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Transportation & Environment
Application by Vornado Realty Trust to relocate the terminus of the M4 and Q32 bus lines from West 32nd Street between 6th and 7th Avenues to East 32nd between 5th and Madison Avenues.
WHEREAS, The Applicant, Vornado Realty Trust proposes to relocate the terminus of the M4 and Q32 bus lines from West 32 Street between 6 and 7 Avenues to either East 32 or East 30 Street between 5 and Madison Avenues; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant also proposes to widen the northern sidewalk of 32 Street between 6 & 7 Avenues by approximately 12 feet by converting the northern-most lane of vehicular traffic into a pedestrian-only walkway; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant proposes to separate the new pedestrian walkway from the vehicular traffic using strategically placed street furniture; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant proposes to further demarcate the new pedestrian walkway with an advanced street design using signage and a unique paint scheme to be developed in coordination with the Department of Transportation ("DOT"); and
WHEREAS, The Applicant previously proposed a similar plan in 2015 to widen the northern sidewalk of 32 Street between 6 and 7 Avenues without seeking to relocate the terminus of the M4 and Q32 buses; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five unanimously voted to approve a temporary trial period to study the impact of that 2015 sidewalk alteration; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant conducted thorough outreach to local stakeholders, the community board, the community at large, and pedestrians, motorists, and others affected by the plan; and
WHEREAS, Under a pilot program administered in coordination with Sam Schwartz Engineering, the Applicant prepared a thorough study of the results of those temporary alterations; and
WHEREAS, The results of the pilot program demonstrated that the plan as executed in 2015 drastically improved the pedestrian flow along this corridor and had minimal effect on vehicular traffic; and
WHEREAS, The results of the pilot program also demonstrated that the closure of the northern-most traffic lane on 32 Street resulted in a significant loss of commercial curbside loading space for stakeholders on the block, which proved to be an unsustainable condition; and
WHEREAS, The results of the Applicant's community outreach suggested that the use of benches along the walkway did not serve their intended purpose of providing seating for the public, but rather led to an increase in vagrancy; and
WHEREAS, Local stakeholders were in favor of the re-designed pedestrian walkway but for the significant issues regarding sufficient commercial loading space and the increased rate of vagrancy on the block; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant worked with the affected area stakeholders to find a suitable adjustment to the plan; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant returns to the community board with a modified scheme, which seeks to re-create the pedestrian walkway on 32 Street between 6 and 7 Avenues while also addressing the concerns previously raised by area stakeholders during the 2015 pilot program; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant's new proposal seeks to protect most of the existing commercial loading space on the southern side of 32nd Street by relocating the existing terminus of the M4 and Q32 buses, which currently occupies close to 50% of that side of the street; and
WHEREAS, The resulting available curb space would allow for approximately 535 feet of commercial loading space, which is a net loss of only 145 feet from the existing condition; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant believes this amount would be sufficient for the block, based on lengthy conversations with the affected stakeholders; and
WHEREAS, To accommodate this alteration, the Applicant proposes relocating the terminus of the M4 and Q32 buses at a different location, specifically either 32 or 30 Street between 5 and Madison Avenues; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant has noted that a bus terminus must be located on a street that:
- Possesses at least 350 feet of curb space on the south side of the street;
- Is comprised of mostly commercial space;
- Is convenient to retail and restrooms for drivers; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant suggests the proposed location on 32 Street best meets these requirements, although it acknowledges that other uninvestigated locations could be suitable as well; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant proposes the new bus terminus be located at an existing bus stop on 32 Street, just east of 5 Avenue; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant proposes that the MTA utilize this location by re-routing the buses down 5 Avenue, cutting out the current segment of the route that turns west on 37 Street, south on 7 Avenue, and east on 32 Street; and
WHEREAS, The proposed bus route would be less convenient to passengers traveling directly to and from Penn Station; and
WHEREAS, Currently, passengers boarding the M4 or Q32 bus from Penn Station must first exit the station, cross 7th Avenue, and walk approximately 865 feet [from the most central point of Penn Station] to the stop on 32nd Street, located west of 6th Avenue (and do the reverse upon exiting the bus at this location); and
WHEREAS, If the proposed changes are implemented, passengers wishing to travel to or from Penn Station going forward could transfer to the Select Bus Service on 34 Street by walking 415 feet underground from Penn Station to the southwest corner of 7th Avenue without having to cross the street; however, the foregoing would result in passengers having to wait for and travel on two separate bus lines (the M34 and then either the M4 or Q32) in order to reach their destinations, with the potential of significantly increasing travel times; and
WHEREAS, Alternatively, passengers could board the M4 or Q32 bus directly by exiting the station and walking the greater distance to the proposed bus terminus on 32 Street between 5 and Madison Avenues; and
WHEREAS, While a few local residents expressed concern about the inconvenience the change of the bus location would cause them, CB5 received a large number of emails approving of the Vornado plan for 32 Street; and
WHEREAS, The combined ridership of the M4 and Q32 buses at the stop on 32 Street and 7 Avenue has declined by 51% since 2011 and overall ridership on these buses has declined by more than 16% since 2011; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant's study indicates that approximately 6,500 pedestrians use the sidewalk on West 32 Street between 6 and 7 Avenues during the peak hour each weekday, a number far exceeding the total bus ridership of the M4 and Q32 buses; and
WHEREAS, The Municipal Arts Society ("MAS") supports the Applicant's new proposal and encourages the Applicant to engage in continued outreach to affected bus riders and to re-use street furniture and planters where possible; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five acknowledges and applauds the Applicant's substantial efforts to solicit and apply community input in this plan; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five recognizes the Applicant's efforts to be a conscientious neighbor and to alter the original plan to address the concerns of other area stakeholders; and
WHEREAS, Although Community Board Five recognizes that the new route may negatively impact some current riders, the Board believes that the resulting pedestrian walkway on 32 Street between 6 and 7 Avenues will serve the greater good, providing a tremendous benefit to a particularly large number of people and positively addressing a significant public safety issue; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five supports efforts to creatively share street space and improve traffic flow, pedestrian flow, and the aesthetics of the streets and believes that the Applicant's proposal fulfills these goals; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant has expressed the intent to continue its working relationship with the community board, the community at large, area stakeholders, and DOT; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant has agreed to continue to monitor the impact of the proposed alterations if they are applied; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant will encourage the MTA to revert to the existing condition in the event the proposed alterations or the relocation of the existing bus stop prove unsuccessful; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of the Application by Vornado Realty Trust to relocate the terminus of the M4 and Q32 bus lines from West 32 Street between 6 and 7 Avenues to East 32 between 5 and Madison Avenues, with the understanding that there will be further traffic analysis by DOT and communication with MTA, and that Vornado Realty Trust is committed to making its best effort to encourage the MTA to revert to the existing sidewalk condition and bus stop on West 32 Street between 6 and 7 Avenues in the event the alterations prove unsuccessful.