The pedestrian-only avenue is a one-quarter mile (400 m) corridor ofprivately owned public spaces, such as open-access lobbies and canopied space,[4] which are open during the day. There arestop signs and stop ahead signs at six crossings between 51st and 56th Streets. The mid-block crossing at 57th Street is equipped with a traffic light.[5] At the crosswalk areas, there are sidewalk pedestrian ramps with textured surface andflexible delineators to prevent vehicles parking in the areas.[6]
Eachintersection along the thoroughfare has astreet name sign that reads "6+1⁄2 AV" and the name of the cross street to officially mark the street name.[7] The mid-block stop signs are unusual for Manhattan, and the fractional avenue name is a new idea for thenumbered street system of New York City.[4]
In 2011, the Friends of Privately Owned Public Spaces proposed the creation of a six-block pathway from 51st to 57th Streets that would be mid-block between Sixth and Seventh Avenues to ease pedestrian traffic. The proposal called for connectingpublic spaces in the area, that were not known to most pedestrians, into a pedestrian corridor and naming itHolly Whyte Way.[8] The idea was presented to theCommunity Board 5 Transportation Committee and the full Community Board 5, then the board sent a formal request to theNew York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) in May 2011.[1]
In March 2012, NYCDOT announced the plan, with a list of improvements, to construct a new pedestrian-only avenue.[4] The Community Board 5 Transportation Committee unanimously voted in favor of a resolution to support the project as presented by NYCDOT on March 26, 2012.[9] The $60,000 project was completed in July 2012.[10]
