De Blasio Administration Previews New Shared Street as Part of East Midtown's Public Space Improvements

September 29, 2017

NEW YORK— The de Blasio Administration today detailed plans to launch a Shared Street on 43rd Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenue as part of the rezoning of Greater East Midtown. That comprehensive plan, developed with Council Member Dan Garodnick and Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer, included major improvements to the public realm and streetscapes across the business district. The NYC Department of Transportation will begin piloting a new configuration of 43rd Street between Lexington and Third Avenues in spring 2018 that will increase sidewalk space, provide room for tables, chairs and plantings and lower vehicle speeds—while maintaining access for deliveries. A full capital buildout of the space will be completed by 2021.

The rezoning of East Midtown directly ties new commercial growth to improvements in the district’s public transit and public space. In addition to the 43rd Street ‘shared street,’ New Yorkers will see major investments in subway stations, less congested sidewalks and expansive plazas across the district.

“This shared street will make a big difference in the quality of life for people working and traveling near Grand Central. It’s part of our commitment to a new formula for growth,” said Mayor de Blasio. “In the years ahead, this neighborhood will see major upgrades to subway stations, more expansive space for pedestrians, investments in its iconic landmarks, and a new generation of office buildings that will spur good jobs for New Yorkers.”

A “Shared Street” is a roadway designed for slow travel speeds where pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists all share the right of way. Vehicles are advised to drive 5MPH and the roadway is flush from building line to building line without the typical curb line grade separation. Shared streets can be designed and managed in a variety of different ways to balance the needs of all users while enhancing the safety, aesthetics, and overall experience of the area. Earlier this year, DOT created its first full-time Shared Street on Broadway between 24th and 25th Streets in the Flatiron District; on that block during evening rush hours, pedestrians had previously outnumbered vehicles by an 18:1 margin.

East Midtown is the city’s largest business district, generating 250,000 jobs and 10 percent of the city’s property tax revenue. But its office buildings average 75 years-old and have become increasingly out-of-date and inefficient for today’s companies. The rezoning passed in August will spur a new generation of office buildings to grow jobs and keep New York competitive, while investing in the area’s streets and public transit.

“Our newest Shared Street, steps away from Grand Central Station, will be an amazing public space in the heart of one of the densest parts of New York City,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.  “In a part of Midtown where pedestrians can outnumber cars by as much as 16 to 1, we will strike a better balance.  Pedestrians, bicycles and slow-moving cars will all safely share this block of East 43rd Street, which will become more welcoming and more vital.  We thank Deputy Mayor Glen, Councilmember Garodnick and our community partners for their leadership in the continued transformation of this vibrant neighborhood.”

"Midtown is one of the world's premier centers of business with gleaming towers, major transit hubs, and beautiful landmarks, but it can also be congested with traffic and a slog for pedestrians," said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. "This shared streets project will give more space to pedestrians, calm car traffic, and serve as a prototype for a better midtown with more room for foot traffic and better results for businesses. Thanks to the Administration for working with us on this crucial piece of the East Midtown Steering Committee's vision."

“Through the East Midtown Rezoning, we are delivering not only new Class A office buildings, but also new Class A public spaces,” said Council Member Dan Garodnick. “This new shared street is one great piece of the nearly $1 billion in upgrades that the rezoning will unleash for New Yorkers.”

"The rezoning of the Midtown East community will not only change the skyline of the world's central business district adding modern state of the art skyscrapers, it will also provide the mechanism for vital public realm amenities above ground, and improvements to mass transit below ground," said Grand Central Partnership President and CEO Fred Cerullo. "We were happy to work with our partners to conduct this 'test-run' of one of these benefits with this Shared Street pilot along East 43rd Street between Lexington and Third Avenues. It shows what can be done when the city and local stakeholders work together."

“Initiatives like “Shared Streets” are exactly the type of public realm innovation that will ensure this area of Midtown continues to thrive.  I commend the de Blasio Administration and Councilman Garodnick for bringing this vision to reality. As proud stewards of the Chrysler Building and committed partners to this neighborhood, Tishman Speyer looks forward to working with the de Blasio administration and Council Member Garodnick to realize their vision for 43rd Street,” said Rob Speyer, President and CEO, Tishman Speyer.

