New York City residents and tourists agree: Times Square is better without cars.
It’s not just for tourists. Real New Yorkers like car-free Times Square, according to a just-released Quinnipiac University poll. The survey of registered NYC voters found support for the new pedestrian spaces by a margin of 58%-34%, and 44% of New Yorkers have been to the car-free zones. (Tri-State visited back in May, and we enjoyed the spaces too.)
By a margin of 48%-46%, New Yorkers said the city should build more pedestrian malls, but most NYC voters do not want a pedestrian mall in their neighborhood. The Quinnipiac pollsters should also ask residents whether they want more pedestrian space in their neighborhoods, and whether they support taking that space from cars. In many neighborhoods, residents might not want to close an entire street, but would support the mini-plazas and traffic calming efforts that NYCDOT is rolling out throughout the city.
The poll also revealed how far the MTA has to go when it comes to its image. On one hand, most New Yorkers think their transit service is “good” or “excellent,” and 25% think it has gotten better in the last 5 years compared to 20% who think it has gotten worse (most think it has stayed the same). But they don’t think the agency will build the Second Avenue Subway or No. 7 extension on time, don’t think recent fare hikes were justified, and don’t think the MTA does a good job of telling its customers about service disruptions. Among those who think transit service has gotten worse over the last 5 years, most blame the agency instead of the State Legislature.
This widespread skepticism helps explain why the Q poll found opposition to East River bridge tolls, even among transit riders. If transit riders don’t believe the MTA spends its money effectively, they won’t have much enthusiasm for giving the agency the revenue it needs. One more reason that nominated MTA chair Jay Walder “must restore the public trust and confidence” in the agency, as he pledged to do at his introductory news conference.
Image: Clarence Eckerson via Streetsblog.
[...] When it comes to transformative regional transportation policies, however, advocates still a steep hill to climb. Majorities oppose East River bridge tolls and congestion pricing, even when the question explicitly states that funds would be used to limit future transit fare increases. Skepticism about the MTA's ability to deliver mega-projects like the Second Avenue Subway and the 7 line extension is very high. [...]
Unfortunately if there is inflation, the cost of running the system will go up. To pay for it the fares will have to go up. Now may be the time to look at a zone fare system. Smart cards aren’t needed. Just ask Zurich, Hamburg, Berlin, Munich and a number of other European cities.
[...] MTR and AMNY Cover Yesterday's Q Poll on Times Square and Transit [...]
Kudos to Jeannette Sadik-Khan for the sweeping changes she has helped make to NYC streets!
MTA should cease its current crop of prohibitively costly & dubious extension projects including LIRR Eastside Access to GCT, 2nd Avenue subway & 7th Avenue extension.
Instead, MTA should concentrate on improving operation of the existing subway system without raising fares.
MTA LIRR should regularly (7 days per week, morning, afternoon & evening) run diesel trains from Hunterspoint Avenue (or Long Island City) – that leaves LIRR riders one or two stops from Grand Central Terminal.
[...] seat at the transportation table — a philosophy most widely seen in highlight projects like car-free Times Square, better bus service in the Bronx and Manhattan’s East Side, and protected bike lanes, but [...]
[...] seat at the transportation table — a philosophy most widely seen in highlight projects like car-free Times Square, better bus service in the Bronx and Manhattan’s East Side, and protected bike lanes, but which [...]