City Transportation Planners Seek to Upgrade Canal Street with Bike Lanes, Pedestrian Islands, and More
On October 16, the Transportation Committee of Community Board 1 (CB1) conducted a review of plans by the City’s Department of Transportation (DOT) for the proposed redesign of Canal Street, now in its initial research phase. The “Reimagining Canal Street” initiative seeks to achieve five goals: relieve pedestrian crowding and reduce crossing distances with sidewalk extensions, improve crosswalk safety, simplify complex intersections, rebalance vehicle space with public space, and improve bike connections.
The DOT’s analysis of the thoroughfare divides it into three sections: Canal Street West (from the Hudson River to Broadway), Canal Street East (from Broadway to the Bowery), and Canal/Lower East Side (between Chrystie and Essex Streets). In a typical morning rush hour, according to DOT statistics, these zones are traversed by 6,555 cars, 5,160 pedestrians, and 318 cyclists. During the evening rush, these metrics shift to 5,011 vehicles, 7,216 walkers, and 749 bicyclists. In the Canal Street West zone, six people were killed or severely injured in accidents during the five-year period ending in 2024. The corresponding metric for the Canal Street East area during the same period is 20 people.
Outreach by the DOT identified a widely shared concern that the crossing distances on Canal Street are overly long and crowded, an especially important issue for older adults.
The DOT is planning painted curb extensions (example at right) along the length of Canal Street, with full-block sidewalk extensions between Broadway and the Bowery. Pedestrian islands will be added at two intersections with Canal: Sixth Avenue and Mott Street. New bike lanes and network connections are in the works – on Canal Street to connect the Hudson River Greenway with the Manhattan Bridge, and on the Bowery to link Chinatown and the Civic Center to the Williamsburg Bridge.
CB1 members discussed bike lanes, traffic flow, and the overall effectiveness of the redesign. Jess Coleman, co-chair of CB1’s Transportation Committee, felt the proposed bike lanes were “putting a band aid on [the issue] as opposed to really creating a new thoroughfare.” He also suggested that the stretch of West Broadway from Sixth Avenue to Canal Street should be closed to traffic, saying that there is an excess of parking, with “no reason to be using that route.”
CB1 member Eric Yu was critical of the proposed reduction of east-bound lanes on Canal Street, warning that it would create “another northern choke point and… more congestion.” He suggested that closing down lanes would hurt businesses on Canal Street, and limit their ability to accept deliveries. Dr. Betty Kay, chair of CB1’s Transportation Committee, countered by saying that businesses are able to receive deliveries on side streets in Battery Park City, so those on Canal Street should be able to do the same.
Multiple CB1 members had reservations about the proposed reduction of the number of traffic lanes to two. They emphasized the importance of Walker Street for allowing traffic to flow, saying the proposed plan to close Walker between Baxter and Canal Streets was unrealistic, as it serves as a release valve for car congestion. A further concern about the closure of Walker Street centered on a nearby senior center and its ability to receive medical deliveries.
DOT officials plan to meet with the NYPD and Fire Department to gauge how the redesign will affect emergency vehicle response times. Mr. Yu suggested that they meet with local hospitals to understand how the project will affect ambulance response times.
The timeline for the Reimagining Canal Street project calls for further public meetings and outreach through February of 2026, followed by a finalized proposal to be issued next spring. The projected start of construction is July, 2026. No anticipated date of completion or overall budget for the project has been announced.