Statement From NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn on City Council Vote to Establish Year-Round Roadway Dining

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2026
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Statement From NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn on City Council Vote to Establish Year-Round Roadway Dining

NEW YORK - New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn issued the following statement on the City Council's decision to amend its law to allow for permanent outdoor dining on roadways:

"NYC DOT welcomes the Council's passing of year-round roadway dining, which builds on the agency's success in establishing a permanent program with clean, resilient and airy roadway cafe setups. New Yorkers love dining outside, and outdoor seating makes our streets more vibrant while helping support the small businesses we cherish. Restricting roadway dining to a specific period was a hurdle that hurt restaurants' participation in the City's Dining Out NYC program, because many establishments couldn't easily store roadway setups during the offseason. We will continue to ensure our program promotes safe, accessible, and clean setups and explore any measures to make it easier for restaurants to participate. The separate COGE proposal relating to outdoor dining would also further simplify the process and reduce costs for small businesses by $1,800."