New York City is on track to make its bus system faster by extending dedicated bus lanes along Madison Avenue, a major artery in the heart of Manhattan.
Under the plan, double bus lanes will be extended from 42nd Street down to 23rd Street by year's end. This redesign aims to improve speed and reliability for approximately 92,000 daily riders on local and express routes that span all five boroughs. The move is expected to have a significant impact, with buses currently cruising at just 4.5 miles per hour - roughly half the citywide average of 8.1 miles per hour.
According to officials, Madison Avenue is one of the most congested bus corridors in the city, and its slow pace has become a major concern for commuters. "Madison Avenue is one of the most important bus corridors in the city, yet tens of thousands of riders are crawling along at walking speed," said Transportation Department Commissioner Mike Flynn.
The new design will dedicate two lanes to buses while maintaining one general traffic lane and an alternating travel/parking lane during rush hour. This layout is designed to better reflect how people actually move through the corridor, with 55% of travelers on this stretch relying on the bus.
While there have been some improvements in bus speeds within the congestion pricing zone below 60th Street, officials say the new lanes will take the momentum to the next level. The project was originally proposed for 2025 but was delayed during the final year of Mayor Eric Adams' administration due to a missed painting season.
Transportation advocates are hailing the Mamdani administration's decision to restart the project as a major victory. "Buses are the silent backbone of this city," said Betsy Plum, executive director of Riders Alliance. "We are excited to see faster buses that give riders back their time." The design on nearby Fifth Avenue has shown similar results, with local bus speeds increasing by up to 12% and express buses reaching speeds of up to 20%.
The impact of the redesign will be felt across Manhattan, as commuters look forward to a faster, more reliable bus system.
Under the plan, double bus lanes will be extended from 42nd Street down to 23rd Street by year's end. This redesign aims to improve speed and reliability for approximately 92,000 daily riders on local and express routes that span all five boroughs. The move is expected to have a significant impact, with buses currently cruising at just 4.5 miles per hour - roughly half the citywide average of 8.1 miles per hour.
According to officials, Madison Avenue is one of the most congested bus corridors in the city, and its slow pace has become a major concern for commuters. "Madison Avenue is one of the most important bus corridors in the city, yet tens of thousands of riders are crawling along at walking speed," said Transportation Department Commissioner Mike Flynn.
The new design will dedicate two lanes to buses while maintaining one general traffic lane and an alternating travel/parking lane during rush hour. This layout is designed to better reflect how people actually move through the corridor, with 55% of travelers on this stretch relying on the bus.
While there have been some improvements in bus speeds within the congestion pricing zone below 60th Street, officials say the new lanes will take the momentum to the next level. The project was originally proposed for 2025 but was delayed during the final year of Mayor Eric Adams' administration due to a missed painting season.
Transportation advocates are hailing the Mamdani administration's decision to restart the project as a major victory. "Buses are the silent backbone of this city," said Betsy Plum, executive director of Riders Alliance. "We are excited to see faster buses that give riders back their time." The design on nearby Fifth Avenue has shown similar results, with local bus speeds increasing by up to 12% and express buses reaching speeds of up to 20%.
The impact of the redesign will be felt across Manhattan, as commuters look forward to a faster, more reliable bus system.
! Finally, someone is listening to the people and giving us some real change on our beloved buses! I mean, 4.5 miles per hour is just laughable, right? It's like they're asking us to crawl along with them or something 
. And don't even get me started on how frustrating it is during rush hour when you're literally stuck in traffic for hours... it's a nightmare!
! And can we talk about the stats? 55% of travelers relying on the bus? That's like, proof that our city needs to start prioritizing public transportation already 
. I'm not surprised that the Riders Alliance is hailing this as a major victory... they've been fighting for this forever!
. It's like, have you ever tried to navigate the city without a reliable bus system? Forget about it! It's like trying to find your way through a maze... frustrating 
.
. Let's make our buses faster and more reliable once and for all!
i mean 4.5 miles per hour is like wth? that's not even jogging speed 
and it's not just about getting people out of traffic but also saving them time 
i feel like we need more stuff like this in our city
You know what's crazy? People always think that having a crowded bus is a bad thing... but what if it's just a sign that we need better infrastructure? 
Like, our current system is moving at like 4.5 miles per hour! That's slower than most walking pace. 
It's time to rethink our approach and prioritize our transportation systems.
4.5 miles per hour is like, what even is that? 
the fact that they're dedicatin two lanes just to buses is pure genius 
let's hope this sets the bar high for other cities too! 
? it's like life, you know? we're all just trying to get somewhere, but what do we do when we get there? is it really that much better? maybe this new bus system will give people a chance to reflect on that 
. and I love how transportation advocates are saying buses are the 'silent backbone' of the city... I think that's deep 
. maybe our public transportation systems can be like life itself - quiet, but moving forward all the time 
. This is particularly welcome news for commuters who rely on buses as their primary mode of transportation 
. The fact that nearly 60% of travelers on this stretch exclusively use the bus underscores the need for efficient and reliable public transit systems 
. Overall, the Mamdani administration's decision to restart the project is a testament to their commitment to improving the quality of life for all New Yorkers 
they're finally gonna make madison ave bus lanes way faster 
cant imagine cruisin down that street at 4.5mph lol 
the citywide avg is already 8.1mph so this is a major improvement 
i mean who doesn't love gettin to work or school on time on the bus tho? 
. now we just gotta hope they stick with it and don't let the momentum die out 
. It's crazy how much of a difference this new design is gonna make - 4.5 miles per hour?!?! That's like, what even is that 
️. And the fact that they're dedicating two lanes to buses while still keeping some general traffic lane is a win-win in my book 
. With 92k daily riders getting a speed boost, it's about time our city leaders stepped up their game 
And it's not just about getting people from point A to point B, but also about reducing stress and anxiety for commuters 
. With buses cruising at 4.5 miles per hour, that's like driving in slow motion 
.
. Plus, it's not just about the speed - it's also about making public transportation more accessible and user-friendly for everyone 
. So, yay for Madison Avenue and the Mamdani administration for giving us faster buses! 
. I mean, who thought that was a good idea? 
.