Times Square will be closed to vehicle traffic beginning Memorial Day weekend, announced Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Thursday. The pilot program, “Green Light for Midtown” is being implemented to reduce traffic congestion. Herald Square will also be closed to vehicle traffic.
The program was announced during a press conference held at the Marriot Hotel on Times Square. It will discontinue vehicle traffic on Broadway from 47th Street to 42nd Street and from 35th Street to 33rd Street. Pedestrians travel will be uninterrupted.
Also attending the conference were Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and other city officials and business owners.
“Nearly 200 years ago the city planners of New York City created a clear and simple pattern of north-south avenues and east-west streets for Manhattan. It has regulated the borough’s flow of traffic ever since. But there has, as you well know, been a major exception to this orderly arrangement and that’s called Broadway,” Bloomberg said.
Broadway, which carries one-way traffic southbound, runs diagonally. When it intersects with an avenue or street, it results in both delays and dangers for both drivers and pedestrians, Bloomberg explained.
“One of the solutions unclogging these Broadway ‘pinch points’ as we call them, has long been hiding from us in plain sight, but we’ve seen what we think is going to be a great solution. All the computer programming says this is going to work and we’re going to try it,” he said.
“Beginning this Memorial Day weekend, the end of May, when driving in Midtown normally begins to fall off for the summer, we’ll launch a test diverting southbound auto-traffic from Broadway at its two worst pinch points. The two worst pinch points are Times Square and Herald Square.”
7th avenue will be connected through Times Square and 6th avenue will continue through Herald Square. The hope is that the plan will reduce traffic times and improve safety. The cutting of traffic along Broadway is estimated to speed up traffic by 17 percent on 7th avenue and by 37 percent on 6th avenue.
The city has implemented similar traffic closes before, such as with the intersection of Broadway, Amsterdam, and 72nd street. According to Bloomberg, at these times there was no negative impact on traffic. Green light times will also increase in some areas, allowing for better traffic flow.
“Broadway is the backbone of some of Manhattan’s proudest landmarks and tourist attractions,” said Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer in a press release. “Comprehensive transportation steps like this one can enhance the quality of life of pedestrians and retail activity of Times and Herald Squares.”
With the closing of the roads, another hope is that business will improve as pedestrians travel is improved. New pedestrian plazas will also be created on Broadway from 47th to 45th Streets, from 45th to 42nd Street, and from 35th to 33rd Street. They will provide more than 2.5 acres of new public space. Several business owners are pleased with the new plan.
“The time for improving congestion at Herald Square - Macy’s front yard - is long overdue,” said Ed Goldberg, senior vice president for Government and Community Relations at Macy’s in a press release. “This project will create a much safer and more enjoyable experience for everyone at this important shopping and transportation hub, and we applaud Mayor Bloomberg for taking this innovative and exciting approach.”
Dan Biederman, president of the 34th Street Partnership also stated in a press release that “creating more room and a safer environment for pedestrians has been a priority of ours for years.”
“We strongly support the efforts of Mayor Bloomberg and the Transportation Department to improve the Broadway corridor for the benefit of the area’s workers, shoppers and businesses,” he said.
Work for the pilot program on Broadway will begin Memorial Day weekend. It is expected to be completed by September. The results of it will be tracked until the end of the year to determine if it will be continued.
The pilot program is estimated to cost the city $1.5 million.
The program was announced during a press conference held at the Marriot Hotel on Times Square. It will discontinue vehicle traffic on Broadway from 47th Street to 42nd Street and from 35th Street to 33rd Street. Pedestrians travel will be uninterrupted.
Also attending the conference were Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and other city officials and business owners.
“Nearly 200 years ago the city planners of New York City created a clear and simple pattern of north-south avenues and east-west streets for Manhattan. It has regulated the borough’s flow of traffic ever since. But there has, as you well know, been a major exception to this orderly arrangement and that’s called Broadway,” Bloomberg said.
Broadway, which carries one-way traffic southbound, runs diagonally. When it intersects with an avenue or street, it results in both delays and dangers for both drivers and pedestrians, Bloomberg explained.
“One of the solutions unclogging these Broadway ‘pinch points’ as we call them, has long been hiding from us in plain sight, but we’ve seen what we think is going to be a great solution. All the computer programming says this is going to work and we’re going to try it,” he said.
“Beginning this Memorial Day weekend, the end of May, when driving in Midtown normally begins to fall off for the summer, we’ll launch a test diverting southbound auto-traffic from Broadway at its two worst pinch points. The two worst pinch points are Times Square and Herald Square.”
7th avenue will be connected through Times Square and 6th avenue will continue through Herald Square. The hope is that the plan will reduce traffic times and improve safety. The cutting of traffic along Broadway is estimated to speed up traffic by 17 percent on 7th avenue and by 37 percent on 6th avenue.
The city has implemented similar traffic closes before, such as with the intersection of Broadway, Amsterdam, and 72nd street. According to Bloomberg, at these times there was no negative impact on traffic. Green light times will also increase in some areas, allowing for better traffic flow.
“Broadway is the backbone of some of Manhattan’s proudest landmarks and tourist attractions,” said Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer in a press release. “Comprehensive transportation steps like this one can enhance the quality of life of pedestrians and retail activity of Times and Herald Squares.”
With the closing of the roads, another hope is that business will improve as pedestrians travel is improved. New pedestrian plazas will also be created on Broadway from 47th to 45th Streets, from 45th to 42nd Street, and from 35th to 33rd Street. They will provide more than 2.5 acres of new public space. Several business owners are pleased with the new plan.
“The time for improving congestion at Herald Square - Macy’s front yard - is long overdue,” said Ed Goldberg, senior vice president for Government and Community Relations at Macy’s in a press release. “This project will create a much safer and more enjoyable experience for everyone at this important shopping and transportation hub, and we applaud Mayor Bloomberg for taking this innovative and exciting approach.”
Dan Biederman, president of the 34th Street Partnership also stated in a press release that “creating more room and a safer environment for pedestrians has been a priority of ours for years.”
“We strongly support the efforts of Mayor Bloomberg and the Transportation Department to improve the Broadway corridor for the benefit of the area’s workers, shoppers and businesses,” he said.
Work for the pilot program on Broadway will begin Memorial Day weekend. It is expected to be completed by September. The results of it will be tracked until the end of the year to determine if it will be continued.
The pilot program is estimated to cost the city $1.5 million.
![[LIVE Q&A 04/16 at 10:30AM ET] Trump Taken Off Campaign Trail to Stand Trial in New York](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F04%2F15%2Fid5629991-CR-TN_REC_0416-1080x720.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Friends Read Free