THE FUTURE OF OUTDOOR DINING As the NYC Hospitality Alliance recently informed you, the Department of Transportation released their proposed Rules, which is the last step in finalizing the details of “Dining Out NYC” — the city’s permanent outdoor dining program and the largest in the country. The proposed Rules include many provisions that will allow for the implementation of the program, and include what so many have been waiting for, which is the design requirements and guidelines for the future of roadway dining a.k.a. streeteries, siting criteria on where outdoor dining set-ups can be located in relation to other street features like subway entrances, fire hydrants, and more; and the types of materials that can be used in outdoor setups. They also require that the setups preserve clear sidewalk paths and emergency roadway lanes — including water-filled, rat-resistant protective barriers for roadway setups — and use easily moveable furniture and coverings. WHAT’S NEXT? The Department of Transportation is now accepting written comments on these proposed Rules until Monday, November 20th, after they host a virtual public on hearing that day beginning at 10:00AM. The NYC Hospitality Alliance has begun a detailed review and will submit in-depth technical comments on the 29 pages of proposed Rules on behalf of member businesses. We welcome feedback from restaurateurs and other experts so we may consider incorporating them into the comments we’ll submit to the Department of Transportation. If you’d like to share comments with us, please do so by November 15th, but the sooner the better. PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO THE NYC HOSPITALITY ALLIANCE | 
