By Y.M. Lowy

As public school began for the upcoming year, the city is adding more safety measures around schools to slow down traffic and make it safer for children walking to and from school.

The Department of Transportation has installed 15 mph school zones at more than 200 schools so far. The city says the zones will be in place at nearly 800 schools by the end of 2026.

The city is also installing Open Street gates near schools across New York City. The gates help create temporary vehicle-free spaces outside schools, giving students more room and helping make drop-off and pick-up safer.

The Open Streets program also allows schools to use the space for outdoor activities such as recess, outdoor learning, lunch and school events. The program is especially useful for schools that do not have a gym or designated outdoor space.