4th avenue and 9th street intersect in A highly complex, (B) frequently traversed and (C) unfortunately dangerous fashion. While locating relief from the first and second of these issues is a task of nearly insurmountable practicality and questionable relevance, increased safety is here as it often is; the greatest concern. Fortunately, urban planners are often smart and reasonable people who during the past half a century have enthusiastically refined (redefined?) the subject matter into a science. Such trust in equations, formulas and predictable results has transformed 'how to make an urban intersection safer'
from a question into a practice.

Thus my decision to enter this competition was predicated upon there being another/other question(s) worth asking. Such as: How does one humanize the driving experience? Are there ways to subconsciously impose a greater sense of caution on the part of the motorist? Need traffic design always succumb to efficiency?

Exploring these questions is truly the objective of my entry. Any discussion outside of the project will be success enough. Nevertheless, my plan goes as follows.

Do one thing, and one radical thing only. Place a full grown tree in the very middle of this highly traversed intersection. Perhaps such an obstruction might run counter-intuitive to most, but any such resistance would only help to justify my aim of operating an experiment, in the truest sense.

For purposes imaginative, the tree can be envisioned as an extension of the classic tree-lined median landscape (like Manhattan's Park Avenue) into the location of an intersection traffic officer. Probably serving more functional as scenery than traffic mitigation, but any results are as yet undetermined. Either way, the tree will surely be equipped to handle such extended hours of stagnate standing, air/noise pollution, and risk of serious injury far better than any human imaginably could.
This is why the tree is crucial; for it's relentless strength and durability. For it's ability to survive in a most absurdly chaotic war zone. Yes, the tree will undoubtedly be 'in the way.' 'In the way' of any motorist with a tendency to honk, yell, or generally
frustrate over living organisms that happen to slow the trajectory of their automobile. Yet, the key is to expose this irrational anger (say, yelling at a tree) and subconsciously link it with the more common forms of anger expressed by motorists (yelling, honking, and endangering pedestrians and fellow motorists). Ideally bringing some much needed human element to our roadways.

The angry driver might not 'get' the reason for having a tree in the middle of the road. Ironically their frustration is the reason.

Aside from looking pretty, and pretty out of place, the tree is meant create questions. It is meant to incite responses, both positive and negative. One might think the tree is a stupid idea, yes, but at least they are thinking.