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  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2002
PR-040-02
www.nyc.gov

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG AND
GOVERNOR GEORGE E. PATAKI ANNOUNCE
CONSTRUCTION OF PEDESTRIAN
BRIDGE AND TEMPORARY ROADWAY IN LOWER MANHATTAN


Mayor and Governor Also Announce "Do It Downtown!"
Discount Card to Promote Business in Lower Manhattan


Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Governor George E. Pataki announced today the construction of a temporary roadway in Lower Manhattan and a new pedestrian bridge across Route 9A (West Street), just north of Rector Street, to access Battery Park City. New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Empire State Development Corporation President Charles Gargano, Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) Executive Director Lou Thomspon and Wall Street Rising President and Founder, Julie Menin, joined the Mayor and the Governor to announce Do It Downtown! the Wall Street Rising Downtown Discount Card Program. This new initiative designed to spur economic activity in Lower Manhattan, free of charge to both cardholders and merchants. Do It Downtown! is the only such promotion targeted specifically at the area most profoundly impacted by the events of September 11th.

"The creation of a temporary roadway and pedestrian bridge is vital to our efforts to resume traffic through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, reconnect residents with mass transit, and bring people back to Battery Park City," Mayor Bloomberg said. "I want to thank everyone at both the City and State levels for working together to restore Battery Park City and all of Lower Manhattan as a destination for those looking to eat, shop or just spend an afternoon by the water."

"This is the first new construction in this area of Lower Manhattan since that terrible day. It will be a new start and it will carry a clear message: we have already begun to rebuild," Governor Pataki said. "The residents and businesses located in Battery Park City play a vital role in the socioeconomic future of Lower Manhattan. It is a top priority for us to reconnect them to the financial, business and entertainment establishments in a quick and meaningful way, and that means getting Route 9A back in shape and providing local access to the area."

LMDC Executive Director Lou Tomson said, "As we revitalize Lower Manhattan, it's essential that we help stabilize our residential and business communities. Infrastructure, like this temporary pedestrian bridge and roadway, is critical for free-flowing pedestrians, and is vital as we work to achieve this end."

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will build the six-lane interim road in conjunction with the New York City Department of Design and Construction (NYCDDC). The temporary road will restore normal traffic along the southern portion of 9A leading to the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, and extend from Liberty Street to just north of Vesey Street. The roadway sustained serious damage in the September 11th attack and has withstood heavy construction equipment essential to the recovery and clean-up efforts.

Plans for the temporary roadway have been designed in conjunction with NYSDOT, the Battery Park City Authority, the Hudson River Park Trust, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the NYC Department of Transportation, the NYCDDC and the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management. The roadway, scheduled to open in April,will cost approximately $5 million and is expected to remain in place for about three to five years, at which time a permanent roadway will be rebuilt.

In addition, due to this loss and restrictions in the area directly surrounding the World Trade Center site, pedestrian access across Route 9A has been limited. To address this, NYSDOT and the Battery Park City Authority have worked together to build a pedestrian bridge that will allow commuters and visitors to cross West Street, and facilitate access between Battery Park City and the area subway stations. The bridge, which was designed by the Battery Park City Authority, will be comprised by two 8' 6" prefabricated box truss structures tied together side-by-side and will span approximately 240 feet. The bridge will be covered with a stainless steel roof structure to protect pedestrians from rain and from strong winds common in this exposed location and will conform to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The bridge is expected to take eight weeks to construct and will cost approximately $3.3 million.

Also announced today was the Do it Downtown!, the Wall Street Rising Downtown Discount Card, which will be widely available to tens of thousands of New Yorkers, downtown workers, residents and tourists. The discount card will entitle cardholders to discounts at hundreds of downtown businesses including restaurants, hotels, retail stores and service providers.

"By using your Do It Downtown! discount card at any one of the participating establishments, you are doing your part to support our efforts to stabilize and rebuild Lower Manhattan," said Mayor Bloomberg. "The restaurants, retailers, cultural institutions and hotels of Lower Manhattan are eager to serve visitors and residents alike, so come and check out the great deals. My heartfelt thanks to everyone involved, including Wall Street Rising and Governor Pataki for working together to make this happen on behalf of Lower Manhattan."

"While we continue to work with the families victimized by the tragedy of September 11th, encouraging people to come downtown will be the foundation on which we rebuild Lower Manhattan," Governor Pataki said. "So come on down and grab dinner at one of our fine restaurants or buy a flowering plant at Flower World, or go shopping, or see a show at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center - and do it at a discount. Not only will you have a terrific visit, but you'll also be helping this vital area regenerate and rebuild."

"I am particularly proud to stand alongside Governor Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg today to unveil this new initiative," Julie Menin said. "Their staunch support and advocacy for Lower Manhattan will surely help create long-term economic stability in the commercial, financial, retail and residential sectors of this historic neighborhood. To those of us who live and work downtown, their leadership in this difficult time has been inspiring."

"Wall Street Rising created this program to encourage residents and visitors alike to come downtown to enjoy a meal at dozens of fine restaurants, have a glass of beer in an historic pub, schedule a massage and manicure, visit one of our museums or cultural centers, print new business cards or even get a shirt dry-cleaned," Menin continued. "With this new discount card program, Wall Street Rising hopes to introduce thousands of visitors and residents of this great City to all that downtown has to offer. Especially now, Lower Manhattan needs your support in order to rebuild as a strong, vibrant 24/7
community."

Do it Downtown! discount cards are available at many hotels, tourist destinations and attractions, transportation hubs, airports, and at tourist information booths around the City including in Times Square, Penn Station and the Statue of Liberty. The card and brochure include a complete list of participating establishments and are also available through the Wall Street Rising website at www.wallstreetrising.org.

Holders of the new Do It Downtown! discount cards will be entitled to significant savings at hundreds of downtown establishments including fine eateries like Fino Wall Street Ristorante Italiano, Vine Restaurant, Capsuoto Freres, Pico, Gerardi's, Nathan's Famous, Pretzel Time, Wolf's Deli, and others. Savings also apply to The Regent Wall Street Hotel, Cosmopolitan Hotel, Holiday Inn Wall Street, New York Marriott Financial Center and at cultural institutions including the South Street Seaport Museum and the Tribeca Performing Arts Center. Also participating are a variety of other locally owned and operated neighborhood businesses including Chambers Street Wines, Flower World, Lawson Tuxedos, Park Place Jewelry, Ann Street Tailoring, Big Apple Copy Center, Cardio Fitness Center and Pine Street Cleaners.

Founded by Julie Menin, Wall Street Rising is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to restoring the vibrancy and vitality that existed in Lower Manhattan prior to the devastating events of September 11, 2001. The organization is a coalition of some of the country's most prominent law firms, investment banks, financial service companies, real estate companies, community and civic leaders, small businesses and cultural institutions, and residents. Executives from JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and Prudential Securities, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, Cleary Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, Fried Frank and Sullivan & Cromwell serve on Wall Street Rising's Board of Directors.

The Do It Downtown! program will coincide with an aggressive advertising campaign costing approximately $300,000. It will run through the end of December 2002.


www.nyc.gov

Contact: Edward Skyler / Jennifer Falk
(212) 788-2958