Pedestrianization in large cities

The case of 42nd street, Midtown Manhattan

Ronald Woudstra, Masters Candidate in City and Regional Planning

Structure of the presentation

Statement of the issue; goals & objectives

Literature Review

Historical Precedents: Transforming 42nd St.

Statement of the issue

Midtown Manhattan is a heavily congested area, and a major destination for commuters, 85 percent of whom commute to Midtown by train, bus, ferry. Most commuters proceed to their final destination on foot or by local transit.

Especially congested is 42nd street, a corridor which connects major destinations and transportation hubs such as the UN, Grand Central Terminal, Bryant Park, Times Square, and the P.A. Bus Center with the waterfronts, ferries and new developments at the riverfronts (Warren et al, 2008: p.5).

Traffic volumes: 42nd street

Pedestrians outnumber motorists by 5 to 1.

Allocation of space: 42nd street

60% of the right-of-way is allocated to motorists

Statement of the issue

Statement of the issue

Statement of the issue

The implementation of Vision 42, or an auto-free boulevard along 42nd street, would: 1. Adress the two main transportation inefficiencies along 42nd street: crosstown transit & pedestrian facilities 2. Improve the overall framework for (re)development in the area 3. Distrupt car traffic in the 10-block 42nd street area to a minimal extent

Despite these advantages; the vision has not been adopted.

Goals & Objectives

The purpose of this study, therefore, is to explore different approaches to pedestrianization in large cities, in order to make recommendations for a feasible approach to transforming 42nd street in Manhattan into a pedestrian friendly and efficient route.

Literature Review
Three-part Literature Review: The relevance of planning for pedestrians and for a multimodal transportation system Recent trends in the Pedestrianization of major streets The role of incremental planning

Literature Review
The relevance of planning for pedestrians and for a multimodal transportation system [1/2]: Higher density environments typically are characterized by a higher proximity of amenities, which is crucial in establishing a pedestrian friendly environment (Tilth et al, 2007: p. 376)

Literature Review
The relevance of planning for pedestrians and for a multimodal transportation system [1/2]: Higher density environments typically are characterized by a higher proximity of amenities, which is crucial in establishing a pedestrian friendly environment (Tilth et al, 2007: p. 376) extensive reliance on the car has a negative, long-term effect on the character and the physical form of urban areas. (Vuchic, 2005: pp.35-36)

Literature Review
The relevance of planning for pedestrians and for a multimodal transportation system [1/2]: Higher density environments typically are characterized by a higher proximity of amenities, which is crucial in establishing a pedestrian friendly environment (Tilth et al, 2007: p. 376) extensive reliance on the car has a negative, long-term effect on the character and the physical form of urban areas. (Vuchic, 2005: pp.35-36) The more accommodations for the car are provided (highways, streets, parking), the less attractive the city is for people (Vuchic, 2005: p.73)

Literature Review
The relevance of planning for pedestrians and for a multimodal transportation system [2/2]: cities that have been primarily concerned with enhancing livability have touted the importance of pedestrian activity. In combination with pedestrian traffic, public transit contributes to a citys human character, as well as increases the citys appeal and its overall efficiency. (Vuchic, 2005: p.88)

Literature Review
The relevance of planning for pedestrians and for a multimodal transportation system [2/2]: cities that have been primarily concerned with enhancing livability have touted the importance of pedestrian activity. In combination with pedestrian traffic, public transit contributes to a citys human character, as well as increases the citys appeal and its overall efficiency. (Vuchic, 2005: p.88)

Cities that value multimodal transportation systems recognize the social equity aspects of transportation and the need to offer the
complete population a means of mobility (Vuchic, 2005: p.27).

Literature Review
Recent trends in the Pedestrianization of major streets: The Pedestrian Mall or Transit Mall as the ideal model of a pedestrian-priority Street for 42nd street.

16th street Transit Mall, Denver, CO

Literature Review
The role of incremental planning: Enhancing the vitality of our communities and neighborhoods often starts at the scale of the building, the block or the street. [] incremental improvements and piecemeal planning interventions are increasingly seen as a way to stage more substantial investments (Lydon et al, 2011: p.1).

In a trial-and-error approach, where results may be observed after

implementation and can be measured in real-time.

Historical Precedents: Transforming 42nd St.

42nd street has long captured the imagination of urban planners & designers: The Regional Plan Association, 1969 Department of City Plannings Urban Design Group, 1978 The Institute for Rational Mobility, 2000s

Historical Precedents: Transforming 42nd St.

Labeled as a Prototype of the cross-town pedestrian axes, the 1969 study advocated for a further reinforcement of the street as a pedestrian corridor (Okamoto, 1969: p. 88).

Historical Precedents: Transforming 42nd St.

Urban Design Group: 1978 study 2,000,000 pedestrian trips generated in the 42nd street area daily Pedestrian traffic caused severe pedestrian congestion Pedestrian space along the 42nd street corridor is deficient curb cuts impede pedestrian travel River-to-river transportation, including the crosstown bus that runs along 42nd street, was found to be both inefficient and slow

Historical Precedents: Transforming 42nd St.

In addition to pedestrian improvements, light rail transit was proposed by the s

Historical Precedents: Transforming 42nd St.

42nd street: Historically a linear spine that connects major Midtown hubs Inefficient local transportation decades-old problem Suggestions for wider sidewalks, enhanced pedestrian amenities, and local public transit have been proposed over and over again, yet progress has been slow at best

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Chapter 2 2.1 Manhattan, 1969 2.2 Group: 2.3 Chapter 3 and 3.1 City 3.2 3.3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Introduction Statement of the Issue Goals and Objectives of the Study Literature Review Methodology Organization of the Study Historical precedents regarding the transformation of 42nd street Regional Plan Association: Urban Design Study of New York Department of City Planning Urban Design 42nd Street Study Vision 42 Pedestrian projects in New York: Benefits, Processes, Issues The Potential Benefits of Pedestrian Projects in New York Pedestrian projects in New York: trends and processes Pedestrian projects in New York: Issues Recommendations regarding the pedestrianization of 42nd street Conclusion