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Community board plans outreach as DOT shifts Open Streets to application model
Summary
Manhattan City executive committee members said DOT’s change to an application-based Open Streets program will require targeted outreach to block associations and community groups; committee will host a DOT briefing and consider calling groups to explain application responsibilities.
The Manhattan City Executive Committee said the city Department of Transportation’s (DOT) recently announced Open Streets program change — shifting to an application-based model — will require proactive outreach so neighborhood block associations and smaller community groups can apply.
Committee Chair Carter said DOT’s announcement means “it's a matter of community organizations, all sorts of community based organizations deciding whether they want to apply for an open street,” and announced a DOT representative will give an overview at Thursday’s traffic and transportation meeting to answer questions.
Members said DOT’s application form narrows discretionary outreach: the city has not sent applications to many smaller block associations, committee members said. The board office has a list of block associations and several members offered to call likely candidates directly to explain what an application and subsequent street management would require.
Janine Kiley, who leads the board’s involvement on the topic, told members the application criteria largely match elements in the board’s earlier resolution but that the program now asks applicants to specify days and hours and can approve shorter or experimental closures rather than long continuous spans. Committee members raised concerns about liability, staffing for cones and barricades, and the day‑to‑day duties required of applicant organizations.
The committee agreed to ask Bob, the district manager, to email the known community groups and invited board volunteers to help with phone outreach before the DOT briefing. Members also asked DOT to explain typical expectations for monitoring closures and how emergency-vehicle access would be managed.
Board members said the aim is to educate prospective applicants so they understand the operational commitments and liability questions before applying. The traffic and transportation meeting will include DOT staff and Eric Baca from a council member’s office to answer process questions, the committee concluded.
Looking ahead, members said they will report back after the DOT briefing and consider more targeted phone outreach to groups that seem most likely to apply.
