BILL NUMBER: S4508
SPONSOR: RAMOS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to establishing
scramble crosswalks leading to and from school buildings during times of
student arrival and dismissal
 
PURPOSE:
Mandates scramble crosswalks, adjacent to schools during hours of opera-
tion, allowing pedestrians to cross without any vehicular traffic to
protect students and families from being struck
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 Amends VAT to add section 1640-s, which mandates scramble
crosswalks leading to and from schools during weekdays at 8:00 AM to
4:00 PM in cities of one million or more; describes vehicular, cycling,
and pedestrian traffic rules during that time. Additionally, defines
scramble crosswalks
Section 2 Sets effective date
 
JUSTIFICATION:
As of February 2020, 232 cyclists and 819 pedestrians have been injured
on New York City streets with 11 pedestrians killed. The NYPD Motor
Vehicle Collision Report Statistics identifies error or confusion by
pedestrians or bikes, failure to yield right-of-way, traffic control
disregard, and turning improperly as some contributing factors to injury
and fatal collisions. Decreased education funding has limited transpor-
tation options for school districts. Many students walk to and from
school, increasing pedestrian traffic during school hours of operation.
The implementation of pedestrian scramble crosswalks will increase the
safety of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles limiting chances of injury
and death.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S2515C (Ramos) - Passed the Senate / A5001B (Cunningham) -
Referred to Transportation
2021-22: S2880 (Ramos) - Referred to Transportation
 
FISCAL IMPACT:
TBD
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect 90 days after it becomes law.