New York鈥檚 Transport Department announces the team that will transform the world famous Manhattan site

The New York City Transport Department has announced the team that will redesign the city鈥檚 iconic Times Square.

The consortium of companies, which includes the UK鈥檚 Billings Jackson Design, will create pedestrian plazas along sections of New York鈥檚 Broadway, including Times Square.

The project is designed to improve the pedestrian experience on the busy boulevard, while enhancing infrastructure to support the many events that take place in Times Square throughout the year.

It is also hoped that journey times will be cut as the flow of traffic improves around the congested city.

Billings Jackson has already worked on a pilot scheme to create pedestrian areas in midtown Manhattan. The London-based urban consultants worked on improving surface treatments, zoning and street furniture for a trial as traffic was banned from sections of the city in May 2009.

Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance, said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled that the City has made a clear commitment to quality by choosing a world-class design team for one of the world鈥檚 most iconic public spaces.鈥�

Other firms involved in the project include: Sn酶hetta, Weidlinger Associates, WXY Architecture and Design, Matthews Nielsen and Bexel.

Construction for the project will begin in 2012.

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