Overview
- Comptroller Mark Levine released a report Thursday showing just 74 schools used School Streets and only 48 were public schools at the start of the 2025–2026 year.
- The report finds the current approval process requires multiple plans, letters of support, and can take up to 90 days to review, which places the heavy coordination burden on school principals.
- Levine’s office mapped 324 schools that lack outdoor space but abut streets likely eligible for School Streets, highlighting fast near-term expansion opportunities across all five boroughs.
- The report recommends concrete fixes including relieving principals of paperwork, designating School Street liaisons, updating the three‑page implementation manual, and improving outreach to schools.
- Advocacy groups have offered an application toolkit to help schools apply while the DOT says it is reviewing the comptroller’s findings and recommendations.