Comments on: Sadik-Khan: We’re Putting the Square Back in Madison Square http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:07:22 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Mark Walker (formerly Mark) http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/comment-page-1/#comment-48758 Mark Walker (formerly Mark) Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:34:54 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/#comment-48758 Yeah, I've been watching the nibbling. Also worth a mention is the retiming of the traffic signals which took place before the construction began. To accommodate the new turning lane, precious seconds were taken away from pedestrians. Now you practically have to run across the street. I feel sorry for the seniors and everyone who has to use the existing subway entrances. Yeah, I've been watching the nibbling.

Also worth a mention is the retiming of the traffic signals which took place before the construction began. To accommodate the new turning lane, precious seconds were taken away from pedestrians. Now you practically have to run across the street. I feel sorry for the seniors and everyone who has to use the existing subway entrances.

]]> By: drose http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/comment-page-1/#comment-48757 drose Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:06:23 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/#comment-48757 Sarcasm is my middle name. The NW corner of 95th and Broadway seems to be the worst. That is where the cutback will hit the hardest. And it also seems like the property line for the stores there juts out a few feet beyond the line for Symphony Space across the street. So an even narrower sidewalk over there. Luckily, I live closer to the other side of the station, so we won't see any cutback of our sidewalk. Just have to deal with the neighborhood being a work zone for the next 2 1/2 years. Sarcasm is my middle name.

The NW corner of 95th and Broadway seems to be the worst. That is where the cutback will hit the hardest. And it also seems like the property line for the stores there juts out a few feet beyond the line for Symphony Space across the street. So an even narrower sidewalk over there.

Luckily, I live closer to the other side of the station, so we won't see any cutback of our sidewalk. Just have to deal with the neighborhood being a work zone for the next 2 1/2 years.

]]> By: Spud Spudly http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/comment-page-1/#comment-48755 Spud Spudly Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:10:13 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/#comment-48755 Damn. I hate being one of those people who doesn't pay attention until the construction has already begun. Damn. I hate being one of those people who doesn't pay attention until the construction has already begun.

]]> By: Spud Spudly http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/comment-page-1/#comment-48754 Spud Spudly Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:07:13 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/#comment-48754 Oh yeah, lots of sidewalk removal to take place: http://www.cb7.org/96street_irt.html And of course, Naparstek is already way ahead of me on this one! Sorry Aaron for being late to the party: http://www.startsandfits.com/2006/06/moving-sidewalk-at-96th-street.html Oh yeah, lots of sidewalk removal to take place:

http://www.cb7.org/96street_irt.html

And of course, Naparstek is already way ahead of me on this one! Sorry Aaron for being late to the party:

http://www.startsandfits.com/2006/06/moving-sidewalk-at-96th-street.html

]]> By: JF http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/comment-page-1/#comment-48753 JF Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:01:17 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/#comment-48753 You're absolutely right, Spud - and Drose, that's sarcasm, right? If the DOT is now willing to take road space away for pedestrian use, they should also be willing to stop taking pedestrian space away from pedestrians for car use. Previously discussed here: http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/the-sidewalk-nibblers/ http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/06/08/the-96th-street-sidewalk-nibblers/ http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/06/08/96th-street-subway-station-and-sidewalk-reduction-moving-ahead/ You're absolutely right, Spud - and Drose, that's sarcasm, right? If the DOT is now willing to take road space away for pedestrian use, they should also be willing to stop taking pedestrian space away from pedestrians for car use.

Previously discussed here:
http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/the-sidewalk-nibblers/
http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/06/08/the-96th-street-sidewalk-nibblers/
http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/06/08/96th-street-subway-station-and-sidewalk-reduction-moving-ahead/

]]> By: Spud Spudly http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/comment-page-1/#comment-48752 Spud Spudly Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:52:21 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/#comment-48752 Thanks. I assume this means we can expect more of the same on both sides of the street. I hope they have some traffic calming measures planned to accomodate the people who will now be crossing to the median to enter the subway. Any plans online? I'm off to search. Thanks. I assume this means we can expect more of the same on both sides of the street. I hope they have some traffic calming measures planned to accomodate the people who will now be crossing to the median to enter the subway. Any plans online? I'm off to search.

]]> By: drose http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/comment-page-1/#comment-48751 drose Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:36:36 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/#comment-48751 Spud, I think we're neighbors. You're right, the sidewalk was taken away so that the new 96th Street Station can be built in the middle of Broadway. Of course, all six lanes of traffic are essential, so sidewalk had to be taken away to accomodate car traffic. Although our sidewalk has already been taken away, don't look for the new station to be open before summer 2010 (MTA says April, but we know how good they are about finishing projects on time). Spud,

I think we're neighbors. You're right, the sidewalk was taken away so that the new 96th Street Station can be built in the middle of Broadway. Of course, all six lanes of traffic are essential, so sidewalk had to be taken away to accomodate car traffic.

