The New York City Department of Transportation unveiled a plan to widen sidewalks on Canal Street, one of Manhattan’s busiest streets, to improve pedestrian circulation and reduce risks in an area plagued by congestion and traffic disruption. According to official information, the proposal comes into being after more than 24 people died or suffered serious injuries over the past four years, including two deaths in July.
Canal Street sees a constant flow of pedestrians, workers and tourists, as well as intense commercial activity. In this regard, the DOT proposed a redesign that would allow to organize pedestrian traffic and reduce critical points. The project envisages the expansion of the Walkways by at least two meterswith sections that They would reach up to 3.30 metersa change aimed at easing traffic in both directions and reducing the bottlenecks that continue to occur on the road today.
The plan also includes deleted corner extensions, particularly in sections such as the section between Broadway and Elizabeth Street, to increase traffic safety and improve visibility at intersections. According to the DOT, public hearings will be held to gather opinions from neighbors, merchants and regular users of the area. The official intention is to complete the design in the spring and begin construction in the summer.
Recent statistics from the New York Police Department show a decline in serious crime in the area over the past year. However, there was one Increase in minor offenses such as theft, robbery and petty assaults. This situation is for residents and small businesses is related to the saturation of the sidewalk and the presence of illegal vendors, factors they say make it difficult to live together and use public spaces safely.
According to the media NY1Councilman Christopher Marte supported the redesign, saying widening the sidewalks will ease congestion and improve overall safety. “It is a multi-agency approach. The Department of Transportation can work on the redesign to ensure pedestrian safety, but we will need the cooperation of the NYPD and the Department of Sanitation to ensure that the illegal sales currently taking place are deterred and prevented from continuing in the future.”
However, the project is not without criticism. Some sectors expressed concerns about the possibility that a Larger pedestrian areas encourage the expansion of illegal street sales. Given these questions, the Street Vendor Project, an organization that defends the rights of street vendors, expressed support for the initiative.
Legal Director Matthew Shapiro said NY1 that the expansion of sidewalks will benefit both pedestrians and vendors who comply with regulations, as current sidewalks are narrow and make it difficult to comply with site rules.
“In general, we support increasing sidewalk spaceto increase public space for pedestrians and vendors. Vendors who don’t sell counterfeit goods would certainly appreciate more space, as the sidewalks are relatively narrow. It is extremely difficult to comply with all site regulations for street vending that require certain distances from doorways, crosswalks and bus stops,” Shapiro added.
About The Author
