Overview:
 The Midtown Manhattan Pedestrian Network Development Phase One
report, published in June 2000, recommended that the effectiveness of underutilized taxi stands in Times Square and the Theater District be investigated and
improved as a tool to reduce congestion and improve safety.
Taxi stands
offer a viable alternative to current practice by providing an identifi able,
orderly, effi cient, and quick means to secure a taxi that benefi ts both
drivers and passengers. Given that taxis comprise up to fi fty percent of all
traffic in the Times Square Bow-Tie, even a slight reduction in street hails
would improve traffi c operations.
This technical memorandum identifies 32 existing taxi stands from Sixth
Avenue to Eighth Avenue, West 38th Street to West 53rd Street: 28 taxi
waiting line stands and four relief stands. The study examines how well taxi
stands are used and recommends four actions to improve their visibility and
use:
- rationalizing the network of taxi waiting line and relief stands by removing underutilized stands, redesignating stands, and establishing new
or expanded stands;
- installing simplified, pedestrian-oriented signs;
- using distinctive lamp posts and globes to mark taxi waiting stands; and
- investigating more taxi dispatch stands.
A number of recommendations can be seen throughout the city. Distinctive lamp posts throughout Times Square announce taxi stands from blocks away, and the new signage scheme continues to replace older taxi stand signs.
Report:
The report is available as one complete document ( 1.5 MB).
Items
accompanied by this symbol require the free
Adobe Acrobat Reader.
|
