Shared streets and two-way bike lanes pegged for NYC’s iconic Broadway Avenue

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is moving towards putting people and cyclists first in the city with a bold new plan to transform a significant portion of iconic Broadway Avenue.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez kicked off construction on a new phase of the administration’s “Broadway Vision” plan, which will create new public spaces and make streets safer between Madison Square and Herald Square in Manhattan.

Work is officially underway including two new plazas, shared streets, and a two-way bike lane on Broadway from West 25th Street to West 32nd Street. The subsequent phase will deliver permanent capital improvements along Broadway from West 21st Street to West 33rd Street.

“We’re excited that several blocks of Broadway will be redesigned to prioritize and protect bike riders and pedestrians,” said Elizabeth Adams, senior director of advocacy & organizing at Transportation Alternatives. “New York City’s public spaces should serve all New Yorkers, not just drivers. This announcement is a key step towards realizing our goal of converting 25% of city streets into streets for people, and we will continue to fight for a fully-pedestrianized Broadway.”

The Adams administration’s Broadway Vision is a serious public space transformation for its size and scope and because its Broadway — and doing this work on highly visible streets is essential. It’s a street that already sees an incredible number of people and human-powered transportation. So this particular project is not only well-suited to the task but is also so visible that it will draw attention to the importance of these spaces.

“Two years ago, the pandemic devastated Midtown and our business districts, but it gave us the opportunity to reimagine our public spaces,” said Adams. “Beginning this week, our Broadway Vision will come to life with vibrant, new public spaces and safer streets from Madison Square to Herald Square. Midtown is back, and New York City is back.”

This phase of the project delivers on a portion of the $375 million commitment to create new public spaces from Mayor Adams’ State of the City address less than two months ago and follows an initiative in Mayor Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s “New New York” action plan.

“I am excited that work is getting underway to give more space along this iconic corridor to pedestrians and cyclists,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “Through our Broadway Vision plan, DOT is creating a people-first Broadway, connecting from Union Square to Columbus Circle, and we look forward to redesigning the next section between Madison Square and Herald Square. This effort will not only further reduce reliance on vehicles and support safe, sustainable transportation, but will also improve our quality of life, bolster our economy, and protect our environment.”

The street is set to include several traffic-calming treatments and public space enhancements, including:

• Plazas between 25th Street and 26th Street and between 26th Street and 27th Street;
• Curb extensions and narrower turns to calm traffic;
• Shortened crossings and wider crosswalks to enhance pedestrian safety;
• Two-way bike boulevard treatments, along with related signage and signals;
• Reconfigured curb lanes to facilitate loading and pickups/drop-offs; and
• Additional public space and cycling amenities like seating, planters, new Citi Bike docks, and additional bike parking.

“We are thrilled to see DOT’s Broadway Vision project moving forward,” said Renae Reynolds, executive director, Tri-State Transportation Campaign. “Broadway is the spine of Manhattan and connects some of its most popular public spaces. But for too long, the roadway design has prioritized motor vehicle throughput — exposing vulnerable road users to traffic violence and forcing street life onto overcrowded sidewalks. These new, traffic-calming redesigns will slow vehicles and expand the public realm — creating a safer, more inviting, and more accessible Broadway for all.”