Anyone who has tried to go to a performance at New York City’s Lincoln Center knows that it is often difficult to get there. Whether a person is walking, going by taxi, or emerging from the subway at 66th Street, it’s a real challenge to get to the destination on time and uninjured.
It’s not just convenience and the stress of trying to navigate the sea of pedestrians and jammed traffic. According to CrashStat reports, 67 pedestrians were been injured in truck and car accidents in the area between 1995 and 2009. One person was killed during that period. Just last week, a woman was hit by a truck while trying to cross the street at 65th and Broadway. She suffered a broken leg and the truck driver fled the scene.
The city’s Department of Transportation (DOT) has acknowledged the problems for some time, but the department now has a plan to improve the safety of intersections around the famed arts venue.
As part of the mayor’s Vision Zero plan to eliminate traffic fatalities, the city released a proposal to improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians in the area around Lincoln Center, specifically from 62nd Street to 66th Street where those streets cross Broadway, Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues.
The DOT will discuss its proposed changes today at a public meeting of the Upper West Side Community Board transportation committee as well as the parks and environment committee.
According to news reports, local businesses do not universally support the proposed changes, which they have been able to review in advance. In addition, Lincoln Center officials are reported as being opposed to the improvement proposals.