§ 19-159.8 Improvement of paved medians.
AC § 19-159.8
a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings: High priority investment area. The term “high priority investment area” means an area of the city determined by the department to have a greater need for infrastructure investment based on a relatively low amount of prior investment, a relatively high population of low income residents, and any other factors considered by the commissioner to be relevant. Paved median. The term "paved median" means a portion of a median under the jurisdiction of the department which is between 2 intersecting streets and does not include planted vegetation or stormwater management infrastructure. b. The commissioner, in collaboration with the commissioner of parks and recreation and the commissioner of environmental protection, shall improve at least 1 linear mile of paved medians every 2 years until 2046. Improvements pursuant to this subdivision shall be made where feasible and appropriate as part of a street reconstruction project or projects impacting consecutive blocks of a street for which funds have been appropriated in the capital budget, and shall be made in each of the 5 boroughs. When determining where such improvements shall be made, the commissioner shall prioritize improvements in high priority investment areas. Such improvements shall include adding planted medians, tree beds, or stormwater management infrastructure. c. Beginning February 1, 2026, and every February 1 thereafter until February 1, 2046, the commissioner shall submit a report to the mayor and the speaker of the council detailing the length and location of any paved median improved pursuant to this section in the preceding calendar year, the cost of making such improvement, and whether such improvement was made in a high priority investment area. Such report may be included in the update required by paragraph 2 of subdivision d of section 19-199.1. d. The department shall be responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of all medians improved pursuant to this section, except that the mayor may designate any other agency or office to be responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of any median improved pursuant to this section. This section does not interfere with the commissioner of parks and recreation’s jurisdiction or responsibilities over trees and vegetation pursuant to section 18-104. The department shall post on its website a list or map that identifies each median improved pursuant to this section, and identifies the agency or office responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of that median. (L.L. 2024/094, 10/12/2024, eff. 1/10/2025)
