NEWYORK: Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn welcomed New York City students back to school with new measures designed to make the streets around schools safer for children, families and all New Yorkers.
From hundreds of new 15 MPH School Slow Zones and school street redesigns to the return of Open Streets and the city’s first gated school Open Street, the administration is expanding proven tools to slow traffic, create more space for pedestrians and make getting to and from school safer.
“Every student deserves to feel safe when they make their way to school, and every parent deserves the same peace of mind,” said Mayor Mamdani.
“From Sammy’s Law and Open Streets to installing street redesigns near 300 City schools, our administration will continue to take action to ensure our streets are safe, especially those surrounding our children’s schools.”
“As a parent of two NYC public school students, I understand the importance of Open Streets as an opportunity to provide safe, open-air environments for children to learn and play — while also providing parents and guardians calmer and more social pick-ups and drop-offs,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn.
“We are using innovative tools to help keep children safe at school, from new street designs to an expansion of our School Slow Zones through our Sammy’s Law commitment.”
“Implementing Sammy’s Law around our schools will make New York City’s streets safer for children, and I am thrilled to see hundreds of 15 MPH school zones already installed,” said Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick.
“Together with school zone speed cameras and new approaches like the Clarkson Open Street gate, these measures will help keep students, families, school staff and surrounding communities safer.”
“For too long, we’ve asked parents to rush their kids across intersections that were built for speed, not for safety: that has to change,” said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal.
“I’m elated DOT is moving forward with a robust slate of proposals to improve safety for Manhattan’s school children, including expanding 15 MPH school slow zones under Sammy’s Law, implementing an Open Street Gate on Clarkson St. and advancing street redesigns in front of more than 300 schools in 2026 alone. I’m grateful to Mayor Mamdani and Commissioner Flynn for prioritizing the safety of Manhattan’s school children, and I look forward to working in partnership to deliver street safety improvements across every corner of our borough.”
“We have to make sure our kids can get to and from school safely, and this back-to-school announcement delivers on that promise,” said Council Member and Transportation Chair Shaun Abreu.
“From the largest-ever expansion of Sammy’s Law to the first-ever gate on a school Open Street, the city is proving that safer, more welcoming school streets are possible. I look forward to working with Commissioner Flynn and his team to bring these improvements to even more schools across the city.”
“Clarkson Street will soon be a safer, more welcoming block for the students of City-As-School and M.S. 721, and for every family who walks it every morning, thanks to the open street gate,” said Council Member Carl Wilson.
“I’m proud to see NYC DOT bring this Rues aux Écoles-inspired gate to our community, alongside wider sidewalks, new seating and safer crossings that put kids first. I want to thank Mayor Mamdani for his continued investment in Sammy’s Law and in street safety citywide. Expanding 15 MPH school slow zones to hundreds of schools this year is exactly the kind of bold, life-saving action our streets need.”
“For a decade, members of Families for Safe Streets fought to pass Sammy’s Law, giving DOT a crucial tool to save lives. With school starting, we need to slow down dangerous drivers across our city,” said Ben Furnas, Executive Director at Transportation Alternatives. “Redesigning and reducing speeds on the streets in front of schools is a common-sense measure to protect the youngest New Yorkers, and every school deserves an Open Street!”
“Clarkson Street will be New York City’s first school street designed with a swing arm gate, creating a welcoming, safe outdoor space where students of all abilities can gather and enjoy spending time outside with their entire school community. This block, which will also feature a street seat, including space for students to garden, will be a model for schools across the entire city, thanks to the immense support and engagement from staff and students at City-As and M721,” said Sabina Sethi Unni, Community Planner at Open Plans.
