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    Improving Traffic Flow & Safety in The Heart of Midtown

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    Arthur Puttner
    This document proposes a pilot program to improve traffic flow and safety in Midtown Manhattan by modifying traffic patterns and signals along Broadway between Times Square and Herald Square. It notes that Broadway currently disrupts the street grid and creates complicated intersections that slow traffic. The pilot would give traffic on 6th Avenue and 34th Street more green signal time by reducing it for Broadway. It argues this would improve traffic flow while also creating safer streets for pedestrians, more open space, and economic benefits for local businesses. The changes would be implemented and evaluated over the summer on a trial basis.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Improving Traffic Flow & Safety in The Heart of Midtown

    Uploaded by

    Arthur Puttner
    126 views19 pages
    This document proposes a pilot program to improve traffic flow and safety in Midtown Manhattan by modifying traffic patterns and signals along Broadway between Times Square and Herald Square. It notes that Broadway currently disrupts the street grid and creates complicated intersections that slow traffic. The pilot would give traffic on 6th Avenue and 34th Street more green signal time by reducing it for Broadway. It argues this would improve traffic flow while also creating safer streets for pedestrians, more open space, and economic benefits for local businesses. The changes would be implemented and evaluated over the summer on a trial basis.

    Original Description:

    this is a guide about broadway

    Original Title

    Broadway

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    This document proposes a pilot program to improve traffic flow and safety in Midtown Manhattan by modifying traffic patterns and signals along Broadway between Times Square and Herald Square. It notes that Broadway currently disrupts the street grid and creates complicated intersections that slow traffic. The pilot would give traffic on 6th Avenue and 34th Street more green signal time by reducing it for Broadway. It argues this would improve traffic flow while also creating safer streets for pedestrians, more open space, and economic benefits for local businesses. The changes would be implemented and evaluated over the summer on a trial basis.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    126 views19 pages

    Improving Traffic Flow & Safety in The Heart of Midtown

    Uploaded by

    Arthur Puttner
    This document proposes a pilot program to improve traffic flow and safety in Midtown Manhattan by modifying traffic patterns and signals along Broadway between Times Square and Herald Square. It notes that Broadway currently disrupts the street grid and creates complicated intersections that slow traffic. The pilot would give traffic on 6th Avenue and 34th Street more green signal time by reducing it for Broadway. It argues this would improve traffic flow while also creating safer streets for pedestrians, more open space, and economic benefits for local businesses. The changes would be implemented and evaluated over the summer on a trial basis.

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    You are on page 1of 19

    Janette Sadik-Khan

    Commissioner

    Broadway Pilot Program

    Improving Traffic Flow & Safety in the


    Heart of Midtown
    February 2009

    Broadway Disrupts the Street Grid, Creates


    Complicated Intersections

    Broadway at Herald Square

    ue
    Av
    en
    6 th

    This creates significant


    delays on 6th Avenue &
    34th Street

    Broadway

    Broadway competes for


    green signal time with 6th
    Avenue & 34th Street

    34 th

    Str
    ee
    t

    Existing

    Broadway at Times Square


    Broadway created a
    complicated intersection
    with 7th Avenue
    Wide crossings require
    long red lights while
    pedestrians clear
    intersections, causing
    traffic delay

    Existing

    Making Traffic Work


    in Midtown

    W.
    4

    5 th

    Str
    ee
    t

    Av
    en
    ue
    34 t h

    Str
    ee

    6 th

    7 th

    Av
    en
    ue

    Targeted traffic improvements will maximize throughput


    and reduce congestion on the avenues

    Making Traffic Work


    in Midtown
    Broadway at Herald Square
    Green Signal Time Allocation
    Today

    Broadway Pilot

    Traffic modifications give drivers up to


    66% increase in green lights, faster travel times
    6

    Making Traffic Work


    in Midtown
    Bus travel times improve
    for the over 75,000 daily
    passengers on local
    routes
    Subway riders get more
    space near two of the
    citys busiest stations,
    which serve 300,000
    passengers daily.

