NYC Expands 15 MPH Zones to Protect School Routes

NYC expands 15 mph school zones to 800 more sites by 2026, targeting 3,200 schools by 2029

NYC Cuts School Zone Speeds to 15 MPH at 800 Sites

New York City will reduce speed limits to 15 mph at 800 additional school zones by the end of 2026, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced. The expansion brings the city's total to 1,300 school zones with the lower limit, part of a broader effort to protect students citywide. Currently, only 500 of the city's 1,200 existing school zones have 15 mph limits, with the rest set at higher speeds.

Context

The initiative follows passage of Sammy's Law in 2024, named after 12-year-old Sammy Cohen Eckstein who was killed by a driver in Brooklyn in 2013. Since that tragedy, nearly 2,900 New Yorkers have been killed by dangerous driving, with more than 100 of them being children. Mamdani cited NYPD data showing speeding causes 25% of all traffic fatalities in the city. The Department of Transportation says a pedestrian struck at 25 mph is more than three times as likely to be seriously injured than one struck at 15 mph.

Implementation Details

The city's ultimate goal is to establish 15 mph limits at all 3,200 eligible public, private, parochial and charter K-12 schools by the end of 2029. Mamdani made the announcement at Flushing International High School in Queens, where a 15 mph limit was being installed on 147th Street between Barclay Avenue and Sanford Avenue. The DOT will prioritize locations based on safety data and give local community boards a 60-day notice before implementing new speed limits at each site.

Timeline

The 800 new school zones will receive 15 mph limits by the end of 2026, officials said. The phased rollout will continue through 2029 to reach all eligible schools across the five boroughs. Community boards will receive 60-day advance notice before speed limit changes take effect in their districts, giving residents time to review the safety improvements planned for their neighborhoods.

Rider Impact

The lower speed limits are expected to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities near schools, particularly during morning and afternoon hours when students arrive and leave. Parents and students who use buses to reach school zones may notice slower traffic flow in designated areas. Moovit provides real-time transit updates and route planning for families navigating New York City's school commutes across all five boroughs.