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WORLD CLASS STREETS70% said the Times Square plazashad a positive impact onthe theatre–going experienceGREEN LIGHT FOR MIDTOWNBusinesses and BIDS had urged for years that pedestrian space beexpanded in Times and Herald Squares, and small incremental stepshad been taken in this direction.In contrast, the 2009 transformation of Times and Herald Squaresand connecting segments of Broadway, known as the Green Lightfor Midtown project, addressed the core of the Broadway corridor,and implemented the most dramatic streetscape changes ofthe Bloomberg Administration. It took advantage of Broadway’sdisruptive and diagonal path across the rectangular midtown streetgrid to simultaneously improve mobility and safety and providemuch more public and pedestrian space in the Midtown core alongthe corridors from Columbus Circle to 42nd Street and from 35thStreet to 26th Street. Most notably, it closed Broadway to vehicletraffic through both Times and Herald Squares, creating newsignature public places in the heart of New York City.The traffic complexity caused by Broadway’s diagonal path atjunctions with major avenues and cross streets caused congestionand contributed to higher crash rates compared to other Manhattanavenue intersections. By removing the Broadway leg from theseintersections, the project addressed mobility and safety issues withthe added benefit of creating world–class destinations equal toBroadway’s reputation. Removing Broadway from the traffic systemallowed for an 8% and 66% increase in green signal for 7th and6th Avenues respectively at Times and Herald Squares.Dozens of coordinated traffic changes were implemented fromColumbus Circle to Madison Square in tandem with the Times andHerald Square closures to improve safety and enhance trafficconditions. Changes ranged from roadway geometry alterationsto traffic signal timing adjustments, crosswalk shortenings andparking regulation changes.AVERAGE STATIONARY POPULATION (PERSONS OBSERVED)1201141009490807460574020170HERALD SQUARE (34–35 ST) BROADWAY BLVD (38–40 ST) TIMES SQUARE (44–45 ST)BEFOREAFTER136Chapter 10: Broadway