NYC Transit's bus service on 34th Street would become an estimated 35% faster as a result of big new changes in the works for the corridor between the Javits Center and the East 34th Street ferry landing. When the project's complete, buses will have their own, two-way dedicated road to zip along on. And as part of the overhaul, the DOT is also planning—you guessed it!—a "significant new pedestrian plaza in the middle of Manhattan and other pedestrian mobility, safety, and comfort enhancements along the corridor." 34th Street is going to be radically re-imagined under these new plans:
The Transitway would be constructed with a two lane, bi-directional bus lane aligned against one curb of the street. The remainder of the street would be used for one-way traffic, running outbound from midtown: westbound from Sixth Avenue, and eastbound from Fifth Avenue. Between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, the only buses would be allowed as through traffic, with the remainder of the space used for new pedestrian spaces. Loading and parking activity would be available along at least one side of each block at all times.
The project [pdf] comes after the completion of a study which determined that the Bus Rapid Transit alternative (the Transitway project) "was the only alternative that would address all of these needs." But the DOT is still open to suggestions, and is welcoming public input on design needs for corridor. Let's see, you can't go wrong by putting out some nice plastic lawn chairs! [Via Streetsblog]
