NYC restarts 34th Street busway project to speed up Manhattan bus service
New York City is moving forward with plans to implement a busway on 34th Street in Manhattan, a strategic infrastructure project aimed at streamlining crosstown transit. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn announced the initiative, which seeks to address chronic traffic congestion that has long hampered bus reliability in one of the city’s busiest corridors.
The proposed busway will span 34th Street between Ninth Avenue and Third Avenue, operating in both directions. Under the current plan, the route will be restricted to buses, trucks, and emergency vehicles daily from 6 a.m. To 10 p.m. While local access for private vehicles will remain, drivers will be required to exit the corridor at the next available turn.
Addressing Congestion and Safety
The project arrives as officials prioritize improvements for the more than 28,000 daily bus riders who rely on the 34th Street route. By prioritizing mass transit, the city aims to mitigate the impact of heavy traffic, which officials argue has made commutes slow, and unpredictable.
Beyond transit efficiency, the corridor is a designated Vision Zero Priority Corridor. Between 2020 and 2024, the street saw 324 traffic injuries. Officials anticipate that the busway will improve pedestrian safety, citing data from previous implementations, such as the 14th Street busway, where traffic injuries declined by nearly 60%.
Did You Know?
City data suggests that busways in New York City have proven highly effective at improving transit performance, with some routes seeing an increase in bus speeds of up to 60% while simultaneously reducing injuries by as much as 45%.
Expert Insight:
The decision to mirror the 14th Street busway model suggests that city planners are shifting toward a more aggressive, corridor-specific approach to traffic management. By restricting private through-traffic, the city is effectively trading convenience for individual drivers to prioritize the collective mobility of thousands of daily commuters. The success of this project will likely hinge on the city’s ability to balance local access requirements with the strict enforcement of the new transit-only lanes.
What Comes Next
The implementation process is scheduled to unfold over the coming months. The NYC DOT expects to begin public outreach efforts this month, with the installation of street furniture slated for later in the summer. If the current timeline holds, the city expects to complete construction by the end of the fall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is allowed to use the 34th Street busway?
The busway is intended for buses, trucks, and emergency vehicles. Local access for cars will be maintained, but drivers must make the next available turn to exit the corridor.
What are the hours of operation for the busway?
Once implemented, the busway will operate daily from 6 a.m. To 10 p.m.
Why is the city designating 34th Street as a priority for this project?
The street is a Vision Zero Priority Corridor due to a high volume of traffic deaths and serious injuries, with 324 traffic injuries recorded between 2020 and 2024.
How do you think prioritizing bus transit over private vehicle access will impact your daily crosstown commute?