NYC Gazette

June 23, 2023

Video available at: https://youtu.be/UaUieQR5qqc

Work Completed This Week Adds Two New Plazas, Shared Streets, and Two-Way Bike Connections Along Broadway, From West 25th Street to West 32nd Street

Next Phase of Broadway Vision Will Deliver Permanent Capital Improvements, From West 21st Street to West 33rd Street

Project Delivers on Commitments in Mayor Adams’ “Working People’s Agenda” and “New” New York Action Plan

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today celebrated the completion of a new phase of the Adams administration’s “Broadway Vision” plan, which has created vibrant, new public spaces and improved street safety between Madison Square and Herald Square in Manhattan. Kicked off in March, this phase of the plan delivered two new plazas, two new blocks of shared streets, and a two-way bike connection along Broadway, from West 25th Street to West 32nd Street.

“Today, we are delivering major improvements along seven blocks of Broadway, reclaiming space for people to enjoy, and showing the world that New York City is back,” said Mayor Adams. “People have talked about this project for years, and our administration got this work done in a few short months — ready for New Yorkers to enjoy this summer. And we are moving forward with even more permanent improvements to make an even larger stretch of this iconic street available to the public going forward. That’s what we call promises made, promises kept.”

“In a mere three months, DOT delivered a transformative project — enhancing pedestrian and cyclist access, while driving foot traffic to support local businesses,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “The Broadway Vision project exemplifies the Adams administration’s dedication to building new public spaces as quickly as possible to create a more vibrant and people-centered city.”

“This is what reimagining public space looks like,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “What was once a multi-lane roadway is now a bustling, vibrant corridor of plazas and shared streets, where crowds of New Yorkers and visitors are dining out, enjoying this iconic corridor by foot or by bike. We thank Mayor Adams for his vision and support and look forward to seeing this beautiful public space improved on even further with permanent materials.”

The view north from West 25th Street and Broadway after public space and street safety improvements under the Adams administration’s Broadway Vision plan. Credit: New York City Department of Transportation

The view north from West 25th Street and Broadway before public space and street safety improvements under the Adams administration’s Broadway Vision plan. Credit: New York City Department of Transportation

Rendering of Greeley Square after capital construction work is completed. Credit: “New” New York Panel

This completed section of Broadway is the latest piece of the Adams administration’s comprehensive Broadway Vision plan to create safe, vibrant public spaces along Broadway, from Union Square to Columbus Circle. The stretch of Broadway now includes several traffic-calming treatments and public space enhancements: 

• Plazas between West 25th Street and West 26th Street and between West 26th Street and West 27th Street;
• Curb extensions and narrower turns to calm traffic;
• Shortened crossings and wider crosswalks to enhance pedestrian safety;
• Two-way bike boulevard treatments, along with related signage and signals;
• Reconfigured curb lanes to facilitate loading and pickups/drop offs; and
• Additional public space and cycling amenities, like seating, planters, increased Citi Bike capacity, and additional bike parking.

In partnership with the Flatiron NoMad Partnership, the city is also permitting outdoor dining at restaurants in the plaza areas between West 25th Street and West 27th Street.

With the completion today of the redesign — done within months using in-house resources — DOT is continuing to develop a plan for permanent capital improvements from West 21st Street to West 33rd Street.

The completion of this project marks 15 blocks along Broadway that have been transformed into plazas or shared/slow streets through the Broadway Vision plan — creating 111,200 new square feet of pedestrian space between Union Square and Columbus Circle, as well as 49,400 square feet of new shared space. Shared streets — also known as “pedestrian-priority” streets — are roadways designed for slow travel speeds where pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists all share the right of way. Typically used on low vehicle-volume or high pedestrian-volume streets, vehicles are advised to drive five miles per hour.

The completed project also delivers on a key commitment in Mayor Adams’ “Working People’s Agenda,” which included a $375 million investment to create extraordinary new public spaces across the city. The administration has marked milestones in other major public space projects through that investment this year, including Broadway Junction in Brooklyn and the Arches in Lower Manhattan. This phase of Broadway Vision also builds on “Making New York Work for Everyone,” the action plan put together by the “New” New York panel that Mayor Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul convened in 2022.

“When we prioritize people over private cars, we bring our neighbors together with new public spaces while making New York a safer city for pedestrians,” said U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler. “I applaud the opening of the latest phase of the Broadway Vision, which brings us closer to a Vision Zero future, expands bicycle access, and helps calm our congested streets.”