    Additional Benefits:

    Safer Streets

    Broadway has one of


    Manhattans worst safety
    records

    Additional Benefits:

    Safer Streets
    Targeted improvements
    to Times and Herald
    Squares will reduce
    accidents and expand
    space for people
    Over 356,000 walk
    through Times Square
    daily.
    Though there are 4.5
    times as many people as
    vehicles, only 11% of the
    space is currently
    allocated for pedestrians.
    9

    Additional Benefits:

    Safer Streets
    Broadway at Times
    Square averages 137%
    more pedestrian crashes
    than at other avenues in
    the area
    After DOT made
    improvements to
    Broadway from 42nd
    35th Street in 2008, trafficrelated injuries fell by
    50%

    10

    Additional Benefits:

    Broadway will work


    better for businesses
    Project will help economically
    underperforming areas of Broadway

    Broadway office rental market lags 25% behind


    other prime midtown corridors
    6th Ave (59-42nd Street) - $80 / sq ft
    Park Ave (61st-44th Street) - $79 / sq ft
    Broadway (59th-42nd Street) - $59 / sq ft

    Times Square, Broadways top Class A district


    lags behind other premier Class A office hubs
    Rock Center - $76 / sq ft
    Times Square - $65 / sq ft
    11

    Additional Benefits:

    Broadway will work


    better for businesses
    Studies show
    increased foot traffic
    improves retail
    sales and rents
    Former bus stops
    available for new
    loading zones
    City team to work
    with businesses to
    quickly address any
    other concerns
    12

    Additional Benefits:

    Broadway will maintain or


    improve emergency response times
    Traffic makes it
    nearly impossible for
    emergency vehicles
    to get through Times
    and Herald Squares
    A fire lane, will be
    maintained at all
    times down
    Broadway

    13

    Additional Benefits:

    Broadway will increase


    green space in midtown
    Columbus Circle
    To W. 57th Street

    Times Sq.
    Northwest
    W. 47th to
    W. 45th

    Herald Sq.
    Northwest
    W. 35th to 6th
    Ave
    Herald Square
    To 26th Street

    Times Sq. Southeast


    W. 45th to W. 42nd

    Herald Sq.
    Southeast
    6th Ave to
    W. 33rd

    Over 3 acres of new open space


    Greenery added at 24 locations
    14

    Additional Benefits:

    Broadway will attract and


    retain Times Square
    tourists and employees
    Visitors and employees
    surveyed by the Times
    Square Alliance all want
    improved streetscapes,
    traffic restrictions and wider
    sidewalks for more room to
    move
    Nearly 75% of international
    visitors walk or take transit
    to Broadway shows
    15

    New projects have proven popular

    Business Improvement Districts help Madison Square and Broadway


    upgrades
    BID survey shows over 84% of people in the Flatiron District enjoy the 2008
    16 improvements shown

    Broadway Pilot Improvements will


    be built quickly, efficiently
    and inexpensively
    DOT will use
    in-house staff
    and resources to
    deliver the
    project this year
    Estimated cost
    $1.5 million

    17

    NYCDOT Proven Track Record


    THRU Streets
    Program to prohibit turns off of designated Midtown streets generally between 3rd
    and 6th Avenues
    Reduced cross-town travel times by 25%

    Park Avenue Tunnel

    Program to increase pedestrian safety by closing the southbound tunnel between


    East 40th and East 33rd Streets
    As predicted, travel times on local southbound Park Avenue between East 49th
    and 31st Streets increased by only 1 minute in the AM peak, and 2 to 3 minutes
    in the PM peak
    Illegal pedestrian crossings decreased significantly at Park Avenue/33rd Street
    Citywide pedestrian accident ranking decreased from No.1 in 2000 to No. 17 in
    2007 from as a result of DOT efforts

    Broadway - 42nd to 35th Street, 2008

    Injuries to street users down 50% year-to-date


    Similar redesign of 9th Avenue reduced injuries by 56% after 1 year

    18

    Project Timeline
    Feb

    March

    April

    May

    June

    July

    Aug

    Public outreach
    Preliminary
    roadway
    improvements
    Preliminary narrowing of Broadway
    Targeted traffic changes at Times and
    Herald Squares begin Memorial Day
    Weekend
    -- 7th Avenue reconnected
    -- 6th Avenue at 34th Street simplified
    -- Broadway closed at Times & Herald
    squares

    Implementation of markings, pedestrian


    refuge islands, new signals and public
    space amenities
    Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of pilot
    19

    Dec

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