NYC restarts 34th Street busway project to speed up Manhattan bus service

NEW YORK - New York City is moving forward again with a 34th Street busway in Manhattan, a project officials say will make crosstown bus service faster and more reliable for tens of thousands of daily riders.

What we know:

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn announced that the city will restart work on the 34th Street busway.

City officials said the project is expected to deliver faster, more reliable service for more than 28,000 daily bus riders.

The busway would run in both directions on 34th Street between Ninth Avenue and Third Avenue.

Once implemented, it would operate daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Officials said through traffic would be allowed for buses, trucks and emergency vehicles. Local access for cars would be maintained, but drivers would be required to make the next available turn to exit the corridor.

What they're saying:

"Too many New Yorkers spend too much time waiting on buses stuck in traffic. The 34th Street busway will change that, turning one of our most congested bus corridors into one that actually moves," Mamdani said. "This is how we build a transit system that meets the scale of our city: fast, reliable and built for the people who depend on it every day."

"34th Street is one of Manhattan’s busiest corridors, moving tens of thousands of New Yorkers every day — yet buses are too often stuck in traffic, slowing down commutes and making service unreliable," Flynn said. "The 34th Street busway will help deliver faster bus service for riders, safer conditions for pedestrians and a more efficient street for everyone who depends on it."

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber compared the project to the 14th Street busway.

"Every time our bus riders sail across 14 St, they get another reminder that busways work," Lieber said. "It's time to bring that same great service to 34 St, one of Manhattan's busiest crosstown corridors. We are thankful for the partnership with Mayor Mamdani and NYC DOT to make our buses faster than ever and can't wait for this project to get started."

By the numbers:

City officials said the project is expected to benefit more than 28,000 daily bus riders.

According to the city, 34th Street is a Vision Zero Priority Corridor because of its high number of traffic deaths and serious injuries.

Between 2020 and 2024, there were 324 traffic injuries along the corridor.

City officials said busways in New York City have increased bus speeds by up to 60% while reducing injuries by as much as 45%.

On the 14th Street busway, traffic injuries declined by nearly 60% after implementation, according to the city.

What's next:

NYC DOT expects to begin public outreach this month, install street furniture later in the summer and complete construction by the end of the fall.

New York