New York City’s Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) developed Smart Curbs as a neighborhood-scale effort to rethink how curb space is used. The Upper West Side pilot covers the area between West 72nd and West 86th streets, from Central Park West to Broadway. NYC DOT announced public outreach for the pilot in December 2023, working with the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) and local stakeholders. 7
The project responds to competing demands at the curb, including delivery activity, double parking, passenger pick-ups and drop-offs, bike parking and short-term parking. To understand local needs, the department gathered data and feedback through an online map, public workshops, on-street and business surveys, and meetings with the Columbus Avenue BID; its June 2024 presentation reported engagement with hundreds of community members. 5
The plan combines changes to parking rules with new uses for curb space. NYC DOT’s 2024 launch announcement described measures intended to improve safety, reduce congestion, support deliveries and create cleaner public spaces. 4 The department’s presentation proposed 23 new daytime loading-zone locations, which it said had been found to reduce double parking by up to 73%. 5 The broader set of planned treatments included bike parking, delivery microhubs and public space, alongside loading areas. 36
Implementation began in October 2024, with the first phase including new loading zones, bike corrals and a public seating area developed with the Columbus Avenue BID. 12 The project is a pilot intended to test a more comprehensive, data-informed approach to curb management; NYC DOT has described the Upper West Side as a model for considering how curb space might be improved in other neighborhoods. 11