For a class project, I am looking to get estimates on the foot traffic
in certain areas in New York City.  Specifically, I am looking for
estimates around (a) Grand Central Station; (b) Rockefeller Center; OR
(c) Times Square.  Note that any or all of the above locations is
fine.  The context of this is a retail store idea around these
locations.  Given wide variations throughout the day, I am looking for
the average number of people walking through these locations between
7am and 7pm on a weekday.  Thanks!

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Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 15 Feb 2006 11:51 PST

I've found some interesting info, but I'd like you to look at it
before I post it as your official answer.

"Times Square has the highest pedestrian count in the city, 253,183
people pass through the Times Square subway stations on an average
weekday, 32,814 through buses and 180,000 via the Port Authority."

http://www.joburg.org.za/citichat/2003/may19_citichat.stm

"The geometry of Times Square, with the broad lanes of Broadway and
Seventh Avenue crisscrossing in the 'bow tie,' also ensures that the
intersection will always be special, he said, not to mention the fact
that underground, a dozen subway lines converge, bringing more than
250,000 people on the average weekday."

http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4649

Here's a 24-hour pedestrian count for the Times Square area in the summer:

http://www.timessquarenyc.org/facts/documents/2005_Summer_Pedestrian_Counts_Wednesday_000.pdf

And a similar 24-hour pedestrian count in the winter:

http://www.timessquarenyc.org/facts/documents/2005_Winter_Pedestrian_Counts_Wednesday.pdf

If this material would be fully satisfactory as an answer, I'll be
pleased to repost it as such and collect the fee. If this isn't what
you're looking for, a few more details about your exact needs would be
very helpful.

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Clarification of Question by floyd333333-ga on 15 Feb 2006 21:29 PST

Thank you.  Answer is good.  Go ahead and repost to collect the fee.

I'm glad my findings met your needs! I have reposted the links below,
with some additional material that I hope will be useful.

"Times Square has the highest pedestrian count in the city, 253,183
people pass through the Times Square subway stations on an average
weekday, 32,814 through buses and 180,000 via the Port Authority."

City of Johannesburg: Big Apple BIDs - Times Square
http://www.joburg.org.za/citichat/2003/may19_citichat.stm

"The geometry of Times Square, with the broad lanes of Broadway and
Seventh Avenue crisscrossing in the 'bow tie,' also ensures that the
intersection will always be special, he said, not to mention the fact
that underground, a dozen subway lines converge, bringing more than
250,000 people on the average weekday."

Wired New York Forum: Times Square: A Century of Change 
http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4649

Here's a 24-hour pedestrian count for the Times Square area in the summer:

Times Square Alliance: 2005 Summer Pedestrian Counts
http://www.timessquarenyc.org/facts/documents/2005_Summer_Pedestrian_Counts_Wednesday_000.pdf

And a similar 24-hour pedestrian count in the winter:

Times Square Alliance: 2005 Winter Pedestrian Counts
http://www.timessquarenyc.org/facts/documents/2005_Winter_Pedestrian_Counts_Wednesday.pdf

This is the Google search string that brought me the best results:

Google Web Search: pedestrian count "times square"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=pedestrian+count+%22times+square%22

Some info on Grand Central Station and Rockefeller Center:

"Grand Central's recycling program is a major operation, responsible
for disposing of nearly 3 tons of newspaper garbage a day, said Rita
Seaton, Metro-North Railroad's superintendent of operations support.

'Grand Central is a large facility, and we get between 500 (thousand)
and 700,000 people coming through here in a day,' Seaton said."

Stamford Advocate: Recycled newspaper at Grand Central measured in tons
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/scn-sa-railroadties1115,0,413917.column?coll=stam-news-utility

"...Grand Central Station, which is the country's largest terminal:
700,000 people coming in and out."

CNN Transcripts: ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0507/07/acd.01.html

"A growing number of property owners are taking it upon themselves to
improve cellular coverage inside their shops, transit stations and
restaurants.

The latest example was Tuesday, when the owners of Rockefeller Center
in New York announced that they spent an undisclosed amount of cash to
improve cellular coverage inside the centers' shops and restaurants,
which are visited by up to 60,000 people a day."

CNET News: Rockefeller Center kicks up cell coverage
http://news.com.com/2100-1033-958321.html

It should be noted that pedestrian traffic in the area of Rockefeller
Center goes up considerably during the winter holidays, when the huge
Christmas tree is on display:

"Each day an estimated 250,000 people walk through the Rockefeller
Plaza complex, which is home to the most famous Christmas tree in the
world."

New York Zoos and Aquarium: Central Park Zoo News
http://nyzoosandaquarium.com/cpz_news/7223616

Best regards,
pinkfreud