Eight More Blocks Of Broadway To Become Vehicle-Free

Mayor Bloomberg is expanding his program of making Manhattan more pedestrian-friendly by closing eight more blocks of Broadway to vehicular traffic. Gothamist reports:

Coming soon to Times Square and Herald Square: Vehicle-free Broadway! Starting on Memorial Day, two stretches of Broadway, from 42nd to 47th streets and from 32nd to 35th streets, will transformed into pedestrian plazas in an experiment that will last through the end of the year and may become permanent, the Post reports. Mayor Bloomberg is expected to announce the plan today, and promise that the change will actually improve the overall traffic flow, because Broadway disrupts traffic where it intersects with other streets. As part of the changes, Seventh Avenue will be widened from three to four lanes at 45th Street.

Last year another section of Broadway was turned into a pedestrian arcade with seating and plants. Reaction was fantastic, hence this expansion. The above image is an artist's imagining of the coming change to Herald Square.

[Photo credit: Streetsblog]