May 22, 2009 9:15 pm US/Eastern
Broadway Closures Begin In Earnest Monday
Iconic Manhattan Avenue About To Become A Pedestrian Walking Path; Some Love Idea, Many Others Don't
Shut Down: 42nd-47th In Midtown; 33rd-35th Near Herald Square
By JOSH LANDIS, CBS 2 HD News
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Traffic flows through Times Square in midtown Manhattan, New York City, in this file photo.
AP
Drivers in Manhattan have two more days to give their regards to Broadway.
The city is shutting down two heavily used stretches of the famous avenue -- in an effort to improve congestion.
But not everyone's applauding.
Broadway's never had an audition like this before: the city's shutting down seven of the busiest blocks in town.
"I mean it's hard to walk across a lot of the time because there's so many cars," tourist Caroline Tetu said.
Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance, said when it comes to cars, less is more.
"The number one complaint in Times Square in recent years is not crime -- that's decades ago. But it's crowding on the street," Tompkins said.
Broadway will close in Midtown, from 42nd to 47th streets. And over at Herald Square, no traffic will be allowed between 33rd and 35th streets.
CBS 2 HD stood on the stairs above TKTS to look at how the crossroads of the world are going to change. Seventh Avenue won't change. Cars and buses will continue to go south. But on Broadway, starting Monday, there will be no vehicles at all and the only traffic will be foot traffic.
"It'll open up new opportunities that's for sure. A lot more shops that are friendly for people walking around, Ryan Hearl said.
"I don't think we need to have as many cars. In a city like this people need to use public transportation," Patrick Benivegna said.
The theory goes: closing parts of Broadway will speed up 6th and 7th avenues, but a lot of drivers said the city should hit the brakes.
"Bad idea, because they're gonna congest the whole area," taxi driver Roy Cortes said.
"We don't need it. And all the businesses around here, they need taxis. All the hotels here, they need taxis. How they gonna get 'em? And the guests are gonna get upset," taxi driver Mike Syed said.
"I guess it could help with the traffic situation but I don't think New York City is ever gonna be a low traffic area," tourist Bess Ploener said.
As many as 356,000 pedestrians cross Times Square every day -- now walk-ons in the city's newest experimental play.
And to celebrate the new Times Square, Memorial Day and Fleet Week, there will be a free movie on Monday. "On The Town" will play on a jumbo screen right next to TKTS.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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