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Q&A

Sanchez on previous administration and Hoboken daylighting models

New York City Council · May 29, 2026 · starts 0:49:37 · 2 min 15 sec

Sanchez compares NYC's estimates to Hoboken's low-cost daylighting interventions starting at $1,500 per intersection and Portland's $700-800 per intersection, arguing NYC's costs are inflated.

Justin Sanchez

I know you are a committed commissioner, but I have to come after Commissioner Beaton on his information from the past.

Justin Sanchez

You're a good boss.

Justin Sanchez

Thank you for coming to his defense.

Justin Sanchez

The previous administration, which was no friend of this policy, could only manage to inflate the cost to $17,000 per intersection.

Justin Sanchez

This is baffling considering if we apply this number to all 40,000 intersections of the city, the total cost is around 22% of that $3 billion number you and the administration touted.

Justin Sanchez

That the previous administration has touted.

Justin Sanchez

Are you aware of that, Mr.

Justin Sanchez

Beaton?

Eric Beaton

So, yeah, I think we discussed it a little bit here, and as the commissioner said, we're happy to get into more detail about what it costs and what it takes to do this work.

Justin Sanchez

Are you aware that Hoboken was able to roll out daylighting in mass by starting with low-cost interventions like paint and plastic delineators, which can start for as low as $1,500 per intersection?

Eric Beaton

We regularly talk to all of our neighbors about what and how they do things and what they cost in different locations.

Justin Sanchez

Are you also aware that Hoboken studied levels of interventions, including $2,000 to add some bike racks intersections?

Eric Beaton

I cannot speak to familiarity with every piece of...

Justin Sanchez

I mean, this is information I'm confident in, and it still comes nowhere near the cost that this administration is estimating.

Justin Sanchez

Last year at the daylighting hearing, Councilmember Wan mentioned that DOT reported to her office that it would cost $10,000 to harden daylight and intersection, which agrees with the council's analysis and which she stated publicly for the record.

Justin Sanchez

Do you disagree with your own agency's analysis?

Eric Beaton

I'm sorry, I wasn't totally following, but we've said it's 10,000, right?

Eric Beaton

That sounds the same.

Eric Beaton

I think it's difficult to get into some of these details without everything in front of us.

Eric Beaton

We're more than happy to talk to you and make sure we are all looking at the same cost.

Margaret Forgione

Can you just clarify?

Justin Sanchez

Sorry, I'm not done with the line of questioning, Councilmember.