24-589 : Bike Ped Advisory Board - Memorializing NYS Leg to Pass SAFE Streets Act

This item is a resolution from the City of Buffalo's Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Board memorializing the New York State Legislature to pass the SAFE Streets Act. The Act aims to reduce traffic collisions through improved road design and vehicle safety standards.

Key proposed measures include:

• Complete Street Maintenance (S2714/A01280): Integrating complete street design features into road resurfacing and maintenance projects.
• Complete Streets Budget Increase: Proposing an increase in the Department of Transportation's Capital Projects Budget for Complete Streets from $5 million to $10 million.
• Stop as Yield (S1724/A04346): Allowing cyclists to treat stop signs as yields and stop lights as stop signs to reduce vehicle conflicts.
• Speed Limiters for Repeat Offenders (S2643/A3986): Mandating intelligent speed assistance technology for drivers with repeat offenses.

The resolution highlights that between 2017-2021, Erie and Niagara counties saw an average of 67 crashes per day, with 64 annual fatalities, and 3,472 crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists. Hospitalization charges in Erie County alone averaged $18.6 million annually due to traffic crashes. The Board unanimously adopted this resolution on March 5, 2024, emphasizing that passing the SAFE Streets Act will save lives and improve street safety.