Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Bloomberg announces plaza is permanent on Broadway


Published: Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Updated: Thursday, March 11, 2010 20:03

Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced on Feb. 11 that the Broadway Pedestrian Plaza will now be permanent. The Plaza has created 2.5 acres of space for tourists and residents.

In May 2009, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a program, Green Light for Midtown, to shut down the parts of Broadway to traffic that run through Times Square and Herald Square.

The program was put in place to reduce traffic in popular Midtown tourist destinations. "Anything that slows down these taxi drivers is alright by me," sophomore Danielle Davis said.

According to GPS data and statistics, the program has improved New York City's (NYC) streets. Before the program was put into place, the intersections at these tourist destinations were constantly cluttered with people, cyclists and vehicles causing some of the most traffic accidents and pedestrian deaths throughout the entire city.

Although 6th and 7th Avenues may carry more traffic now, the amount of travel time going north, east and west of these locations in decreasing. Traveling south is increasing by forcing vehicles to find other routes rather than to cut through one of the intersections.

Now, according to Nyc.gov, "northbound travel speed in West Midtown improved 17 percent from fall 2008 to fall 2009, 6th Avenue buses are running 13 percent faster, motorists and passenger injuries declined 63 percent, while injuries to pedestrians dropped 35 percent."

"I agree with [what] they have done on 42nd and 34th St but now the M7 bus line doesn't run on that block, it's a block away to get to the M7 bus," junior Marlenne Rojas said.

The M7 bus has now been moved to 7th Avenue. Data reports show that the bus line is running more often since it is no longer getting stuck on the intersection of 6th Avenue and 42nd Street. This only allows more passengers to catch the bus more frequently even if it's only one avenue away.

These two new Plazas have created a haven for tourists and residents of NYC. There has been a six percent increase of foot traffic in Herald Square and an 11 percent increase in Times Square, according to Nyc.gov.

With the program now permanent, which is the first of many plazas that Mayor Bloomberg looks to create, he also stated that he will provide "enhanced landscaping" and more durable chairs and tables that will last longer for the years to come.

"I love the Plaza because it is a pleasant tourist feature that allows members of the community to sit and relax and not worry about getting run over," sophomore Ivanna Coello said.

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