2013-dot-sustainable-streets-lowres

WORLD CLASS STREETS42,000square feet of newpublic space inMadison SquareThe Flatiron BID marks the inauguration ofthe Madison Square Plazas as an importantmilestone in the district’s developmentMADISON SQUARE16,000 square feet of space fromexisting crosswalks made shorterwhich to view one of the world’sand more direct. For bicyclists, themost photographed landmarks. Onnew, high–visibility bicycle lanes onBroadway between 22nd and 23rdboth Broadway and Fifth Avenuestreets, two lanes of Broadwayfilled gaps in the area’s network.adjacent to the Flatiron BuildingThe new traffic pattern alsowere made into a plaza furnishedsimplified the M2, M3 and M5with seating and tables. Severalbus routes, which no longer turnother pedestrian spaces wereoff of Fifth Avenue to pick up andcreated, enhanced or enlargeddischarge passengers.using former roadbed. PedestrianAs in other sites around Newareas are protected by 170York, the new public spacesplanters weighing 600 or 1,000filled with people even beforepounds and also 43 granite blocks.construction had finished, andAltogether, the project created overremain highly popular. In late 2008,42,000 square feet of new publicthe Flatiron Business Improvementspace.District surveyed the publicSouthbound traffic fromabout the plazas and intersectionBroadway and Fifth Avenuechanges. The basic approval ratingformerly made several splits,of respondents broke down likecrossing 23rd Street in fourthis: Like – 84%; Dislike – 7%; Nodifferent streams. The planopinion – 9%. The overwhelmingeliminates two of those streams,support found in surveys by thereducing seven combined lanesBID increased over time. ApprovalMadison Square from the Flatiron buildingcrossing 23rd Street to justin 2010 was 89.4%, and in 2012five lanes, improving safety andstood at 90.4%. The BID marks theIn August and September,of Manhattan’s most difficult–convenience for those traveling.inauguration of the Madison Square2008, NYC DOT reconfiguredto–navigate intersections forTraffic volumes were low enoughplazas in 2008 as an importantthe intersection of Broadway,pedestrians and motorists alike.to reduce Broadway to one lanemilestone in the Flatiron District’sFifth Avenue and 23rd Street,At the project’s center, awhere it crosses Fifth Avenue.development.creating major new public spacessignificant new plaza in the shapeNew north–south crosswalksand dramatically simplifying oneof the Flatiron Building offers overwere installed on 23rd Street, andSustainable Streets: 2013 and Beyond135