By Jill Colvin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MIDTOWN — A plan to turn a section of 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues into a pedestrian plaza may be scrapped by the Department of Transportation.
That plan would have had a dedicated bus lane running the width of Manhattan, but would also have sent car traffic one-way, outbound, in each direction. But after consulting with residents, the DOT may be moving in a new direction.
"We realize it would be best to consider a few other concepts," said Kate Mikuliak, an outreach coordinator with the DOT. "We really want this to work for all of the stakeholders."
Under the new plan, 34th Street could keep the dedicated east-west bus-only lane, but would allow only eastbound car traffic.
The change is part of a larger plan to bring rapid bus service to the stretch, and will create fully protected bus lanes all the way along 34th Street from FDR Drive to 12th Avenue as well as new pedestrian islands and wider sidewalks.
Another option also being considered is splitting traffic at Fifth Avenue and having traffic run one-way in each direction, but without the pedestrian plaza.
Eric Beaton, a DOT senior project manager, said the department hopes the changes, regardless of their form, will improve travel times along the gridlocked corridor by more than 30 percent and make it safer for pedestrians.
More than 30,000 riders currently rely on buses on the 34th Street each day, he said.
While the project is at least two years from implementation, a Community Advisory Committee comprised of residents, elected officials and business representatives has already begun meeting. The DOT also plans to hold community forums and open houses to discuss residents' concerns.
But already, some residents are worried about the changes.
Marisa Bulzone, who heads the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association, said the new bus lanes will block residents' access to their apartments and will push traffic onto already crowded residential cross-streets.
"We feel with this plan the situation gets even worse," Bulzone said.
Community Board 5 Transportation Committee Chair Thomas Miller said when it comes to projects like these, balancing local residents' needs is always a challenge.
"It definitely will not make 100 percent of the constituents and users happy," he conceded.
