A Coming-Out Party for New York's Secret Passageway

The "secret boulevard," running between 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan through atrias, arcades, and public plazas from 51st Street to 57th Street, is getting attention and an upgrade from the Department of Transportation, reports Matt Chaban.

2 minute read

March 29, 2012, 1:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


The cut-through, already used by thousands of pedestrians a day, was created as "a quirk in the zoning" as dictated by Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS) incentives utilized as the blocks developed in the 1970s. Now the DOT, led by Janette Sadik-Khan, is looking to formalize the pathway, providing "a new pedestrian avenue in the heart of Midtown, one of the densest, busiest places on Earth."

Chaban documents the incremental changes being proposed by the DOT, that will create "a series of traffic interventions to link up these disparate shortcuts."

"The plan calls for creating new pedestrian crossings between these public spaces, which generally are directly across the street from one another. Stop signs will be installed in front of new raised crosswalks. Warning markings-BUMP, STOP, chevrons and stripes-will all alert drivers to the new intersection while curbed cuts and painted street space will make crossing easier and prohibit parking."

Chaban also discusses the genesis of the project, which was initiated not by the DOT, but by "a ragtag band of planners, architects and urban obsessive."

"It was Friends of POPS that first came up with the idea of connecting these spaces, which the group dubbed Holly White Way, in honor of the influential planner and public spaces advocate who championed the creation and regulation of POPS."

The plan was approved this week by the Community Board 5 Transportation Committee, and moves to the full board on April 12th.

"'It's $60,000 to do all of this?' David Grider, an architect and chairman of Friends of POPS, said after the vote. 'It's wonderful. It just seems like very responsible low-hanging fruit.'"

Monday, March 26, 2012 in The New York Observer

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

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

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

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.

1 hour ago - 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.

2 hours ago - 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