Workers Remove The Last Public Payphone Booth Off New York City Street

New York’s Last Public Payphone Booth Removed Off Times Square Street By Workers – Video

End of an unforgettable era. The last standing public payphone in the city was removed from a Times Square street on Monday.

City officials bade farewell to the iconic, coin-operated phone booth as a crane ripped it from the sidewalk at Seventh Avenue and West 50th Street Monday morning.

It was reported back in 2020 that about 30 payphones will be removed from Hell’s Kitchen by the end of the month, according to ABC New York City station WABC, followed by an estimated 3,000 more across the city’s five boroughs.

 

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Before payphones, phone booths used to be ubiquitous around New York City but faded from popularity – and functionality – with the invention and use of the smart phone.

New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson spoke to Gothamist about the plans to remove payphones around the city at the time.

“My office has received numerous community complaints from local residents about these antiquated pay phones, which present public safety and quality of life issues,” Johnson said. “Additionally, they take up sorely needed sidewalk space that could better serve people with disabilities, families with strollers and ease sidewalk congestion.”

Some of the payphones will be replaced with Link NYC internet kiosks which provide free internet and phone calls to the public.