Overview
- NYC DOT, which unveiled new renderings Wednesday, opened an online survey and pop-up events to gather feedback on two concepts for East 46th to East 57th Streets.
- Both options remove one travel lane in each direction to more than double the current 20-foot medians with seating, plantings, new crosswalks, and in one version a winding bike path.
- The city is timing the surface rebuild with the MTA’s Grand Central train-shed repairs beneath Park Avenue, and the MTA says the streetscape work cannot slow its infrastructure schedule.
- Elected officials and street-safety advocates cheered the added public space, while some office workers and residents warned fewer lanes could worsen congestion and curb access.
- Landscape firm Starr Whitehouse developed the proposals after years of community input, with CB6 meeting May 4 and CB5 on May 28, and no construction start date announced.