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DOT's 34th Street Plan Draws Usual Cheers And Jeers
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 24, 2010
Modified Apr 24, 2010
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photograph by hbomb1947 the turnstile-jumper on Flickr
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 24, 2010
Modified Apr 24, 2010
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Now that the Department of Transportation has revealed its latest congestion-fighting strategy—creating another pedestrian mall in Herald Square and giving buses half of 34th Street—the reactions are coming from pedestrians and drivers. Naturally, they have very different opinions! One driver complained to NY1, "Bad enough they closed Broadway. We can't even turn up and down Broadway. It will make it even more worse than what it already is," but a pedestrian said to the Daily News, "I wish they would do it tomorrow."
A delivery truck driver said, "Worst thing they can do. I think it's a bad idea. Just back up traffic even more, make it more difficult," while a pedestrian enthused, "I think that's a great idea. I work one block up from here and the commuter traffic here is pretty heavy. And between the tourists passing by and people going to work, it's usually pretty hectic here.”
Mayor Bloomberg said, "Something like nine out of every 10 people that go across 34th Street either walk, or take bus or cab. It's so slow the cars can't get across, and so people go elsewhere or even if they try to do it it just takes them forever." But business owners are worried: A clothing manufacturer on West 39th Street predicted his deliveries will take 90 minutes, instead of the usual 60 minutes, “I know they want it to look similar to places in Europe, but New York City is New York City—we need the hustle and the bustle here. It's a good way of thinking, closing the street for pedestrians, but at the same time, business-wise, there is a lot of effect.”
One Brooklyn resident summed up his feelings thusly, "It's not Disneyland, man. It's New York City."
Tagged
34th street
buses
congestion
department of transportation
dot
driver
herald square
pedestrian
pedestrian mall
pedestrian plaza
traffic
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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