Lawn chairs in Times Square : an analysis of the Pilot Streets Program and the provisional project approach for New York City's Green Light in Midtown project

In 2009 the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) initiated a Pilot Streets Program that called for the temporary closure of Broadway between 47th and 42nd Streets to all vehicular traffic. With Times Square and the Green Light for Midtown project as a central case study, this thesis explores the methods behind the temporary project approach. How does this approach differ from more conventional planning methods? What performance indicators are used to evaluate project results and impacts? What quantitative and qualitative factors influence the decision to make the provisional project permanent? Can this strategy serve as an alternative approach to the more conventional and longer duration implementation methods practiced widely across the US? Can it build public support for such initiatives? The Green Light in Midtown project was implemented in a very short time period, at low cost, based on an explicit commitment of government to assess the performance of the project over an eight-month period in relation to a set of measurable criteria. Measurements showed that diverted traffic moved more quickly, injuries to motorists and pedestrians declined, and pedestrian activity increased, while more qualitative assessments were difficult to achieve. This innovative project approach shows signs of success in making large-scale policies and programs tangible to residents, workers, stakeholders and visitors.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Taylor, Alexis (Alexis Abreu)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• John de Monchaux.

• Urban Studies and Planning.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/69457

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/69457