6½ Avenue Explained

6½ Avenue is a north-south pedestrian passageway[1] [2] in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, running from West 51st to West 57th Streets between Sixth and Seventh Avenues.[3]

The pedestrian-only avenue is a NaNmiles corridor of privately owned public spaces, such as open-access lobbies and canopied space, which are open during the day. There are stop signs and stop ahead signs at six crossings between 51st and 56th Streets. The mid-block crossing at 57th Street is equipped with a traffic light.[4] At the crosswalk areas, there are sidewalk pedestrian ramps with textured surface and flexible delineators to prevent vehicles parking in the areas.[5]

Each intersection along the thoroughfare has a street name sign that reads " AV" and the name of the cross street to officially mark the street name.[6] The mid-block stop signs are unusual for Manhattan, and the fractional avenue name is a new idea for the numbered street system of New York City.

History

In 2011, the Friends of Privately Owned Public Spaces proposed the creation of a six-block pathway from 51st to 57th Streets that would be mid-block between Sixth and Seventh Avenues to ease pedestrian traffic. The proposal called for connecting public spaces in the area, that were not known to most pedestrians, into a pedestrian corridor and naming it Holly Whyte Way.[7] The idea was presented to the Community Board 5 Transportation Committee and the full Community Board 5, then the board sent a formal request to the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) in May 2011.[1]

In March 2012, NYCDOT announced the plan, with a list of improvements, to construct a new pedestrian-only avenue.[8] The Community Board 5 Transportation Committee unanimously voted in favor of a resolution to support the project as presented by NYCDOT on March 26, 2012.[9] The $60,000 project was completed in July 2012.[10]

Criticism

Drivers often fail to obey the avenue's stop signs, which presents a public safety issue.[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Chaban. Matt. Meet Me on 6½th Avenue: DOT Planning Public Promenade Through Middle of Midtown Towers. The New York Observer. July 30, 2012. March 26, 2012.
  2. Web site: New York City Mulls '6 1/2 Avenue' Proposal, Linking Pedestrian Walkways In Midtown. CBS New York. July 31, 2012. March 30, 2012.
  3. Web site: NYC DOT Announces Completion Of "6 ½ Avenue," Connecting Midtown Public Spaces With New, Safer Pedestrian Crossings. New York City Department of Transportation. press release. September 6, 2012.
  4. News: Colvin . Jill . City to Create New Mid-Block Crossing on West 57th Street . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193430/http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20111111/midtown/city-create-new-midblock-crossing-on-west-57th-street . October 29, 2013 . . November 11, 2011 . July 30, 2012.
  5. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/201203_midtown-mid-block_cb5_slides.pdf "Midtown Mid-Block Crossings"
  6. News: Grynbaum . Michael M. . Flegenheimer . Matt . City Room: Officially Marking a New Manhattan Avenue . . July 13, 2012 . July 31, 2012.
  7. Web site: Colvin. Jill. Secret Midtown Passageways Seek More Exposure. DNAInfo.com. July 30, 2012. April 27, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120717213639/http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20110427/midtown/secret-midtown-pedestrian-passageways-get-more-exposure-under-new-plan. July 17, 2012.
  8. News: Flegenheimer . Matt . For Walkers, a Sixth-and-a-Half Ave. May Take Shape . . March 29, 2012 . July 30, 2012.
  9. News: Johnson. Mary. Avenue of Midtown Plazas Could Be Connected by the Summer. January 11, 2015. DNAInfo. March 27, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150111070349/http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120327/midtown/avenue-of-midtown-plazas-may-be-created-by-fall-after-winning-support. January 11, 2015.
  10. News: Johnson . Mary . New Crosswalks Connect to Form '6 1/2 Avenue' in Midtown . https://web.archive.org/web/20120717043404/http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120712/midtown/new-crosswalks-connect-form-6-12-avenue-midtown . July 17, 2012 . DNAInfo.com . July 12, 2012.
  11. http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/07/19/stop-signs-along-midtowns-6-12-avenue-catching-drivers-by-surprise/ "Stop Signs Along Midtown's 6 1/2 Avenue Catching Drivers By Surprise"

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