Int. No. 2178
By Council Member Levine
A Local Law in relation to requiring the department of transportation to study the impact of e-commerce deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
COVID-19. The term “COVID-19” means the 2019 novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV.
E-commerce. The term “e-commerce” means electronic commerce or internet commerce, the buying and selling of goods online and not in a physical store.
Open Streets. The term “Open Streets” means streets open to limited vehicular traffic by the mayor and department of transportation for pedestrians and cyclists to use while maintaining social distancing. Such term shall also include the use of streets, sidewalks and curb lanes for outdoor dining space.
b. Study on the impact of e-commerce deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning 30 days after the effective date of this local law, and annually thereafter, the department of transportation shall, in consultation with the department of environmental protection, the department of consumer and worker protection, the small business administration and any other relevant agencies, conduct a study of the impacts of e-commerce deliveries in particular by companies delivering over 5,000 packages each day in the city. Such study shall include, but need not be limited to, an analysis of the following information for the prior calendar year, and a comparison to such information before the COVID-19 pandemic:
1. The volume of e-commerce deliveries;
2. An assessment of e-commerce delivery vehicle traffic, including:
(a) Any impact on congestion, including traffic in residential areas and whether traffic flow changed due to e-commerce deliveries;
(b) Any impact on roadway maintenance, including whether increased maintenance was needed due to e-commerce deliveries;
(c) Any impact on pedestrian spaces, sidewalks and pedestrian plazas, including whether such spaces were used for e-commerce delivery parking, package sorting or package drop-off; and
(d) Any impact created by the interplay between the Open Streets program, or any similar successor program, and e-commerce deliveries;
3. An assessment of air quality in residential neighborhoods, including any 311 complaints related to e-commerce deliveries and air quality from residents of such neighborhoods; and
4. Any impact of e-commerce deliveries on local businesses, including businesses whose regular course of operations includes sending and receiving e-commerce shipments and a list of such businesses disaggregated by the estimated average number of shipments per day.
c. Annual report. No later than November 1, 2021, and annually thereafter until November 1, 2023, the department shall submit to the mayor and the council, and post on the department’s website, a report on the impact of e-commerce deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Such annual reports shall include:
1. The information described in subdivision a of this section for the relevant reporting period, disaggregated by borough and zip code where appropriate, and a comparison to such information before the COVID-19 pandemic;
2. The results of all prior studies required by this local law; and
3. Recommendations to reduce any detrimental impacts of increased e-commerce deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately and expires and is deemed repealed on December 1, 2023.
JG
LS #16047
10/30/20 12:49 PM