NYC announces $3M design study to make 14th Street a ‘people-first’ corridor partners with two Manhattan districts to reimagine 14th Street

New York City is looking to improve another iconic Manhattan corridor. Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday announced $3 million in public and private funding for a design study that will evaluate ways to enhance 14th Street for pedestrians, commuters, and businesses. Taking about two years to complete and involving collaboration among several groups, the study will consider upgrades to landscaping, pedestrian space, greenery, safety, and the existing 14th Street busway.

Included in the city’s fiscal year 2025 adopted budget, the funding includes $1.5 million from Adams, $500,000 from the New York City Economic Corporation (EDC), $750,000 from the Union Square Partnership, and $250,000 from the Meatpacking District Management Association.

The Department of Transportation will lead, in collaboration with the EDC and the two business improvement districts (BIDs), a 24-month study evaluating proposed upgrades to the pedestrian and transit rider experience along 14th Street.

Design features include new landscaping, upgraded pedestrian space, and safety improvements that will still maintain the corridor’s existing busway operations.

The goal is to deliver a world-class pedestrian experience along 14th Street and modernize iconic public spaces such as Union Square Park. The city plans to begin its search for a consultant this year, with public outreach scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2026 and capital projects developed by the study’s end.

Council Member Carlina Rivera has secured $9 million in capital funds for fiscal years 2027 through 2029. Additionally, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine has designated $500,000 toward future capital work.

The partnership builds on years of efforts to improve the pedestrian experience along 14th Street. In 2020, the city made the 14th Street busway permanent following a successful 2019 pilot program. Under the new plan, the busway would be given a “steel-and-concrete” upgrade, according to Curbed.

“The 14th Street busway has already been transformational for New Yorkers, creating a safer, more welcoming street while dramatically speeding up buses and reducing wait times,” DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said. “This study will help us unlock the full potential of the entire corridor and create a world-class, people-first 14th Street.”

The vision for 14th Street also complements a $100 million plan introduced by Union Square Partnership in 2021. The plan calls for expanding Union Square Park by more than 33 percent, extending it to the square’s outer edges and linking landscaped plazas with safer, more pedestrian-friendly space.

“Union Square Partnership is excited to build on the momentum of our ‘USQNext Vision Plan’ to deliver a modernized Union Square Park and a reimagined 14th Street,” Julie Stein, executive director of Union Square Partnership, said.

“This is our chance to create a world-class public realm along one of New York’s key thoroughfares — with greener, safer streetscape, 21st century design features, and a best-in-class pedestrian experience. We look forward to working closely with public agency partners and community stakeholders to shape a bold vision for 14th Street and turn it into implementable, lasting improvements.”

The Meatpacking District has already made changes to West 14th Street to improve the pedestrian experience. This June, the curb lane on 14th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues was repurposed as the West 14th Street Promenade with gathering spaces, landscaping, and, eventually, public art and small concessions.

The Promenade uses 18 feet of roadway off the curb on each side of the street to create five custom decks with distinct seating.

According to Curbed, the upcoming study will evaluate block-by-block improvements to the streetscape, with each segment requiring a tailored approach due to its unique “urban microclimate.”

For example, the plaza at the park’s south end could be extended into the street, while the small green triangle that currently sits at the southeast corner could be integrated into the park. Portions of Union Square West—already closed to traffic—could also be transformed into outdoor dining areas for nearby restaurants.

The project builds upon the city’s “New New York” action plan, which identified public space and pedestrian improvements as a key factor in the city’s economic recovery post-pandemic.

In 2023, Adams launched the public-private Future of Fifth partnership, uniting city agencies with the Fifth Avenue Association, the Grand Central Partnership, the Central Park Conservancy, and the Bryant Park Corporation to reimagine the iconic retail corridor. Since then, the city has invested over $400 million to fully fund the plan to transform Fifth Avenue from Bryant Park to Central Park into a pedestrian-centered boulevard.

The Adams administration has also proposed the transformation of an iconic stretch of Broadway into a pedestrian-friendly corridor. Part of the “Broadway Vision” plan, the project seeks to add two new plazas, shared streets, and a two-way bike lane on Broadway from West 25th to West 32nd Street.

In September, the city unveiled a new pedestrian plaza, two-way bike connections, and other safety upgrades between East 17th and East 21st Streets as part of the initiative.

“Our administration continues to invest in transformative generational projects that redesign our public spaces, support our small businesses, boost tourism, make our city safer, and encourage world-class recreation across the five boroughs,” Adams said.

“We continue to think big and imagine what is possible on our streets and in our communities in service of our mission to make New York City a safer, more affordable city that is the best place to raise a family.”

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