Holiday Street Closures Add to New York's Car-Free Street Totals

Pedestrians will have room to roam around until well after the New Year in New York City.

1 minute read

December 2, 2019, 5:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Manhattan

lazyllama / Shutterstock

"New holiday traffic restrictions in streets around the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree went into effect on Friday," report Catherina Gioino and Anna Sanders.

"The city eliminated two lanes of car traffic on Fifth Ave. between 48th and 52nd Streets, forcing vehicles to drive in the center two lanes. And 49th and 50th Streets between Fifth and Sixth Avenues were also closed to car traffic," according to Gioino and Sanders.

The reporters find mostly positive reviews for the arrangement. One skeptic quoted in the article expresses concerns about parking and impacts on local businesses, but most of the soundbites in the article express unequivocal enthusiasm for the traffic restrictions.

The holiday street closures further reduce the number of automobile lanes in the city, a few months after cars were restricted from 14th Street in Manhattan.

Friday, November 29, 2019 in New York Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business