“The future of Manhattan must include improving our streetscapes, and Broadway presents us with a perfect opportunity to create more space for people,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “The Broadway Vision plan is a strong step toward a future where all New Yorkers — pedestrians, cyclists, micro-mobility users, motorists, and more — are able to travel safely. I applaud the mayor and Commissioner Rodriguez for their quick work thus far and look forward to a future where Broadway from Union Square to Columbus Circle better suits the needs of all New Yorkers.”

“Our transformation of Broadway in NoMad has made this vital corridor safer for pedestrians, better for local businesses, and more enjoyable for residents, commuters, and visitors to our neighborhood. This is a model of what a ‘New’ New York can and should be,” said James Mettham, president, Flatiron NoMad Partnership. “We were proud to work with City Hall and the Department of Transportation to make Broadway Vision a reality here in Flatiron and NoMad, and we look forward to our continued collaboration on the upcoming capital reconstruction of the Flatiron Public Plazas and Worth Square, which will dramatically upgrade these iconic spaces in the heart of Manhattan.”

“It’s exciting to see this phase of Broadway Vision completed so quickly, enhancing the quality of outdoor life in our neighborhood in time for summer,” said Holly Leicht, executive director, Madison Square Park Conservancy. “We now look forward to moving with equal speed — in partnership with the city and Flatiron NoMad Alliance — on the permanent construction of a greener, safer public realm adjacent to Madison Square Park, which we hope will become a model for underutilized public space citywide.”

“Open streets and plazas create a more dynamic, healthy, and sustainable city for residents and visitors,” said Tiffany-Ann Taylor, vice president for transportation, Regional Plan Association (RPA). “Having discussed the pedestrianization of Times Square as early as the 1960s, RPA has long been a champion of open spaces that create safe, attractive spaces to walk, run, bike, or socialize. Kudos to the Adams administration on this milestone of their Broadway Vision program, and we look forward to continuing to support its progress.”

“This is yet another exciting step in Broadway’s evolution toward a safe, vibrant, people-centered corridor,” said Jackson Chabot, director of advocacy and organizing, Open Plans. “Broadway Vision is a plan that designs for New York’s future, not our past. As lifestyles and work schedules continue to shift, creating welcoming space like this will ensure that Broadway remains a vital piece of our city. Kudos to DOT and the mayor’s office — we look forward to connecting with fellow New Yorkers in these new plazas.”

“We are thrilled to see the completion of this section of Vision Broadway, and we commend Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez for prioritizing safety and quality of life on New York City’s great thoroughfare,” said Alia Soomro, deputy director of New York City policy, New York League of Conservation Voters. “Public space, safer intersections, less traffic — when this project is finished, Broadway will be friendlier to pedestrians and clean transportation modes like bicycles and scooters. That’s a win for New Yorkers and for the environment.”

“The completion of this phase of the mayor’s ‘Broadway Vision’ will significantly improve the safety and quality of life of pedestrians and cyclists,” said Ken Podziba, president and CEO, Bike New York. “As DOT continues repurposing more and more streets for people over cars, we’re seeing a more welcoming, equitable, and vibrant city — the way New York is supposed to be.”

“One need only spend a few minutes on the stretch of Broadway encompassing the latest phase of the Broadway Vision plan to see that it’s a home run,” said Eric McClure, executive director, StreetsPAC. “The traffic-calming features, enhanced pedestrian spaces, and public amenities are drawing crowds, enlivening the street, and driving commerce. It’s crystal clear that Broadway Vision’s emphasis on making public space welcoming and safe should serve as a blueprint for much more of the city, and we’re grateful to Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez for bringing the plan to life.”

“We applaud Mayor Adams and DOT Commissioner Rodriguez for their continuous efforts to prioritize public realm improvements in their vision of the city,” said Jesse Lazar, interim executive director, American Institute of Architects (AIA) New York. “The completion of this phase of the Broadway Vision project serves as a prime example of how we can reinvent how we use public space to create a more accessible, pedestrian-centered city. AIA New York looks forward to continuing to work with the city to reimagine how we design and utilize the public realm.”

“We congratulate the Department of Transportation and chief public realm officer on reclaiming Broadway for the people,” said Daniel McPhee, executive director, Urban Design Forum. “We have a joyful new public space at the heart of our city. We can’t wait to transform even more streets so that New Yorkers can dine, stroll, and celebrate safely under Mayor Adams’s leadership.”

“We applaud the mayor’s office for prioritizing public space and working to create a healthier and more livable city,” said Matthew Clarke, executive director, Design Trust for Public Space. “Vibrant and accessible open space supports the vitality of our commercial corridors and allows for New York City’s culture to flourish. We look forward to future implementations of the ‘Making New York Work for Everyone’ action plan and the beginning of a new era for public realm investment.”

Original source can be found here.