NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a notice regarding an upcoming public hearing and opportunity to comment regarding some proposed permanent car share rules, pursuant to Section 1043(b) of the New York City Charter.

 

The notice will being published in the City Record on Wednesday, Oct 6, and the public hearing will be held virtually on Monday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m.

 

What DOT is proposing?

The New York City Department of Transportation (“DOT”) is proposing an amendment to DOT’s Traffic Rules in relation to the implementation of a permanent carshare parking program.

 

When and where is the hearing?

DOT will hold a public hearing on the proposed rule online. The public hearing will take place on Monday, November 8, 2021 at 2pm.

 

Join through Internet:

To join the hearing via your browser either click on the following URL link or copy and paste it into your browser’s address bar. https://zoom.us/j/98039328714?pwd=dUFPUVVESzBGb1o4YTFuOEZZOXFLZz09

 

Join Zoom Meeting

• Meeting ID: 980 3932 8714
• Password: 427295
• Follow the prompts. if you have low bandwidth or inconsistent internet connection, use the phone option, outlined below.

 

Join via phone only:

To join the meeting only by phone, use the following information to connect:

• Phone: (646) 518-9805 or (929) 205-6099
• Meeting ID: 980 3932 8714
• Password: 427295

 

How do I comment on the proposed rules?

Anyone can comment on the proposed rules by:

• Website. You can submit comments to DOT through the NYC rules website at http://rules.cityofnewyork.us.
• Email. You can email comments to rules@dot.nyc.gov
• Mail. You can mail comments to Stevie Feig, City Planner, 6th Floor, New York City Department of Transportation, 55 Water Street, New York, NY 10041.
• Fax. You can fax comments at 212-839-9685.
• By Speaking at the Hearing. Anyone who wants to comment on the proposed rule at the public hearing must sign up to speak. You can sign up before the hearing by emailing rules@dot.nyc.gov or calling 212-839-6500 by Friday, November 5, 2021 and including your name and affiliation.

 

While you will be given an opportunity during the hearing to indicate that you would like to provide comments, we prefer that you sign up in advance. You can speak for up to three minutes.

 

Is there a deadline to submit written comments?

Yes, the deadline for written comments is at 5pm on Monday, November 8, 2021.

 

What if I need assistance to participate in the Hearing?

You must tell the DOT Office of the General Counsel if you need a reasonable accommodation of a disability at the hearing other than the one(s) indicated above. You must tell us if you need a sign language interpreter. You can tell us by e-mailing at rules@dot.nyc.gov or calling 212-839-6500 by November 1, 2021.

 

Can I review the comments made on the proposed rules?

You can review the comments made online on the proposed rule by going to the website at http://rules.cityofnewyork.us/. A few days after the hearing, copies of all comments submitted online and copies of all written comments concerning the proposed rule will be available through the DOT Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Office at https://a860-openrecords.nyc.gov/ or 55 Water Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10041.

 

What authorizes DOT to make this rule?

Sections 1043 and 2903(a) of the New York City Charter authorizes DOT to make this proposed rule. This rule was included in DOT’s fiscal year 2021 regulatory agenda.

 

Where can I find the Department of Transportation rules?

DOT’s rules are in Title 34 of the Rules of the City of New York.

 

What laws govern the rule making process?

DOT must meet the requirements of Section 1043 of the City Charter when establishing or changing rules. This notice is made according to the requirements of Section 1043(b) of the City Charter.

 

Statement of Basis and Purpose of Proposed Rule

The Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) is authorized to issue rules regarding parking and traffic operations in the City pursuant to Section 2903(a) of the New York City Charter.

 

In June 2018, DOT launched a carshare parking pilot program in accordance with Local Law 47 of 2017 and Local Law 50 of 2017. The pilot designated 230 on-street parking spaces in 14 pilot zones and 55 parking spaces in municipal parking facilities for use by participating carshare companies.

 

The Bronx location of the pilot zone was as follows:

• Parkchester, BX

 

The Bronx locations of the municipal parking facilities were as follows:

• Belmont Avenue, BX
• White Plains Road, BX
• Jerome & 190 Street, BX

 

 

Although car sharing services have existed in New York City for decades, this pilot marked the first time that DOT provided dedicated “carshare parking only” spaces at the curb and in its municipal parking facilities through a permit system. The goals of the carshare pilot were to:

• Expand access to carshare, including to neighborhoods underserved by carshare services and to low-and moderate-income New Yorkers; and
• Analyze the impact of carshare on car ownership, total vehicle miles traveled (VMT), and on-street parking availability.

 

Based on data from the first two years of the pilot, DOT concluded that the carshare parking pilot program achieved was successful and effective. The spaces were well used, provided a valuable service to New Yorkers without cars, expanded access to carshare to a more diverse set of neighborhoods, led carshare members to delay purchasing a personal vehicle, and supported the City’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. Additionally, DOT found that siting carshare spaces in pairs allows optimal utilization rates and more unique users to use the service.

 

More information on the pilot carshare program can be found on DOT’s website here: https://www1.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/carshare.shtml.

 

 

As a result, the agency plans to establish a permanent program. This proposed rule would establish and provide guidelines for the implementation of a permanent carshare parking program. The amendments to the DOT Traffic Rules being proposed are as follows:

• Repeal and re-promulgate existing paragraph (6) of Section 4-08(o) describing the permitting process for the permanent carshare program.
• Amend Sections 4-08(i) and 4-08(o)(2) in relation to municipal parking facilities. Specifically, among other things, the proposed rule would:
• Establish permitting procedures and requirements
• Establish criteria for designating carshare parking spaces, and
• Provide criteria for allocating carshare parking spaces to participating carshare organizations.

 

For further information, click on the following link:

DOT Proposed Permanent Car Share Rules – Preliminarily Certfied – FINAL (1)