New Broadway, I’ll Be There Ere Long
Give my regards to Broadway. As the song says, I should next be remembered to Herald Square. But instead I think I’ll just stroll on down to it. From Times Square to Herald Square, stretches of Broadway have been closed to vehicular traffic since May of 2009. A trial run for reducing street congestion and creating a more pedestrian-friendly urban experience, the project featured both of Broadway’s most prominent intersections. Forcing vehicles to reroute to neighboring Avenues might seem counterintuitive, but the new plan actually improves traffic flow by eliminating the jams that used to occur when Broadway awkwardly crossed 7th Avenue at Times Square and 6th Avenue at Herald Square. By virtually unanimous accounts the operation has been a success. For vehicles that means no more long traffic lights and confusing intersections. For pedestrians it means more room to walk and a place to lounge, with chairs, umbrellas, and tables provided by New York’s Department of Transportation (DOT).
By testing out a carless Broadway over stretches that include two of its busiest intersections, the city now has a strong case for making the change permanent and even extending the program farther down the length of Broadway. While it may seem radical, taking cars off the road hasn’t changed—nor will it—the symbolic status of this tune-worthy New York City street. Broadway’s celebrity isn’t as a structural part of the traffic grid. It was theatre, song, dance, and spectacle that made it a star.
Applause. Credit can be given largely to New York City’s DOT commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and Mayor Bloomberg for making it happen. And the performance doesn’t end with a reduction of city congestion. The pedestrianization of Broadway also adds bike lanes for two-wheeled commuters. Encouraging self-propelled rather than machine powered mobility, it reinforces themes of health and wellness to residents. It also—very importantly—focuses on safety. For drivers, pedestrians, and bikers it’s dicey to manage complicated intersections—like the one at Times Square. With pushy crowds and hurried traffic at perpetual odds with each other, it became a place that most New Yorkers sought to avoid. And amazingly—just as intended—this year saw many locals sitting on Broadway rather than steering clear of it.
But let’s hold off on a standing ovation just yet. Considering that New York’s traffic landscape hasn’t changed in thirty years it’s a feat to see this kind of transformation, but is it revolutionary? Not exactly. Copenhagen in Denmark has been pedestrianized since 1962. In Melbourne, Australia the last few decades have seen renovations, and today the city is vibrant with pedestrian traffic and lively public spaces. Lyon, France; London, England; Barcelona, Spain; all of these cities have significantly bested New York’s efforts. By comparison our city streets are still crowded, dangerous, and inhospitable—it’s way too early to pat ourselves on the back.
Closing Broadway to traffic is a start, and by all means a success so far. But to be truly transformative the DOT and Mayor should take inspiration from Broadway’s tune-worthy tenor—incorporate theatrics, song and dance, and spectacle to the street. Make this a place that people really want to visit; make the new Broadway into an attraction. With the entire street closed to traffic Broadway could become a vibrant and unique park that slices the island diagonally, boasting geographic accessibility and directionality—a straight shot from South to North—hitting countless New York points of interest and culminating at the grandiose Central Park. This could be the ultimate public space, and, by the way, a merchant’s dream. Along the new Broadway benches and tables and chairs are creatively designed and hyper-functional—looks ranging from practical to nonsensical prompt rest but also dialogue, giving the streetscape added vivre. Imagine grass beneath our feet—stepping off of the concrete grid for a spell and onto soft Kentucky Bluegrass—why not? Quiet interludes on the new Broadway feature vibrant landscaping—a different kind of street life. For the business man or woman on-the-go the new Broadway features free WiFi, and public restrooms along the route are plentiful and well cared for. Unique spaces not unlike other parks in New York inspire performance, play, and meeting. Food and shopping is abundant. The new Broadway is mutable, it might adopt Times Square’s character as it approaches, illuminating the Great White Way with light and spectacle; or it might be a lunchtime refuge from the city’s electrifying grid; or a young family’s destination on a warm summer day. A new Broadway like this is miles away from ol’ Broadway’s charm, but it shares in the making of rich city experiences.
There’s no reason why old classics can’t be spruced up, and this time it’s our beloved Broadway getting a new script. Along with the many other rave reviewers I’m applauding the pedestrianization of Broadway. The city can be on the brink of transformation or it can conclude with the first successful act. This is me yelling loudly; encore! More!
