In May 2006, the Department of Transportation obtained final approval on a 20-year street furniture franchise, a plan that will bring over $1 billion to the City while it meets its main goal of providing more useful bus shelters, sleek news racks, standard-sized newsstands and for the first time: permanent public toilets. The plan originated from a 1992 experiment by the David N. Dinkins’ administration that placed four public pay toilets on city sidewalks but was never pushed to a final contract despite being hailed a success.

At DOT, Kerry Gould-Schmit was among those who advocated that DOT revisit the revenue-generating plan in 2002 as the City strained to regain its financial footing after 9/11. Now as DOT’s Assistant Commissioner for the Coordinated Street Furniture Franchise, Gould-Schmit has brought the proposal through approvals, litigation and early implementation. She talks to CityLand about the plan and her path to DOT. (read more…)