Lawmakers to allow NYC to lower speed limit to 20 mph

New York City will get the authority to lower the speed limit to 20 miles per hour on most streets in the five boroughs as part of the emerging state budget deal in Albany, state leaders said Thursday.

Gov. Kathy Hochul during a news conference acknowledged a version of “Sammy’s Law” made it into the final budget agreement. The measure will allow the City Council to pass legislation that lowers the current default speed limit of 25 miles per hour on nearly all of the city’s streets.

Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan), who sponsors the bill along with Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, confirmed the measure is set for passage as part of the budget.

But lawmakers said the change wouldn't apply to some of the city's busiest streets.

Rosenthal said the deal will not allow the city to lower the speed limits on roads with three or more lanes of traffic heading in one direction, a caveat that was designed to get city-based members of the Legislature on board with the deal.

The final version of the measure was not yet published when Hochul made her remarks.

"No family should have to suffer through the loss of a loved one due to traffic violence, and the Adams administration has consistently advocated for Sammy’s Law because New York City needs the tools to keep everyone safe on our streets," Liz Garcia, a spokesperson for City Hall, said in an email. "We worked closely with our state partners and advocates at Families for Safe Streets to get more flexibility to set speed limits in thoughtful, targeted ways, and we are hopeful that this will help prevent senseless tragedies while honoring the life of Sammy Cohen Eckstein."

The City Council as well as Mayor Eric Adams would still need to sign off on the change

“This is about trying to eliminate all unnecessary deaths, and one of the ways you do that is by making the speed limit lower,” Rosenthal said.

The bill is named in memory of Sammy Cohen Eckstein, a 12-year-old Brooklyn boy who was killed by a speeding driver near his home in 2013. His mother, Amy Cohen, led a group of grieving parents who spent years pushing for the law, making frequent trips in Albany in hopes of convincing lawmakers to take it up.

"The price I have paid to fight for this kind of change is not one I wish on anyone," Cohen told Gothamist on Thursday. "It's been 10 years since Sammy died, and every day is hard, but days like this, when we are fighting for change in the name of those we have lost, is huge."

Cohen said reducing the speed limit will save lives. She said a year after her son died, another boy was struck in front of her apartment by a vehicle going slower than the one that killed her son. The other boy lived.

"It's literally the difference between life and death," she said.

More than 100 children have been killed by vehicles since 2013, according to an analysis by street safety advocates Transportation Alternatives.

“It’s a real credit to the advocates, and in particular Sammy’s mom,” Hoylman-Sigal said on Thursday evening. “They were persistent, and it’s a good lesson to all of us in the public realm. If you have a good idea, it may take some time, but justice prevails.”

Hochul told reporters in Manhattan that speed limits should be up to localities, not lawmakers in Albany.

“I feel it’s a success for the localities to be empowered to do what they think is right for their constituents,” she said. “I cannot wait to hug Sammy’s family, and we’ll do an official signing — with a lot of tears, I’m sure.”

The City Council last year requested state lawmakers allow for the lower speed limits, but the deal ultimately failed in Albany after some members of the Legislature raised concerns over other aspects of city streets like e-bikes and speed bumps.

"Albany has been too slow in giving New York City the ability to lower street speed limits, but I will be relieved to see it happen,” city Comptroller Brad Lander wrote in a statement.

This story has been updated with new information.