Holiday Car Ban Goes Into Effect At Rockefeller Center

ROCKEFELLER CENTER, NY — Thanksgiving has come and gone, which means that cars will be banned at Midtown Manhattan's Rockefeller Center for the rest of the year.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced earlier this month that a pedestrian zone will be created on West 49th and 50th streets between Fifth and Sixth avenues and four blocks along Fifth and Sixth avenues will be granted more pedestrian space by eliminating vehicle traffic lanes. The changes are being made to the city can better cope with the influx of pedestrians to the area for holiday sightseeing and shopping.

Manhattan politicians including City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, local Councilmember Keith Powers and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer lobbied for the car ban. The mayor's support for the proposal was in question after he threw cold water on a similar plan in October.

Not everyone was happy with the move, including New York City Transit President Andy Byford. Byford opposes the plan because buses will not be allowed to make stops near Rockefeller Center.

In a harshly-worded statement, the city's transit boss said, "We are disappointed that the plan put forward by the Mayor gives no priority to MTA buses and ignores the needs of bus customers.

Here's a list of streets will be affected by the safety plan:

• 49th and 50th Streets between 5th and 6th Avenues;
  • Streets will be closed between 2 p.m. and midnight from Monday to Thursday, 1 p.m. and midnight on Friday and 10 a.m. and midnight on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Fifth Avenue;
  • Barriers will be placed on the east and west sides of the avenue between 48th and 52nd streets, eliminating a lane of traffic on each side of the avenue.
  • Barriers will be in place between 5 p.m. and midnight during the week and between 12 p.m. and midnight on weekends.
• Sixth Avenue;
• Barriers will be placed on the east side of the avenue between 48th and 52nd streets, eliminating a lane of traffic. Police may remove the barriers depending on crowd conditions.
• Buses;
  • Buses will not stop between 48th and 52nd streets while the plan is in place.