In May 2008 the NYC DOT (Department of Transportation) announced plans for the Broadway Boulevard, a pedestrianized street from 35th to 42nd avenue.

By the end of August 2008, a mere three months later, the pedestrian plaza is completed. That’s a rare sign of a government bureaucracy defying being a bureaucracy, opting for a more effective people-oriented decision-making process, such as their streets to plaza program.

The public-private partnership is a model of sharing responsibilities:
The private sector Business Improvement District: Plantings, sweeping/litter removal, supplemental furniture, programming
The public sector DOT: Planters (46 large, 126 small), roadbed surface treatment, starter kit of furniture

Image source: zodak