6½ Avenue

6½ Avenue is a north-south pedestrian passageway{{cite web|last=Chaban|first=Matt|title=Meet Me on 6½th Avenue: DOT Planning Public Promenade Through Middle of Midtown Towers|url=http://observer.com/2012/03/meet-me-on-6%C2%BDth-avenue-dot-planning-public-promenade-through-middle-of-midtown-towers/|work=The New York Observer|access-date=July 30, 2012|date=March 26, 2012}}{{cite web|title=New York City Mulls '6 1/2 Avenue' Proposal, Linking Pedestrian Walkways In Midtown|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/03/30/new-york-city-mulls-6-12-avenue-proposal-linking-pedestrian-walkways-in-midtown/|publisher=CBS New York|access-date=July 31, 2012|date=March 30, 2012}} in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, running from West 51st to West 57th Streets between Sixth and Seventh Avenues.{{cite web|title=NYC DOT Announces Completion Of "6 ½ Avenue," Connecting Midtown Public Spaces With New, Safer Pedestrian Crossings|url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/pr2012/pr12_44.shtml|publisher=New York City Department of Transportation|format=press release|date=September 6, 2012}}

The pedestrian-only avenue is a {{convert|1/4|mi|m|spell=in}} corridor of privately owned public spaces, such as open-access lobbies and canopied space, which are open during the day. There are stop signs and stop ahead signs at six crossings between 51st and 56th Streets. The mid-block crossing at 57th Street is equipped with a traffic light.{{cite news |last=Colvin |first=Jill |url=http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20111111/midtown/city-create-new-midblock-crossing-on-west-57th-street |title=City to Create New Mid-Block Crossing on West 57th Street |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193430/http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20111111/midtown/city-create-new-midblock-crossing-on-west-57th-street |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |work=DNAInfo.com |date=November 11, 2011 |access-date=July 30, 2012}} At the crosswalk areas, there are sidewalk pedestrian ramps with textured surface and flexible delineators to prevent vehicles parking in the areas.[http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/201203_midtown-mid-block_cb5_slides.pdf "Midtown Mid-Block Crossings"], New York City Department of Transportation (May 10, 2012). Accessed: July 12, 2012

Each intersection along the thoroughfare has a street name sign that reads "{{frac|6|1|2}} AV" and the name of the cross street to officially mark the street name.{{cite news |last1=Grynbaum |first1=Michael M. |last2=Flegenheimer |first2=Matt |url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/13/officially-marking-a-new-manhattan-avenue/ |title=City Room: Officially Marking a New Manhattan Avenue |work=The New York Times |date=July 13, 2012 |access-date=July 31, 2012}} The mid-block stop signs are unusual for Manhattan, and the fractional avenue name is a new idea for the numbered street system of New York City.

History

In 2011, the Friends of Privately Owned Public Spaces proposed the creation of a six-block pathway from 51st to 57th Streets that would be mid-block between Sixth and Seventh Avenues to ease pedestrian traffic. The proposal called for connecting public spaces in the area, that were not known to most pedestrians, into a pedestrian corridor and naming it Holly Whyte Way.{{cite web|last=Colvin|first=Jill|title=Secret Midtown Passageways Seek More Exposure|url=http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20110427/midtown/secret-midtown-pedestrian-passageways-get-more-exposure-under-new-plan|website=DNAInfo.com|access-date=July 30, 2012|date=April 27, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717213639/http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20110427/midtown/secret-midtown-pedestrian-passageways-get-more-exposure-under-new-plan|archive-date=July 17, 2012}} The idea was presented to the Community Board 5 Transportation Committee and the full Community Board 5, then the board sent a formal request to the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) in May 2011.

In March 2012, NYCDOT announced the plan, with a list of improvements, to construct a new pedestrian-only avenue.{{cite news |last=Flegenheimer |first=Matt |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/30/nyregion/for-midtown-manhattan-pedestrians-an-avenue-alternative.html |title=For Walkers, a Sixth-and-a-Half Ave. May Take Shape |work=The New York Times |date=March 29, 2012 |access-date= July 30, 2012}} The Community Board 5 Transportation Committee unanimously voted in favor of a resolution to support the project as presented by NYCDOT on March 26, 2012.{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Mary|title=Avenue of Midtown Plazas Could Be Connected by the Summer|url=http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120327/midtown/avenue-of-midtown-plazas-may-be-created-by-fall-after-winning-support|access-date=January 11, 2015|work=DNAInfo|date=March 27, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111070349/http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120327/midtown/avenue-of-midtown-plazas-may-be-created-by-fall-after-winning-support|archive-date=January 11, 2015}} The $60,000 project was completed in July 2012.{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Mary |url=http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120712/midtown/new-crosswalks-connect-form-6-12-avenue-midtown |title=New Crosswalks Connect to Form '6 1/2 Avenue' in Midtown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717043404/http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120712/midtown/new-crosswalks-connect-form-6-12-avenue-midtown |archive-date=July 17, 2012 |work=DNAInfo.com |date=July 12, 2012}}

Criticism

Drivers often fail to obey the avenue's stop signs, which presents a public safety issue.[http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/07/19/stop-signs-along-midtowns-6-12-avenue-catching-drivers-by-surprise/ "Stop Signs Along Midtown's 6 1/2 Avenue Catching Drivers By Surprise"], CBS New York (July 19, 2012). Accessed: July 30, 2012

References

External links

[http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/201203_midtown-mid-block_cb5_slides.pdf NYCDOT presentation]

Category:Pedestrian malls in the United States

Category:Midtown Manhattan

Category:Privately owned public spaces

Category:Pedestrian infrastructure in the United States

Category:2012 establishments in New York City