The southwest corner of Madison Square Park is a classic New York locale. Access to the park and transit, proximity to shopping and entertainment, and views of the historic Flatiron Building… they all converge here.
Yet this iconic crossroads has long been a danger to its thousands of daily visitors. Until recently, pedestrians had to cross 9 lanes of traffic – over the course of two signal cycles – in order to access the park. The road design encouraged speeding and confused drivers, leading to scores of accidents and two pedestrian fatalities.
North-bound view, before and after
Since 2005, the Streets Renaissance has been helping New Yorkers imagine their city as a place where great destinations make way for bikes and pedestrians. A little imagination goes a long way.
In early 2008, DOT took the advice and gave Madison Square a facelift. Today, the area has simpler traffic patterns, better bike connections, and 37,000 square feet of new pedestrian plazas. The new crossroads is a safe, inviting destination that knits together the surrounding neighborhoods.
