Pedestrian, public space upgrades slated for Broadway near Union Square
Broadway north of Madison Square, part of the Broadway Vision phase completed earlier this year. Image courtesy of the NYC Department of Transportation
New York City wants to better connect the Flatiron District and Union Square. As part of an expansion of the city’s “Broadway Vision” plan, Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced plans to upgrade public space on Broadway from East 21st Street to East 17th Street, including bike lanes, pedestrian space, and expanded outdoor dining. The Department of Transportation will launch public outreach for the expansion this week, gathering feedback on the improvements, specifically, a new two-way bike boulevard.
The start of the next phase follows the completion of a project that broke ground in March and was completed in June. The project delivered two new plazas, shared streets, new signage, reconfigured curb lanes, and two-way bike connections along Broadway from West 25th Street to West 32nd Street, according to a press release. Future phases of the project will install new CitiBike stations, seating, planters, bike parking, and more.
A major change proposed in Broadway Vision is the complete ban on cars on Broadway between 25th and 27th Streets. As part of the plan, the city will permit outdoor dining at restaurants in the plaza areas, in collaboration with the Flatiron NoMad Partnership. Up until 32nd Street will be a “shared street” designed to discourage vehicles, but not ban them, according to Gothamist.
Broadway Vision was first proposed in Adams’ “New New York: Making New York Work For Everyone” action plan, a collection of 40 proposals from a panel of city leaders and business experts to create a blueprint for NYC’s future. The plan also builds upon Adams’ “Working People’s Agenda,” which included a $375 million investment in the creation of new public spaces across the city. In addition to Broadway Vision, the city has already revealed public space overhauls at Broadway Junction in Brooklyn and the Arches in Lower Manhattan.
Public survey sessions will take place on the following dates and locations:
- Wednesday, August 23, 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Union Square Greenmarket
- Friday, August 25, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Broadway & East 17th Street
Additional public sessions and community engagement will be conducted over the next few months.
“Broadway Vision is more than a project — it’s a new way of looking at how this iconic street can serve New Yorkers and support our city’s comeback,” Adams said. “Just north of this new phase, New Yorkers are walking and biking safely, eating meals outside, and visiting local businesses, thanks to the work our team delivered in just three months. This next phase of Broadway Vision will provide the same kind of vibrant public spaces connecting Union Square and Flatiron, just like our administration is doing with incredible success across the entire city.”
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Having More Pedestrian Friendly Streets Is An Amazing Plus To Any City Including And Especially In New York City. Tourists Love The New York City Street Life Of Times Square, Of 34th Street Around Herald Square And Penn Station, Even On Game Days Around Yankee Stadium, The Barclays Center And Many More Places. These Places Will Get Even Higher Publicity With Pedestrian Friendly Environments. The City Is Growing And The Way Pedestrians Are Treated Is Key To The Improvement Of The Empire State.