant on cars can have the option and incentive to give them up. It is also about combating climate change and lowering our collective impact as a city. The healthiest communities are ones that are walkable and I believe we contributed to proving that this year.
As we look forward to next year, I have already made it my goal, ambitious as it is, to close the full length of Broadway, from the Battery to the north Bronx. With your support and continued engagement in this important event, we can make this a reality. I look forward to continuing our successful partnership in the coming months as we work to create a greater New York City for all. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!
NYC Council Member, District 10
