DOT Sets Construction Timeline for Permanent Ped-Friendly Times Square

Think you can top this? Photo: berk2804/Flickr

DOT yesterday announced a competition for temporary designs to "refresh" Times Square while the agency develops plans for permanent pedestrian plazas.

According to a media release, the design phase for the permanent plazas will run for about the next 18 months, with construction set to begin in 2012.

In the meantime, artists and designers are invited to submit ideas for "economical, temporary surface treatments" to serve the needs of the 350,000 pedestrians who pass through Times Square every day. The winner will be selected by representatives from DOT, the Times Square Alliance, Mayor Bloomberg’s office, and the Design Commission along with "one outside artist or arts advisor."

The winning design will fetch $15,000. Deadline is April 16.

Urbanis

I’m pleased with the current pedestrian arrangement of Times Square. I’m even more excited DOT is committing to the changes by installing permanent pedestrian plazas. I’ll weep with joy when they narrow 7th Ave in Times Square to two lanes. And I will have died and gone to heaven when they make the entire island of Manhattan car-free.

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