Caesars Palace Times Square puts transit first

New York is at a time to reinvent the way people move in our city. The pricing of congestion is to reshape habits, reduce unnecessary car trips and strengthen the case for more accessible development on foot and focused on transit. Nowhere is Times Square: a district at the heart of the congestion relief area which serves as a crossroads in the world and one of the most complex pedestrian environments of the earth.

This is why the Caesars Palace Times Square project, in partnership with SL Green Realty Corp., was designed not like another entertainment and play destination, but the only proposal of Casino in transit-prime. It is designed to integrate transparently into a district built for pedestrians, bikes and metros.

Unlike new extended construction projects, CPTS reuse an existing building in a adaptive way, minimizing disturbances. This is the only environmentally friendly game proposal, and which supports and invests in long -term strategies to actually reduce congestion in the bow tie, supplementing proposals such as 42nd St. Busway and pedestriation supported by the main transit defenders.

Our team recently presented an environmental impact declaration (EIS) confirming what transport experts already suspected: Caesars Palace Times Square will have negligible traffic impacts. Out of 18 intersections nearby studied, 16 have shown non -wave changes in the congestion of vehicle traffic.

On the pedestrian side, half of all pedestrian crossings, seven of the 10 sidewalks, and the 12 corners studied would see no impact. Our CTPS congestion improvement plan, executed with local community councils and the New York Ministry of Transport, includes the abolition of sidewalks’ obstacles, the limitation of unnecessary abandonments of vehicles and the elimination of barriers that are currently stifling the pedestrian movement.

Even under conservative assumptions based on pre-counter pricing data, these modifications result in a reduction of almost 10% of traffic delays compared to basic conditions. With only 550 new net cars expected every day – out of 84,000 vehicles already moving to Times Square – the difference is negligible. In fact, drivers can expect to save on average 20 seconds during their travels thanks to these improvements.

Just as important: many visitors to Caesars are not at all “new” trips. About 40% are linked trips – people who are already in the city center for work, to see our views, go to the theater or dinner and simply add Caesars Palace Times Square to their plans.

But the strongest case for this project does not concern at all cars – it is public transport. Times Square is already a public transport district. About 85% of local workers move by metro, bus or rail, with only 8% driving. Visitors behave in the same way. DOT data show that almost 90% of people from neighboring counties arrive by public transport and only 5 to 6% of hotel customers arrive by car.

Caesars’ projections reflect these models. It is estimated that 40% will come by metro, 25% on foot, 10% per bus or suburban rail, and only 5 to 6% will lead. For the few who do it, Caesars Palace Times Square has taken deliberate measures to keep cars out of the bow tie.

Instead of channeling vehicles in the most congested blocks, the project will associate with a garage at 810 Seventh Ave., located just outside the heart of Times Square, to absorb the request for a drive-parameter to the perimeter. This prevents additional congestion when pedestrian volumes are highest and traffic is already the most complex.

In other words, Caesars does not create a new parking supply – it manages the small share of visitors who drive more intelligently and more sustainable. This contrasts strongly with other Casino proposals, which would generate a completely new parking request and attract more vehicles directly to dense residential areas. Caesars Palace Times Square is the only offer that combines a world -class entertainment destination with a traffic management plan designed to reduce – and not add – Times Square Congestion.

The vast majority of people who come to Times Square are already counting on transit, and Caesars Palace Times Square reinforces this reality. The project is aligned with the pricing of congestion, strengthens pedestrian flow and supports a healthier, cleaner and more efficient transport network. We support other initiatives to pedestrian Times Square with groups that share our vision, such as a 42nd Str. Busway and the Broadway linear park.

The future of New York mobility depends on projects that correspond to their context. In the city richest in the city’s transit, the right question is not whether cars can be fully eliminated. It is if we can design streets, edges and more intelligent sidewalks for Times Square to work better for the millions that already arrive without a car.

Caesars Palace Times Square is not only a good adjustment – this is the right project in the right place at the right time.

Schiffer is the executive vice-president of SL Green Realty Corp.