It will be easier to see a Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center: city authorities introduce a new rule

Вabout the holiday season the streets around The Rockefeller Center, where the New York main tree is installed, will be open exclusively to pedestrians. So the city plans to ensure the safety of visitors, the number of which is growing every year and sometimes reaches 20 thousand people per hour. This publication writes Curbed.

The pilot program starts on November 29 and runs until early January 2020. “Starting this Friday, the streets around Rockefeller Center will be closed to cars and public transport. The covers will only be in effect for part of the day during the holiday season, when there are especially many tourists here, ”said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“During this period, 49th and 50th streets between Fifth and Sixth avenues will be open exclusively to pedestrians during the busiest hours of the hotel's opening hours,” de Blasio explained on November 22.

On the subject: Rockefeller Center set up New York's main Christmas tree

So, traffic will be blocked here: from 14: 00 until midnight Monday through Thursday, from 13: 00 until midnight Friday and from 10: 00 until midnight Saturday and Sunday.

Why block the streets

According to the mayor, every year this area of ​​New York is visited by more and more people - up to 20 thousand people per hour. This poses a real security problem, and we want to protect these people, whether New Yorkers or people coming from other cities.

The main goal with which visitors come here is to see such popular locations as the decorated windows of the Saks Fifth Avenue chain of luxury stores and Rockefeller Center, where the Christmas tree is located.

According to the city hall, in order to completely or partially close the streets, mobile barriers are used. They will be installed on the east and west sides of Fifth Avenue streets between 48 and 52 streets, blocking the lane on each side of the highway. On Sixth Avenue, barriers will also be set, but only if necessary - it depends on the number of people in this place.

How will this affect traffic

MTA was skeptical about blocking the streets adjacent to Rockefeller Center.

On Friday, November 22, NYCT President Andy Byford said that because of this, buses will be forced to go around blocked streets, which will lead to "increased congestion on the roads and reduced speed for our passengers."

"While the MTA fully supports safe pedestrian access for New Yorkers and visitors during this busy holiday time, we are disappointed that the mayor's plan does not prioritize MTA buses and ignore the needs of bus customers," statement.

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At the same time, City Council member Keith Powers representing the area and Manhattan County President Gail Brewer have long advocated for the regular closure of these streets to solve the problem of crowds crowding them.

Although de Blasio previously stated that “this is not foreseen as an ongoing action,” Powers hopes that such efforts will help make this area open to pedestrians year-round.

He is also optimistic about blocking the streets for the holidays.

"The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center is a must-see for tourists and locals alike, and there will now be more space for sightseeing and getting around," Powers said.

He also expressed the hope that the pilot project "will give an idea of ​​how to maximize the use of the street for organizing celebrations and make this place accessible to pedestrians throughout the year."