LA ADMINISTRACIÓN DE BLASIO DA UN ADELANTO DEL PLAN DE NUEVA CALLE COMPARTIDA COMO PARTE DE LAS MEJORAS DEL ESPACIO PÚBLICO DE EAST MIDTOWN 

NUEVA YORK—La Administración de Blasio detalló hoy los planes para lanzar un proyecto de calle compartida en la 43rd Street, entre Lexington y Third Avenue, como parte de la rezonificación de Greater East Midtown. El plan integral, desarrollado con el miembro del Concejo Dan Garodnick, incluye mejoras importantes en el espacio público y en el paisaje urbano de todo el distrito de negocios. En la primavera de 2018, el Departamento de Transporte de la Ciudad de Nueva York pondrá a prueba una nueva configuración de la 43rd Street, entre Lexington y Third Avenues, que aumentará el espacio en las aceras, proporcionará espacio para mesas, sillas y plantas, y disminuirá la velocidad permitida para los vehículos. El desarrollo total del espacio se completará en 2021.

La rezonificación de East Midtown vincula directamente el nuevo crecimiento comercial a las mejoras en el espacio y transporte público del distrito. Además de la calle compartida de la 43rd Street, los neoyorquinos verán grandes inversiones en estaciones de metro, aceras menos congestionadas y amplias plazas en todo el distrito.

Una “calle compartida” es una vía diseñada para velocidades de desplazamiento más lentas donde peatones, ciclistas y automovilistas comparten el derecho de preferencia de paso. Las calles compartidas se pueden diseñar y administrar de diferentes maneras para equilibrar las necesidades de todos los usuarios y, al mismo tiempo, mejorar la seguridad, la estética y la experiencia general del área.

“Esta calle compartida tendrá un efecto muy positivo en la calidad de vida de las personas que trabajan y transitan cerca de Grand Central. Esto es parte de nuestro compromiso con una nueva fórmula para el desarrollo”, dijo el alcalde Bill de Blasio. “En los próximos años, este vecindario verá grandes mejoras en las estaciones de metro, un espacio más amplio para los peatones, inversiones en los lugares de interés emblemáticos y una nueva generación de edificios de oficinas que impulsarán buenos empleos para los neoyorquinos”.

East Midtown es el distrito de negocios más grande de la Ciudad: genera 250,000 empleos y el 10% de los ingresos tributarios de la Ciudad. Sin embargo, sus edificios de oficinas tienen un promedio de 75 años y se han vuelto cada vez más obsoletos y poco eficientes para las empresas actuales. El crecimiento histórico del distrito fue impulsado por el acceso al tránsito público, pero hoy sus calles y metros están al máximo de su capacidad.

“La rezonificación de la comunidad de Midtown East no solo cambiará el paisaje urbano del distrito de negocios central del mundo, con modernos rascacielos de última generación, sino que también proporcionará los servicios necesarios del espacio público en la superficie y mejoras al transporte público bajo la superficie”, dijo el presidente y director ejecutivo de Grand Central Partnership, Fred Cerullo. “Estamos felices de trabajar con nuestros socios para llevar a cabo este ‘ensayo’, con este programa piloto de calle compartida a lo largo de East 43rd Street, entre Lexington y Third Avenues. Esto muestra lo que se puede hacer cuando la Ciudad y los representantes locales trabajan juntos”.

“Iniciativas como esta son exactamente el tipo de innovación del espacio público que permitirá que esta área de Midtown continúe prosperando. Felicito a la Administración de Blasio y al concejal Garodnick por llevar esta visión a la realidad. Como administradores orgullosos del edificio Chrysler y socios comprometidos con este vecindario, Tishman Speyer espera colaborar con la Administración de Blasio y el concejal Garodnick para hacer realidad su visión de la 43rd Street”, dijo el presidente y director ejecutivo de Tishman Speyer, Rob Speyer.