BFJ Planning (BFJ) was retained by Arup, in consultation with the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT), to undertake a study on expanding and enhancing pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure in Lower Manhattan. Consistent with the Bloomberg Administration’s PLANYC 2030 and Sustainable Streets – the strategic plan for NYCDOT calling for a more sustainable transportation system – the Lower Manhattan Shared Streets project aims to reallocate street space in Lower Manhattan from vehicle-dominated space to streets that accommodate all users regardless of transportation mode, age or physical ability. In a shared street, the environment is designed in a way that encourages low vehicular speeds, safe and convenient pedestrian movement, and visual and personal communication among all users of the roadway in order to minimize conflicts. Shared streets are an extension of an urban area’s public open space, where pedestrians can safely relax, stroll, shop and dine. 

The primary objectives of the Shared Streets report included evaluating specific streets in Lower Manhattan where the shared streets concept would be appropriate, as well as outlining a program of design elements and engineering measures intended to implement the concept. BFJ was charged with examining the safety aspects of shared streets in other urban areas around the world in order to determine strategies that would most effectively contribute to the successful operation of shared streets in Manhattan. This included an exhaustive review and summation of “before and after” crash data and casualty statistics for roadways that have previously undergone the shared street transformation. While formulas for shared streets vary by location, there are a number of road treatments proven to yield optimal results. These include roadway width reduction and sidewalk width expansion to reduce crossing lengths and vehicle speeds; increasing the number of both formal and informal crossing points to improve pedestrian movement patterns; and streetscape improvements including street resurfacing, pedestrian-scale lighting, furniture, landscaping and other aesthetically pleasing design elements aimed at calming vehicular traffic movements and enhancing the overall pedestrian experience.