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Times Square without cars?
Advocates of a radical new plan want to create a pedestrian mall and light rail system in the heart of New York City.
Fri, Oct 16 2009 at 1:51 PM
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ALL ABOARD: A proposed light rail system would bisect New York's Times Square. (Photo: Vision 42)
More than 356,000 people walk through the heart of New York City each day, but imagine how many more could traipse through if Times Square was closed to cars?
Advocates of a radical new plan want to close 42nd Street to car traffic and create a light rail system to run across the island of Manhattan, from the Hudson River on the west to the East River on the east. Such redevelopment would boost the local economy and improve transportation, according to Vision 42, a citizens’ group formed in 1999 by the Institute for Rational Urban Mobility. It would also offer a less polluting travel option than the exhaust-belching buses that currently take New Yorkers across town at a snail’s pace, The New York Times reported.
At a cost of $500 million, the light rail would stop at every avenue and run from one side of the city to the other in about 20 minutes, about half the time it currently takes to ride a bus across town.
So far, property owners along 42nd Street support the proposal — but the city isn’t so sure. But even though city officials aren’t rushing to embrace Vision 42’s idea, they have launched “Green Light for Midtown,” a project to alleviate congestion in Times Square, where traffic moves an average of 4.2 miles per hour. The city has created several pedestrian malls in midtown, and over Memorial Day weekend officials closed several blocks around Times Square to cars.
But proponents of Vision 42’s plan say the city needs a permanent solution.
Vision 42 advocates pointed out that light rail lines have stimulated economic growth and development in other cities, such as Dallas, Portland, Ore., and Phoenix. According to a study by the consulting firm Urbanomics of New York, closing 42nd Street to cars and adding a light rail line would boost the economy in Manhattan: Pedestrian volume would increase by 35, translating to some $380 million more in sales among the street’s 126 stores.
Indeed, proposals to expedite cross-town traffic in Manhattan have been kicked around for years. An older proposal, which lost steam in the 1990s, would have created a trolley line along the south side of 42nd Street, with the north side open to vehicular traffic. But New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg favors extending an existing subway line – the No. 7 – to reach farther west.
“The real gain here is you could handle three times as many people with roughly the same cost,” said George Haikalis, an engineer and a co-chairman of Vision 42. “A lot of people have expressed interest in this, but have not signed on, because they’re awaiting interest from Mayor Bloomberg.”
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i think railway is a bit unpractical.. maybe should invent some sort of mini travel pod so pedestrian able to hop on and off whenever they like
for eg:
a mini traveling pod, which it has dedicated sensor and will allow pedestrian hop on it and let the pedestrian ride freely around designated area
once user left the pod, the pod itself should navigate back the 'railway system' and run by itself until some other pedestrian picks it up and use again
I feel that it is a great idea. Being a NYC citizen, it gets way too congested in 42nd street and the volume of people and cars is astounding. This system while cutting Manhattan in half will probably end up being beneficial to our city. Think about it, No pollution, cleaner air in 42nd street, no annoying car honking, and no risk of getting run over by any idiotically agressive drivers. It is a dream that should be brought into fruition.
first off. great idea. second, not too genius. since car are useless there anyway. going 10mph anyways, useless. also, so many people go there for some odd reason. and wow, who is the world made that mock up photograph? hahahahaaaaaa, it is horrible. some 14 year old son of the webpage master?
...would be to ban cars completely in Manhattan and replace them with a much more extensive bus service.
Manhattan is only 3 km wide at that point. Wouldn't it be easier to walk than take a train? It seems useless to have a light rail line that is only 3 km long, but I am not from New York so maybe I'm missing something.
If 3km is something that needs rapid transit in the eyes of New Yorkers, then they need to get out more. Dedicated bus lanes could take care of short-distance travel like this (and 3km -is- short distance travel!). Good god, how lazy are people these days? I have walked 3km without even thinking about it. If NYers are that lazy, spend the $500m on segways for everyone.
NY-ers are some of the most fit people in the U.S. They DO walk a lot! This rail system would be more for tourists who make up most of that foot traffic!
There are around 13 lights - got carried away!
Why call it light rail when what is officially known as a streetcar would be better fit? light rail is intended for more suburban use at around 50 mph and not running on streets, although it works either way. Streetcars are lighter and generally stop at every corner, move slower and stop quicker so they are more pedestrian friendly, and have lower floors for easier and quicker boarding.