New York City will keep Broadway closed to traffic in Times Square and Herald Square

New York City will keep Broadway closed to traffic

NEW YORK — New York City will keep Broadway permanently closed to traffic in Times Square and Herald Square.

The pedestrian plazas were created on two stretches of Broadway last year in a plan that attracted worldwide attention. The goals were to reduce pollution, increase safety and improve traffic flow.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Thursday the city has decided to keep the pedestrian walkway.

The eight-month experiment has annoyed drivers. But it’s been positively reviewed by pedestrians and tourists.

The city released data Thursday of the resulting midtown traffic patterns. Taxi trips were studied using GPS.

The results were not as promising as hoped. But Bloomberg said the overall effects make the project worth keeping.