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NYC carriage horse plan still needs council approval

File- This April 28, 2014, file photo shows a horse-drawn carriage rides through Central Park, in New York. New York City officials are close to a deal that would save Central Park's horse-drawn carriages from a threatened ban. A City Hall official not authorized to speak publicly about ongoing union negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday the plan would substantially reduce the number of horses operating in the city.(AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
File- This April 28, 2014, file photo shows a horse-drawn carriage rides through Central Park, in New York. New York City officials are close to a deal that would save Central Park's horse-drawn carriages from a threatened ban. A City Hall official not authorized to speak publicly about ongoing union negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday the plan would substantially reduce the number of horses operating in the city.(AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File) File- This April 28, 2014, file photo shows a horse-drawn carriage rides through Central Park, in New York. New York City officials are close to a deal that would save Central Park's horse-drawn carriages from a threatened ban. A City Hall official not authorized to speak publicly about ongoing union negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday the plan would substantially reduce the number of horses operating in the city.(AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

By Associated Press 2 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – A deal to reduce the number of horse-drawn carriages in New York City and permanently move stables to Central Park will now go to the City Council for approval in a compromise between the drivers and Mayor Bill de Blasio, who had pledged to end the popular rides.

The mayor, the union representing carriage drivers and Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said late Sunday they reached a deal that would reduce the number of horses from about 180 to 95 and confine operations to the park. It’s unclear whether the agreement would include compensation for carriage drivers who lose their jobs.

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement in concept on the future of New York’s horse carriage industry,” they said in a joint statement. “We look forward to working together on the final details of this legislation and getting this passed.”

The City Council will hold hearings in the next few weeks and then vote on the agreement.

Under the terms, the number of hours per day a carriage may operate will be reduced to nine and carriages will be able to charge an extra $5 for trips after 6 p.m. between Nov. 15th and Jan. 5, and on Valentine’s Day or Easter. A stable must be established within Central Park for the horses by October 2018 with room for 68 carriages and 75 horses.