NYC Broadway to go pedestrian only

[AVERAGE JOE]

Just announced this morning. Talk about a radical change!
http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/02/26/a-bold-and-transformative-new-vision-for-broadway/

[cannon_fodder]

Amazing idea.  I'd be really interested to hear what people who travel in NYC have to say about it, the planners all seem to think it will clear up a ton of congestion.  If really improves congestion, it will probably be a go.

A couple questions not addressed:

1) What about businesses along Broadway?

Many bars, shops, restaurants and notably theaters and hotels have immediate drop off areas in front of them.  Patrons have their cab/limo drop them off directly in front of the business.  Would not having such a luxury disadvantage them compared to a shop a block over?

Similarly, those shops are currently on a major street.  People SEE THEM as they drive by going both directions.  Not only Broadway, but on the streets that will become one way will lose half their street vision.  If your business is not seen by passers by you lose business.

(I understand there are counter arguments here, but I think they are valid poitns)

2) Parking structures.

Structure parking is BIG business in NYC.  I imagine more than a couple dump out under Broad from floors 2-8 of buildings, from below grade, and entire parking structures.  What happens to that if the street you empty onto becomes a pedestrian mall?  You paid a ton extra for a building with attached parking so your executives (or you, the owner) could park at the office - losing that value is a huge loss.

- - -

Anything this big has issues. I'm very interested to see how it turns out.

[edit]
Also worth noting that this plan will make the trees leaf out:


[/edit]

[Gold]

Sucks for the hotel business.  There must be a catch.

[AVERAGE JOE]

Regarding the businesses on Broadway:

quote: To measure the plan's effect, DOT will be closely monitoring a number of criteria including economic data. With numerous storefronts vacant and office and retail rental rates lagging behind other prime Midtown corridors, Broadway is currently "underperforming" by a number of economic measures, Sadik-Khan said. Based on experience in other cities, a more pedestrian-friendly Broadway should "get more people out on the street. They will buy more coffee and do more shopping."

And as it turns out, Broadway will be pedestrian-only in two segments -- Times Square and Herald Square. The rest of the street will still allow auto traffic, but with pedestrian enhancements.

[Double A]

I was having flashbacks to Tulsa's own ill fated, pedestrian only, downtown, main mall there for a second.[]

[OurTulsa]

I can't wait to see this improvement.  It will be a boon to that entire stretch of B'dway from Columbus Cirlce to Madison Sq.  While only Times and Herald Sq.s will get the ped-only treatment it will be nice to see other parts get pedestrian enhancements.  They already converted a lane of B'dway south of 42nd and feed back has been more than positive.

B'dway has always been an absolute speedway allowing people to fly through the City from north to south and at the same time a choking mechanism for 7th and 6th Aves.  Those intersections are nightmares.  I remember as a very young newby to the City driving almost 45-50mph down to the Village and not necessarily leading the pack (getting passed by taxis).  Then I remember times sitting on 42nd St. trying to get across Times Sq. for what seemed for an eternity.  As long as I've known B'dway it has been a harsh and unpleasant walk.  Shops along the stretches of B'dway outside of the Squares are dead partly and i suspect largely because their streets were auto-dominated and their streetscapes sucked.  NYC commerce, Manhattan in particular, doesn't thrive on attracting drive by consumers.  That's silly, there's no where to park on impulse.  They thrive on good pedestrian environments or quality of goods and services and reputation.  

Times Sq. was the last place you would catch me in the City.  Partly because of the over-commercialization but mostly due to the crush of people packed on limited sidewalks trying to navigate around the grid lock centered on 42nd St./7th Ave./B'dway for much of the day.  I hated it.  I lived right off of 46th west of Times Sq. and would puposefully go around it.  Now, seems as if it will be transformed into something far more pleasant. And i really think taking out B'dway will improve vehicular traffic through that intersection.  

It won't suck for the hoteliers.  I can't think of any that have entrances on those parts of B'dway they're proposing to close.  Even if there were, people are so intrigued by Times Sq. that it wouldn't keep people from walking one block with luggage in tow.  

I am in love with Janette Sadik-Khan, the Transporation Czar for NYC.  She is literally transforming that City under Bloomberg.