NYC redesign looks at making Fifth Avenue into a pedestrian boulevard

NEW YORK CITY, New York: New York City officials have announced plans to transform a key section of Fifth Avenue, one of Manhattan's most famous streets, into a more pedestrian-friendly boulevard.

The redesign focuses on the stretch between Bryant Park and Central Park, with a vision to expand sidewalks, reduce traffic lanes, and add green spaces, seating areas, and hundreds of trees.

The proposal aims to double the size of sidewalks and cut the number of traffic lanes from five to three. Officials hope to emulate renowned boulevards like Paris' Champs-Elysees, creating a more welcoming space for pedestrians, shoppers, and workers.

"As we celebrate the 200th anniversary of one of the most famous streets in the world, New Yorkers can look forward to a brand-new Fifth Avenue that will return the street to its former glory as a pedestrian boulevard," Madelyn Wils, interim president of the Fifth Avenue Association, which runs the local business improvement district, said in a statement.

"Reversing the century-old trend of putting cars first, this visionary design will transform our overcrowded avenue into a spacious and green corridor for shoppers and workers, visitors and New Yorkers, and everyone on Fifth."

The project, expected to cost over $350 million, will be funded through a combination of public and private investments. City officials anticipate the redesign will boost property and sales tax revenue, potentially paying for itself within five years.

However, some transit advocates have expressed concerns, particularly about the plan's impact on public buses and cyclists. A public meeting to discuss the proposal will be held later this month, with construction slated to begin in 2028.

Fifth Avenue, currently about 100 feet wide with narrow sidewalks, sees heavy foot traffic, especially during the holidays. Officials noted that pedestrians account for 70 percent of traffic on the avenue, with up to 23,000 people per hour walking its blocks during peak times.

"People across the globe identify Fifth Avenue as a premier destination for strolling and shopping," Meera Joshi, the city's deputy mayor for operations, said in a statement. "But its larger-than-life reputation means that its sidewalks have reached their capacity, hosting more people per hour in peak seasons than Madison Square Garden."

In addition to the Fifth Avenue project, the city has proposed other ambitious plans, including capping parts of the Cross Bronx Expressway to create parks and green spaces. These efforts aim to reconnect neighborhoods divided by highways and restore urban communities impacted by past infrastructure projects.