The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) first published the Street Design Manual in 2009 to establish a consistent framework for designing safer, more accessible, and more sustainable streets. It was developed to clearly communicate design policies, streamline project delivery, and support design excellence in the public right-of-way. Since its release, the Manual has guided a citywide shift—from a street network built primarily for automobiles to one that supports safe, convenient, and multimodal travel for all users.
The Fourth Edition reflects a period of momentum and measurable progress. In just the past three years, DOT has installed 87.5 miles of protected bike lanes—more than ever before—and hardened over 20 miles of lanes with physical infrastructure to better protect riders. In 2023 alone, the agency added 31.9 miles of protected bike lanes, marking the highest annual total to date.
Streets are also being reshaped to better serve pedestrians. Since 2021, the agency has created 1.5 million square feet of new pedestrian space, including 350,000 square feet in the last year alone—roughly the size of eight city blocks. DOT also completed 2,688 intersection upgrades in 2023, implementing proven design strategies to improve safety and visibility.
Accessibility has expanded citywide. Over the past three years, 2,222 Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) have been installed, including 885 in the last year, making it easier for blind and low-vision New Yorkers to safely cross city streets.
To improve transit, DOT delivered 17.9 miles of new, upgraded, or newly protected bus lanes in 2023—the highest annual total on record. This included 5.5 miles of newly installed protected bus lanes and 12.4 miles protected by bus-mounted enforcement cameras, improving commutes for riders across the five boroughs.
Beyond these Streets Plan milestones, the City continues to reimagine our streets to support the needs of all New Yorkers. In 2023, DOT launched Dining Out NYC, the country’s largest permanent outdoor dining program, which is already more than twice the size of the city’s pre-pandemic program. Public space programming also expanded, with over 200 Open Streets locations supported each year, Summer Streets extended to all five boroughs, and a new curb management pilot launched on the Upper West Side to explore how curb space can better support loading, biking, parking, and public access.
All of this builds on the foundation of the NYC Streets Plan, established by Local Law 195 of 2019. While some benchmarks remain challenging due to citywide resource constraints, DOT continues to scale up implementation—conducting nearly 2,600 outreach events last year alone, expanding staff, and investing in new operational capacity.
This edition of the Street Design Manual reflects those efforts and helps carry them forward. With updated design guidance rooted in equity, safety, and public life, the Manual remains an essential tool for shaping a street network that works better for all New Yorkers.