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Seeking public input on a redesign for Canal Street
If your ankle bracelet doesn’t go off at Lispenard, it may be worth engaging in the city’s overdue efforts to redesign Canal Street since, after all, it’s a mess. (They also have to address the now ridiculous and flagrant street vending of drugs at the corner of Church and counterfeit goods at the corner of Broadway.) Here’s a summary of the effort to date:
THE SCHEDULE
They are collecting public opinion now through this winter. The plan now says execution would start in 2027. See the PDF primer here.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHIME IN
You can fill out a questionnaire here.
DOT is hosting an engagement session and a workshop; there are rain dates:
- Wednesday, October 1, 6 to 7:30p at PS 130, 143 Baxter
- Friday, October 3, from 11a to 2p on-street at Canal and Walker
THE BROADSTROKES
- Create a two-way bike path from Sixth to West by closing an eastbound lane on Canal and using Watts
- Widen the sidewalks to create “super sidewalks” — but only east of Broadway
- Install painted curb extensions for shorter crossings at 30 locations
- Make existing street crossings more visible at seven locations (with paint patterns)
- Add new street crossings (hello, Soho!)
- Add a concrete stand on the east side of Sixth in the middle of Canal so the crossing is shorter
- Create a westbound bikeway (eastbound can use Grand)
- Close the last block of eastbound Walker Street, between Baxter and Mulberry
- Curb regulations may also be updated to relocate parking and loading from Canal Street to side streets
Streetsblog said the agency is also considering a redo of Church Street between Canal and Franklin, which as we know is pretty quiet since most cars veer left on Sixth at that fork, but the plans seem very vague at this point.
THE REVIEWS SO FAR
I have not really dug into this, but it strikes me as more of a bandaid than a real redesign, especially for everything west of Broadway. That said, the bike path will make a real difference if they can hash out a connection for anyone coming southbound east of Lafayette, and wider sidewalks are always better, but not, IMO, if they are just paint. T. sent this note: “Tt’s a great idea and a big improvement but believe one could do better/bolder if already undertaking such a big project.”
Also, the roadway seems to shift from two lanes to three in a couple places — maybe it does that now, but that seems like a challenge…
T. went on: “If you want to be really bold, you make Lispenard and Walker cul-de-sacs between Broadway and Church and make Church from Canal to White (or even Franklin throwing in Barnett Newman Triangle as mentioned) a full park. There is no need for either of those streets to go full length as through traffic can use Canal, and Church isn’t used at all on that section except for USPS parking and Roxy Hotel limos parking.”
Streetsblog felt the same way: “The changes are a good start, but Canal Street deserves a radical transformation,” they wrote. Tranportation Alternatives said the next mayor, who will execute on the plan, needs to think bigger.
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Adding a bike lane? and that’s supposed to improve canal? Seriously this city has gone bonkers.
I agree. Bike lane needs to be physically separated and enough room for all the self powered and power assisted traffic that moves through the area these days. The city knows it needs to discourage all the traffic that crosses the island without adding any value to residents but it is still too timid to reduce to a single lane each way.
Adding a bike lane will absolutely improve my commute. At the moment I avoid it like the plague as traveling on it (or even crossing it on foot) feels like I’m taking my life in my hands. It is a road that has been built for drivers cutting through from the Manhattan Bridge to the tunnel, not for the residents of the neighborhood or city.
Whether I’m crossing the street with the light or driving with the light, I’ve come inches from getting run over by bicyclists going against the light or had to break so I wouldn’t hit one going against the light.
The real issue remains the tunnel – if you can’t get people in and out the tunnel faster, it creates chaos and congestion. We need to think long term and open another connection between New Jersey and Long Island that doesn’t go through manhattan. There is no other solution that isn’t a bandaid. We can start funding by cutting these useless crossing guards who get paid to do nothing about controlling endless gridlock.
Many of us were in the area when the tragic events of 9-11 unfolded, a day when nearly 3,000 individuals perished. Counterfeiting can be a way of financing terrorism.The terrorists who attacked the Charlie Hebdo offices, murdering 11 people in Paris in 2015, partially financed their weapons by selling counterfeit products. Subject to fewer crackdowns, it provides an immediate source of cash that is untraceable.
https://www.visionofhumanity.org/counterfeiting-an-abc-of-terrorist-financing/
I agree. It’s a car sewer and we can do better. The street is embarrassing.
I agree. Bike lane needs to be physically separated and enough room for all the self powered and power assisted traffic that moves through the area these days. The city knows it needs to discourage all the traffic that crosses the island without adding any value to residents but it is still too timid to reduce to a single car/truck lane each way.
The only option that actually makes sense is eliminating commercial vehicles from Canal and using side streets. Canal is completely over congested with these. As far as everything else, I don’t think these potential new additions make sense: Like, what the h*ll are patterned crosswalks going to do to decrease traffic?
Citibike ports have destroyed the look of every neighborhood. Too many bikes of every kind have become a danger to drivers and walkers. Sidewalks, streets, highways and bridges are in desperate need of repair (drivers pay for these not bicyclists to the corrupt DOT)) yet bike lanes are kept up for those who don’t! pay for the roads or parking or insurance or anything else.
Bikes as a danger to drivers. Okay.
We should ignore the 45 million Citibike trips that were taken in 2024. Those people don’t matter.
CitiBike stands are far from beautiful, but they are no uglier than a row of parked cars and trucks.
It’s a start. But just widening sidewalks without any enforcement regarding their proper use will just mean: more illicit counterfeit junk sellers. The area will be even more chaotic (if we can imagine that).
Re-design or not, we need:
– enforcement of the vendor laws
– enforcement of anti-counterfeiting laws
– enforcing against the littering, public urination, etc.
– enforcement of the traffic laws
– enforcement of the noise laws (against honking, loud modified engines of motorcycles and cars, loud music from cars, etc.)
This has become a lawless zone. Police sometimes park around the area or wander around, but do nothing. I’ve spoken to the police many times, and they just say effectively “We don’t enough staff” or “There is no political will from on high to enforce” and “You have to vote differently if you want this to change”.