EVG file photo of 14th Street
According to the agency, bus speeds along 14th Street have increased by as much as 24% since the busway was installed, while ridership has grown by up to 30%.
The initiative — called "The 14th Street Plan: Keeping People Moving and Business Booming"— will examine potential long-term upgrades for pedestrians, bus riders, cyclists and public spaces along the corridor.
The DOT is undertaking a $3 million, 24-month study focused on improvements along the entire 14th Street corridor, which serves about 28,000 daily bus riders and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to destinations along the street.
Possible upgrades include expanded pedestrian space, new landscaping and greenery, enhanced plaza and park areas, and additional safety features. The study will also explore design improvements on nearby streets that connect to 14th Street, including routes toward Union Square, Irving Place, Broadway, University Place, the Meatpacking District and Hudson River Park.
Funding for the study includes $2 million from the city and $1 million combined from the Union Square Partnership and the Meatpacking District Management Association.
City officials say they plan to fast-track the process so capital projects can be developed by the end of the study. The city has already secured $9.5 million toward future improvements, including $9 million from the City Council and $500,000 from the Manhattan Borough President's office.
The DOT will hold its first public workshop on the project later this month: March 25, 4–7 p.m. Pratt Institute, 144 W. 14th St., 2nd floor.
Residents and stakeholders can also learn more about the project or complete a survey at this link.
Map graphic via the NYC DOT
