The New York City Council unanimously passed a new set of bills that would shorten the duration of sidewalk sheds permits and establish new design recommendations by September, a move supporters say will increase public safety in the city.

A tragedy spawned the strict regulations in place today. City lawmakers enacted measures to expand inspection requirements for sidewalk sheds after a Barnard College student was struck and killed by a falling chunk of facade in Morningside Heights in 1979.

The City Council approved a legislative package aimed to reduce the number of scaffolding structures on New York City streets.