Dear Fellow New Yorkers,
It is my great honor to introduce the fourth edition of the New York City Street Design Manual, a foundational guide for shaping the streets of our city. This edition marks a pivotal step forward by embedding Equity as a core principle—ensuring that historically underserved communities receive the infrastructure and public space improvements they need. Equity in street design means every New Yorker, regardless of where they live, has access to safer, more accessible, and more welcoming streets.
Since 2014, Vision Zero has driven record reductions in traffic fatalities across New York City. Our data shows that the greatest declines in pedestrian and traffic fatalities have been in neighborhoods where Asian, Black, and Hispanic residents make up the majority, demonstrating the tangible benefits of prioritizing historically underserved communities. We have also made significant investments in Priority Investment Areas (PIAs), ensuring equitable distribution of street redesigns, safer intersections, and enhanced pedestrian and bike infrastructure.
Equity is more than a concept—it is a practice that must be embedded in all facets of our work. Whether through safer pedestrian infrastructure, an expanded bike network, new public plazas, or improved bus corridors, the Street Design Manual reflects our commitment to designing streets that serve all New Yorkers.
The Fourth Edition builds on the legacy of past versions while incorporating our latest advancements in climate resilience, mobility, and public space design. We have restructured key sections, such as Geometry and Activations, to improve clarity and usability. Additionally, we have integrated Dining Out NYC, making outdoor dining a permanent and thoughtfully designed feature of our streetscape.
The Street Design Manual would not be possible without the dedication of our city agencies and partners who work tirelessly to enhance our urban environment. Their expertise and collaboration have shaped this essential resource for designers, planners, and advocates committed to transforming our public space.
New York City's streets are the threads that weave our communities together. Through this Manual, we reaffirm our commitment to creating streets that are safer, fairer, and more vibrant for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Ydanis Rodriguez
Commissioner
New York City Department of Transportation