The proposed funding would begin to dig the city Department of Transportation out of Adams's failure to meet the benchmarks established under the Streets Master Plan law. A 2025 report from the Independent Budget Office accused the former mayor of denying DOT the funds that agency officials said they needed to build the 150 new miles of bus lanes and 250 miles of new bike lanes over the five years of the plan.
The first mayor tasked with implementing the city's Streets Master Plan pitched himself on the campaign trail as someone who wouldn't just hit the goals of the plan but surpass them. Yet four years later, the closest Adams's Department of Transportation came to the master plan's mandatory 50 miles of bike lanes per year was 31.7 miles in 2023. Mayor Adams oversaw a DOT that installed just 15 miles of new bus lanes in three years, when the law required 80.
Streetsblog provides high-quality journalism and analysis for free - which is something to be celebrated in an era of paywalls. Once a year, we ask for your tax-deductible donations to support our reporters and editors as they advance the movement to end car dependency in our communities. If you already support our work, thank you! If not, can we ask for your help? This year's fundraiser includes a special gift for our biggest supporters. Don't miss out.