Press Releases
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2023
Contact: (212) 839-4850, press@dot.nyc.gov
Portions of Fifth Avenue Going Car-Free for Holiday Season
Holiday Open Street from 48th Street to 59th Street will be fully closed to vehicle traffic from noon to 6:00 p.m. on Sundays, December 3, 10, and 17; two vehicle lanes will be closed to vehicle traffic from 48th Street to 52nd Street for segments of each day throughout the holiday season
Pedestrianized space will provide a safer and more enjoyable experience near popular holiday destination
A Mastercard study conducted with the City of New York showed increased spending at stores along last year's Fifth Avenue Holiday Open Street
NEW YORK – New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today reminded New Yorkers and visitors that portions of Fifth Avenue are going car-free during the holiday season. The widely popular Holiday Open Street along Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan is not only returning, but expanding, this weekend. Building on last year's successful Fifth Avenue Holiday Open Street, the 2023 installment will be New York City's largest-ever holiday season Open Street — expanding in reach by nearly 25 percent to connect to Central Park. This year, the iconic Fifth Avenue corridor from 48th Street to 59th Street will be fully closed to vehicle traffic noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays, December 3, 10, and 17. Two vehicle lanes will also be closed to vehicle traffic from 48th Street to 52nd Street for large parts of each day throughout the holiday season, beginning in the early afternoon on weekdays and mornings on weekends. In addition, West 49th Street and West 50th Street will feature pedestrian-only areas. The move will provide a safer and more enjoyable experience for pedestrians near a popular holiday destination.
"Midtown Manhattan is one of the best places in the world to celebrate the holiday season, and we're bringing some extra holiday cheer to Fifth Avenue," said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "Providing a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone who visits iconic locations like Rockefeller Plaza, Radio City Music Hall, and Central Park during the holiday season is not only a cause for celebration for pedestrians, but also for local businesses that will see additional foot traffic."
Local businesses along Fifth Avenue benefited greatly from the 2022 launch of the Fifth Avenue Open Street. A study conducted by Mastercard, in partnership with the New York City Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) and Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu, shows that businesses experienced an additional $3 million in spending on streets that were pedestrianized, amounting to a 6.6 percent increase. The Adams administration is working with the "Future of Fifth" partnership and their core consultant team to reimagine the potential offering proven commercial and safety benefits all year round with a permanent pedestrian-centered boulevard, including a public survey that will be open through February 2024.
Beginning with the Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting held Wednesday and carrying through January, both West 49th Street and West 50th Street will be open to pedestrians only between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. each day.