Redesigning streets are good the economy. Rinse, repeat.

New York City seems to think that redesigning the street grid helps the economy, and heavens, there are real numbers to support this thinking. Are you a business owner in downtown New Albany? These are the type of things you need to be thinking about. Thanks to WA for the links.

NYC DOT Study: Street Redesign Good for the Economy, by Kate Hinds (Transportation Nation)

New York City’s Department of Transportation says redesigned streets have been very, very good to small businesses. A new report says that retail sales are up along city streets that have bike paths, pedestrian plazas, slow zones, or select bus service.

Imagine that: "Creating great public spaces while also maintaining the flow of traffic."

Measuring the Street: New Metrics for 21st Century Streets

New York City’s streets are constantly called on to the meet new and varied needs of a growing, dynamic, 21st Century city – and to do this in a complex environment where there is little opportunity to expand the existing footprint. How do city leaders address these challenges and measure their success? This report discusses key approaches to street design projects, and how results can be measured against goals for safety, serving all users and creating great public spaces while also maintaining the flow of traffic. Using a cross-section of recent NYCDOT street design projects, this report details the metrics NYCDOT uses to evaluate street projects, and illustrates how measuring results can show progress toward safe, sustainable, livable and economically competitive streets.