New York’s Broadway Still Closed

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New York City’s Broadway Closed for Five Years and Forever

Five years ago on Sunday May 24, 2009, New York City Closed Down Broadway! This action was taken by New York City to save lives, energy and the environment. Broadway shows remain open, just 47th Street to 42nd Street of Broadway the road, were closed to vehicular traffic. I took the photo above while enjoying the additional open space on Broadway when New York City’s test program just started.

I first blogged about this five years ago on EnergyHotwire.com and spoke about how this project was being evaluate to reduce traffic accidents, save lives, save gas, save time, save energy, and help save our environment by reducing pollution. For years many have stated this test was long over due and hope for positive results. Especially, since these areas of Broadway have accident rates 144% higher than any other street in Manhattan.

So here we are five years later and the results are in…

– Traffic times decreased by 7% overall in Midtown and safety was greatly enhanced.
– According to New York City’s DOT (Dept. of Transportation) there was a 63% reduction in injuries to motorists and passengers while a 35% reduction in pedestrian injuries was realized.
– A pedestrian mall from 42nd Street to 43rd Street was opened with just one week left in Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration.
– Beautiful large tile stones replaced the painted traffic lanes and Blacktop surface.
– Five more renovated pedestrian malls are planned to be completed and business should increase even more according to officials from New York City.
– A Times Square Alliance survey found 76% of New Yorkers and 68% of retail gave their approval of the project.
– The groundbreaking pilot project will remain permanent.

It was a beautiful picture of New York’s Times Square five years ago… Now with the beauty of plaza layouts, stone surfaces, tables and chairs instead of cars, it is even more beautiful.

Bill Lauto, GTG
Environmental Scientist at
GoingTrueGreen.com
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Bill Lauto
Bill Lauto is an Environmental Scientist and Energy Consultant who came on the scene in 1981 to present facts and teach details about how we can save money, energy, and our environment, without making sacrifices. His voice was one among the few who taught green facts long before anyone else talked about Going Green.

Mr. Lauto has an Environmental Science degree from St. John's University, Energy Auditor Certification from New York Institute of Technology, and Certification in Thermal/Heating from S.U.N.Y. at Farmingdale. He interned at Equitable Environmental Health that brought him to evaluate the environment at LILCO's Nuclear power plant that never opened. As an entrepreneur, he operates EnergyHotwire.com, GoingTrueGreen.com and holds a U.S. Patent with a Trademark on an environmental and energy-related product.

Mr. Lauto has done and managed thousands of energy audits for homeowners. Not one recommended a single action that implied sacrifice. He never stated once that to save money and energy one must turn down their thermostat and wear a sweater. During the 20th Anniversary of Earth Day, Bill Lauto was the Energy Advisor to the Earth Day Committee in New York. Mr. Lauto was the attending expert witness to the press conferences of former New York’s Major Dinkins and Commissioner Mark Green. His expertise has been utilized by power companies such as: the New York Power Authority and the Long Island Lighting Company as well as by Mr. Mark Green, former Commissioner of Consumer Affairs, NYC.

Mr. Lauto has served as the Environmental and Energy expert on several television news and radio talk shows. He has provided information and consulting services on topics such as: air, cooling, heating, lighting, appliances, recycling stations, solar, wind, bio-fuels, hydrogen and water to: Clearwater, Consumer Report Magazine, European American Bank, Home Depot, LILCO, NBC, Macy*s, New York Power Authority, NYPIRG, Time Warner, EPA, thousands of homeowners, celebrities, small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and many government accounts.

Information about Mr. Lauto, his articles, and work have been published in newspapers across the country, including: Consumer Report magazine, Kiplinger's Financial magazine and Business Ethics magazine. Mr. Lauto has been interviewed by ABC news, the New York Times, Cable News L.I. and was in a special television home audit hosted by Al Roker of NBC, but was never aired due to breaking news.

For over twenty years, Mr. Lauto has been stating that we don’t need foreign oil, we have the technology to make America energy independent. EnergyHotwire.com serves to educate the public for free on how to lower energy cost by 60% or more, while GoingTrueGreen.com uses videos and Mr. Lauto's Blog to help dispel mis-information and provide the facts about truly Going Green.