Lower Manhattan Pedestrianization Study (Full)

Lower Manhattan Pedestrianization Study

Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mayor City of New York

Joseph B. Rose, Director Department of City Planning

Christopher R. Lynn, Commissioner Department of Transportation

Lower Manhattan Pedestrianization Study

Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mayor City of New York Joseph B. Rose, Director Department of City Planning Christopher R. Lynn, Commissioner Department of Transportation

November 1997

The preparation of this report was financed in part through funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U. S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The contents of this report reflect the views of the author, who is responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented within. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Federal Highway Administration. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Project Description and Study Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Goals and Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Existing Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Problems and Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Recommended Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Street Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Broadway/Whitehall Street/State Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Church Street/Trinity Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Liberty Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Chambers Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Wall Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Broad Street/Nassau Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Fulton Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 John Street/Dey Street/Burling Slip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Rector Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Coenties Slip and Hanover Square . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Beaver Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Exchange Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Tests and Test Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Traffic Impact Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Executive Summary

Lower Manhattan is experiencing the early stages of a renaissance that will realize the long-held promise of downtown as an integrated 24-hour community. The signs of renewal are everywhere. Wall Street has rebounded. A City-sponsored package of incentives involving zoning changes and certain tax benefits has resulted in the conversion of older office buildings to residential use throughout Lower Manhattan. Thousands of new apartment units are projected in the next few years. Other office buildings have been modernized with state-of-the-art computer and communication technology. Hotel conversions are planned to accommodate the burgeoning tourist population. New retail stores have located downtown.

The physical reconstruction now transforming downtown is not confined to the renovation and reuse of buildings. The implementation of street improvements, as recommended in this study, would contribute to downtown's rejuvenation as an appealing, vibrant, and economically-vital community. This project, a joint effort of the Department of City Planning and the Department of Transportation, would improve the pedestrian circulation system downtown by reducing congestion, improving safety, and providing better pedestrian access to mass transit, offices, stores, the waterfront, open spaces, and tourist attractions. Matching city and federal funds of approximately $1.8 million are available to test and evaluate the recommendations and implement physical and operational street improvements. City capital funds would augment this effort.

The study focuses on key pedestrian streets, as determined by an analysis of circulation patterns based on extensive pedestrian counts. These streets include Broadway and Wall, Broad, John/Dey, Fulton, Chambers, Liberty, Church, Rector, and Beaver streets, and Exchange Place. Waterfront access would be improved and significant new pedestrian space created by street direction changes and sidewalk widenings on streets that lead to the East River, including the foot of Wall Street, Coenties Slip, Old Slip, and Burling Slip. These new open spaces, furnished with seating, landscaping, and sidewalk cafes, would become destinations attractive to residents, workers, and visitors. Sidewalk widenings on Wall Street, Liberty Street, and Broad Street would improve access to mass transit and new residential buildings. Neckdowns, extensions of the sidewalk at the street corner, located at intersections with congested subway entrances/exits would ease crowding during rush hours. Improved pavement markings, traffic signalization changes, and no standing regulations at key intersections would increase pedestrian safety. The project also complements city-wide efforts to improve the function, aesthetics, and safety of the city's streets by removing or relocating pedestrian obstructions to reduce sidewalk clutter.

These improvements to the pedestrian circulation system are complemented by the redesign of downtown's streets developed by the area's business improvement district, the Alliance for Downtown New York. Distinctive street and pedestrian lighting, new street furniture, special pavement, curb, and crosswalk treatments, and directional, informational, regulatory, and commercial signage would make walking in Lower Manhattan easier and more pleasant.

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