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Wider Sidewalks May Be Coming to Canal Street!
By
John Del Signore
Published Jan 6, 2011
Modified Jan 6, 2011
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By
John Del Signore
Published Jan 6, 2011
Modified Jan 6, 2011
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Canal Street: Avoid it at all costs (especially on weekends!) unless you enjoy walking at the pace of an arthritic dromedary chained to a treadmill. The sidewalks are so packed with vendors and their glazed-eye browsers that it's impossible to get anywhere in a timely manner unless you just give into your frustration and simply walk in the street. But help is on the way! For almost ten long years, NYMTC, the region’s metropolitan planning organization, has been studying Canal Street—taking time to get to know its likes and dislikes, its quirks and idiosyncrasies. And finally, in a report released last week, they're ready to recommend some changes.
We know, we know, making changes after only a decade of deliberation does seem a tad hasty, but we're all for one aspect of the NYMTC proposal: widening the frickin sidewalk on Canal so we don't have to swing a military flail every time we need to go to Pearl Paint. Streetsblog has sifted through the report [pdf], which recommends the addition of "significant amounts of sidewalk space." Specifically, curb extensions would be built on Canal at Varick Street, between Elizabeth and Mulberry and between Baxter and Lafayette, replacing traffic lanes. NYMTC also considered making even more room for pedestrians by making Canal Street one-way headed east (pairing it with a westbound Grand Street) but concluded that the traffic impact would be deleterious.
Peruse the full report at your leisure, and if you would like to voice an opinion beyond the comment section, the NYMTC is holding two public meetings on January 19th: at 3 p.m. in NYMTC’s offices at 199 Water Street, 22nd floor, NYC; and at 7 p.m. at P.S. 130, 143 Baxter Street. The meetings will include a presentation which will detail the proposed recommendations and next steps.
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John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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