In the fall of 2007, the New York City Department of Transportation built the first on-street parking and signal protected bicycle facility in the United States on Ninth Avenue between 23rd Street and 16th Street in Manhattan. Ninth Avenue, a 70 ft.-wide avenue formerly dominated by motorists, was reduced from four unassigned traffic lanes to three through traffic lanes (a 30 ft. reduction) with dedicated turn bays, shorter pedestrian crossings, and southbound bicycle facilities protected by an eight-foot buffer/parking lane. Turning conflicts for cyclists were resolved by creating left turn bays adjacent to the bicycle path with protected left-turn phases to separate conflicting through cyclists and left-turning vehicles. Bicycle signal lenses regulate movement on the bicycle path. The project included the construction of pedestrian refuge islands with planting beds and turn bays, pavement markings, signs, traffic signals, and raised concrete islands. Dedicated commercial loading space was created for businesses on Ninth Avenue using multi-space parking meters.
The Ninth Avenue project was achieved using operating instead of capital revenues under the purview of the NYCDOT, allowing for swifter implementation procedures. NYCDOT maintained an open dialogue with all stakeholders from early on in the project and included a variety of specialists and city departments in the design process. Parking regulations were modified several times following the installation of the facility to meet the needs of residents, business owners, and customers.
Ninth Avenue Bicycle Path and Complete Street Report
Ninth Avenue Plan Set