Midtown makeover, Times Sq becomes Pedestrian Mall

[katty]

more: http://www.nypost.com/seven/02262009/news/regionalnews/broadway_cars_can_take_a_walk_157028.htm

BROADWAY CARS CAN TAKE A WALK
CITY TO BLOCK TRAFFIC FROM TIMES, HERALD SQUARES

By DAVID SEIFMAN, CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF
Mayor Bloomberg announced that traffic lanes along Broadway from 33rd to 35th streets will be torn up starting Memorial Day and transformed into pedestrian plazas until at least the end of the year.

February 26, 2009

The Great White Way will turn into a great walkway.
In a stunning Midtown makeover, Mayor Bloomberg announced today that traffic lanes along Broadway from 42nd to 47th streets and from 33rd to 35th streets will be torn up starting Memorial Day and transformed into pedestrian plazas until at least the end of the year.

PHOTOS: Broadway as a Pedestrian Mall

"By making targeted adjustments at Broadway's two main pinch points, we believe we can ease traffic congestion throughout the Midtown grid," Bloomberg said. "We are going to closely monitor the results to determine if this pilot works and should be extended beyond its trial period."

[LSparkle]

1. Sounds good to me .. It's faster to walk in that area than to cab it anyway n/t

[Politicalboi]

2. I don't live in NY

But wouldn't it be less expensive if they just closed the street before tearing it up to make it look pretty. From what I get it's an experiment. Why tear up the road?

"We are going to closely monitor the results to determine if this pilot works and should be extended beyond its trial period."

[DoctorMyEyes]

3. yeah, that sounds a bit backwards

and as a former New Yorker it sounds like a totally fucked up idea anyway. I'll have to ask my son (current NYer how he feels about it since he still contends with getting around the city and I don't.

[Politicalboi]

4. Yeah it doesn't make sense

If they don't know how it's going to go over. To take the time to tear up the road and if doesn't work, tear out the bricks and lay the road again?

[barb162]

5. I like Times Square the way it is, bustling, dirty, cars all over ,etc.

[marmar]

6. Great. Make it to an even more gauche tourist trap.....

I love the Apple. I despise Times Square.

[shellgame26]

7. That's a great idea!

Now if they can just expand the bikeways