The experiment has been declared a success, and the pedestrian mall along Broadway is going to be a permanent enhancement to life in and around the Theatre District.
Mayor Bloomberg announced that "Green Light for Manhattan" has achieved its goals of improving traffic flow and making the area safer for pedestrians. The mayor has received support for making it permanent from New Yorkers and local businesses. Business leaders in the area report that the increased foot traffic has been good for business.
Reports show that taxi speeds in the western part of midtown increased by 7% since the project began, and injuries to motorists and their passengers were reduced by 63%. Injuries to pedestrians were reduced by 35%. The mayor claimed that feedback he has received indicates that New Yorkers like the pedestrian areas, which afford them over two and a half acres of new public space.
The Times Square Alliance conducted a survey this past fall which showed that three-quarters of New Yorkers said the project should be permanent, while about two-thirds of retailers in the area agreed.
Now that the decision has been made to make the mall a permanent part of midtown, the next thing that must be addressed are aesthetics. Property owners in the area are among those who feel that the furniture and other moveable objects in the plazas, as well as other aspects of the project, need design and quality improvements if the pedestrian mall is here to stay.
The city plans to hire professional designers, and consult with business owners in order to address the aesthetics issues. A team will be selected by the city's Department of Design and Construction.
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