Times Square streets to get stretch appeal.

With more than 12,000 people an hour, Times Square has become a pedestrian bottleneck, said the Time Square Alliance this week.

The Alliance plans to architecturally open up the "Crossroads of the World" to prevent "Pedlock" while at the same time reserving the area's avant-garde personality. During its Problems and Possibilities discussion this week, the Time Square Alliance introduced its ideas to address key issues related to the management and design of the streetscape in the area where pedestrian traffic is expected to almost double by 2020.

Times Square pedestrian spaces are insufficient to handle current demands, with crowding producing "Pedlock," a state of extreme sidewalk congestion creating pedestrian paralysis, according to the study by the alliance that partnered with the Design Trust for Public Space.

"This is a safety issue, as well as a quality of life issue," said Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance. "It ain't pretty ... and it's only going to get more intense."

The aesthetics of the much traveled area can also stand some improvement.

"The streetscape is unattractive at best, especially for a world class public space," said the studies. "There are also no adequate spaces for observing Times Square."

With the help of $10 million from the New York City Department of Transportation, sidewalk reconstruction will begin in 2006. Under the project, 15% of additional sidewalk space will be added.

The alliance would like to see that number raised to 53%. However, the challenge of change is great, especially when having to consider automobile traffic versus pedestrian traffic, and at the same time not hindering what the area is known for--its cutting-edge technological lighting schemes and outdoor art.

"This is a part of the city where you can do great things," Tompkins said.

Many cities around the world, including London, have eliminated autos from certain streets to help prevent pedestrian congestion.

Patricia Brown, CEO of the Central London Partnership, also gave a presentation on the problems and possibilities for England's capital city.

She said CLP is addressing the need for both pedestrians and automobiles to move around the capital through safe, well managed and designed streets and open spaces.

"The car can't be king," Brown said.

But Tompkins said car traffic is an integral part of Times Square, and businesses in the area, especially the theater district, would be severely impacted should future plans call for the reduction of vehicular traffic.

In addition to the DOT plans, the alliance would like to expand and rebuild Duffy Square to create a central gathering place; investigate new ways to regulate traffic; "wire" the Bowtie to allow broadcasters and event planners to "plug in" rather than build from scratch; provide spaces and opportunities for public art; enliven the horizontal planning by redesigning street furniture and enhancing sidewalks by using higher quality or distinctive materials; encourage and recognize higher quality design through programs like Design Times Square, reduce sidewalk clutter by eliminating excess street furniture and better regulating vending; look at new ways in which zoning regulations can be modified to reflect new technologies and new development on Times Square's perimeter.