Comments on: 96th St. Subway Station and Sidewalk Reduction Moving Ahead http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/06/08/96th-street-subway-station-and-sidewalk-reduction-moving-ahead/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:49:03 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Brian http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/06/08/96th-street-subway-station-and-sidewalk-reduction-moving-ahead/comment-page-1/#comment-32720 Brian Sun, 17 Jun 2007 03:46:19 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/06/08/96th-street-subway-station-and-sidewalk-reduction-moving-ahead/#comment-32720 There's also a bus stop in front of the Citibank at the northeast corner of 96th and Broadway. If that bus stop stays there on the 15-foot sidewalk, it will eat up at least 8 feet of sidewalk from the back wall of the bus shelter to the curb, leaving little space to pass. With the Ariel buildings and other developments in the 96th-Columbia corridor, we need more sidewalk space, not less. Some activists should paint the sidewalk's 9' on either side or put up cones and ropes to show people where they won't be able to walk. It would take that for people to wak up and realize how bad an idea it is to eat away the sidewalk. If I only had the time.... There's also a bus stop in front of the Citibank at the northeast corner of 96th and Broadway. If that bus stop stays there on the 15-foot sidewalk, it will eat up at least 8 feet of sidewalk from the back wall of the bus shelter to the curb, leaving little space to pass. With the Ariel buildings and other developments in the 96th-Columbia corridor, we need more sidewalk space, not less. Some activists should paint the sidewalk's 9' on either side or put up cones and ropes to show people where they won't be able to walk. It would take that for people to wak up and realize how bad an idea it is to eat away the sidewalk. If I only had the time....

]]> By: rhubarbpie http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/06/08/96th-street-subway-station-and-sidewalk-reduction-moving-ahead/comment-page-1/#comment-32420 rhubarbpie Fri, 08 Jun 2007 17:30:03 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/06/08/96th-street-subway-station-and-sidewalk-reduction-moving-ahead/#comment-32420 It's a huge mistake to reduce sidewalk space at this block, and a clear and unnecessary concession to the automobile at a very congested pedestrian location. The 26-second delay is disturbing too. Look at what happens at 72nd Street, and you'll see pedestrians running across the street all the time against the light because they understandably don't want to wait for vehicles. I don't think it's likely to change, though I would hope the new transportation commissioner would review this decision, largely a result of city DOT input. It's a huge mistake to reduce sidewalk space at this block, and a clear and unnecessary concession to the automobile at a very congested pedestrian location.

The 26-second delay is disturbing too. Look at what happens at 72nd Street, and you'll see pedestrians running across the street all the time against the light because they understandably don't want to wait for vehicles.

I don't think it's likely to change, though I would hope the new transportation commissioner would review this decision, largely a result of city DOT input.

]]> By: Steve http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/06/08/96th-street-subway-station-and-sidewalk-reduction-moving-ahead/comment-page-1/#comment-32418 Steve Fri, 08 Jun 2007 17:18:00 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/06/08/96th-street-subway-station-and-sidewalk-reduction-moving-ahead/#comment-32418 I use buses and the subway at 96th and Broadway regularly. There no question that it is an extremely congested spot for pedestrian and vehicular traffic alike. I agree that the red-light delay to get to the new station on the median is not an issue--that delay is more than offset by the ability to access both uptown and downtown trains without using an underpass. Also, I found that on an average morning I could walk the block on 96th from Amsterdam to Broadway at a comfortable pace more quickly than the bus could travel that same block. Some kind of traffic fix for the vehicular congestion was needed. The problem is that the planners apparently didn't even consider traditional decongestion measures such as restricting turns at 96th and Broadway; they just gave away part of the sidewalk to make way for turning bays. I use buses and the subway at 96th and Broadway regularly. There no question that it is an extremely congested spot for pedestrian and vehicular traffic alike. I agree that the red-light delay to get to the new station on the median is not an issue--that delay is more than offset by the ability to access both uptown and downtown trains without using an underpass. Also, I found that on an average morning I could walk the block on 96th from Amsterdam to Broadway at a comfortable pace more quickly than the bus could travel that same block. Some kind of traffic fix for the vehicular congestion was needed. The problem is that the planners apparently didn't even consider traditional decongestion measures such as restricting turns at 96th and Broadway; they just gave away part of the sidewalk to make way for turning bays.

]]>