Although our sidewalk has already been taken away, don't look for the new station to be open before summer 2010 (MTA says April, but we know how good they are about finishing projects on time).

]]> By: Spud Spudly http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/comment-page-1/#comment-48749 Spud Spudly Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:22:48 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/#comment-48749 Great. But can someone please tell my why the sidewalk just became much narrower on Broadway at 95th street? At the northwest corner of that intersection they just took half the sidewalk away and turned it into blacktop. Is it related to the pending subway station renovation? Either way it seems totally counter to DOT's stated goals. Great. But can someone please tell my why the sidewalk just became much narrower on Broadway at 95th street? At the northwest corner of that intersection they just took half the sidewalk away and turned it into blacktop. Is it related to the pending subway station renovation? Either way it seems totally counter to DOT's stated goals.

]]> By: beng722 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/comment-page-1/#comment-48735 beng722 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:17:53 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/#comment-48735 My experience of both Union and Madison Squares is much more commercial ventures (that hamburger stand in Madison Square has obscene lines and makes the park smell like fast food). Is the Commissioner referring to perhaps addressing this perversion of park space into shopping mall/restaurant? My experience of both Union and Madison Squares is much more commercial ventures (that hamburger stand in Madison Square has obscene lines and makes the park smell like fast food). Is the Commissioner referring to perhaps addressing this perversion of park space into shopping mall/restaurant?

]]> By: bureaucrat http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/comment-page-1/#comment-48724 bureaucrat Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:57:34 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/#comment-48724 yes. yes.

]]> By: BicyclesOnly http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/comment-page-1/#comment-48711 BicyclesOnly Sun, 20 Apr 2008 03:19:52 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/#comment-48711 What does it mean to "put the square back in Madison Square"? Lane reductions/conversions on Broadway and/or 5th between 26th and 23rd? What does it mean to "put the square back in Madison Square"? Lane reductions/conversions on Broadway and/or 5th between 26th and 23rd?

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/comment-page-1/#comment-48696 Larry Littlefield Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:21:43 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/#comment-48696 I think the commissioner is right about the conversation having changed, and the main point is that the very defeat of congestion pricing puts opponents in the position of having to waive through just about anything that isn't congestion pricing or pay an additional political price. So the time to go for something big is right now. You might as well take Broadway, the whole thing, for non-motorized traffic. I'd put my response to congestion pricing this way. OK, we aren't going to do anything to limit congestion for automobiles. We are going to take space to reduce congestion for buses, bikes and pedestrians. I think the commissioner is right about the conversation having changed, and the main point is that the very defeat of congestion pricing puts opponents in the position of having to waive through just about anything that isn't congestion pricing or pay an additional political price.

So the time to go for something big is right now. You might as well take Broadway, the whole thing, for non-motorized traffic.

I'd put my response to congestion pricing this way. OK, we aren't going to do anything to limit congestion for automobiles. We are going to take space to reduce congestion for buses, bikes and pedestrians.

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/comment-page-1/#comment-48693 gecko Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:41:20 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/#comment-48693 Fair use of public space will definitely remove a lot of cars from the streets. Fair use of public space will definitely remove a lot of cars from the streets.

]]> By: Roadie http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/comment-page-1/#comment-48684 Roadie Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:30:03 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/#comment-48684 ...and car-free Central and Prospect Parks this summer, right? ...and car-free Central and Prospect Parks this summer, right?

]]> By: Cameron Williams http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/comment-page-1/#comment-48682 Cameron Williams Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:09:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/18/sadik-khan-were-putting-the-square-back-in-madison-square/#comment-48682 Kudos to Commissioner Sadik-Khan for moving forward. More BRT is welcome, especially operating under the direction of NYCDOT rather than the MTA. Street closings and limitations are also great additions to the mix. Soon, perhaps, bicycle-only streets. Now if we could just get dedicated transit funding from traffic-law violators, or an improved entry fee program... http://bettertransitny.blogspot.com Kudos to Commissioner Sadik-Khan for moving forward. More BRT is welcome, especially operating under the direction of NYCDOT rather than the MTA.

Street closings and limitations are also great additions to the mix. Soon, perhaps, bicycle-only streets. Now if we could just get dedicated transit funding from traffic-law violators, or an improved entry fee program...

http://bettertransitny.blogspot.com

]]>