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‘Unholy’ traffic mess in SoHo, says Scott Stringer – Metro US

‘Unholy’ traffic mess in SoHo, says Scott Stringer

Calling SoHo streets an “unholy mess,” Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer said yesterday that something must be done to unclog traffic in downtown Manhattan.

Stringer held a press conference yesterday afternoon at Mercer and Broome streets to discuss the gridlock, a problem he said dozens of New Yorkers have called his office to complain about.

“Horn honking has become the lullaby of lower Broadway,” Stringer said. “Broome Street has turned into a pedestrian nightmare filled with impatient drivers.”

Cars driving west along Broome clog the street while trying to get into the Holland Tunnel, he said. Traffic is often stuck at a standstill; there is too much honking and crosswalks are often so clogged that pedestrians need to weave through cars to cross the street, Stringer added.

In a letter to Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, he asked the DOT to address the gridlock. He suggested more traffic cameras, signage and crosswalk repairs along Mercer Street.

Brad Hoylman, chair of Community Board 2, which includes SoHo, confirmed the traffic headache.

“Congestion in SoHo has long been a serious and vexing problem for residents and pedestrians in this historic neighborhood,” he said.

Follow Alison Bowen on Twitter @AlisonatMetro