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DOT begins construction of new bus lanes along Manhattan’s 96th Street
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Sep 30, 2024
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Courtesy Marc A. Hermann/MTA
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Sep 30, 2024
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Thousands of New York City bus riders can expect new bus lanes on one of the busiest crosstown bus routes in Manhattan in the coming months, city transportation officials said on Monday.
Officials said the redesign on 96th Street, stretching between West End and second avenues, is set to be completed later this year. Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said the new bus lanes “will reduce wait times and improve service for 15,500 weekday riders” who rely on the M96 and M106 routes.
“These improvements will make commutes faster, more reliable, and safer for everyone,” he said.
While city officials and transit advocates are applauding the project, not everyone has been on board since plans were announced earlier this year. A group of Upper West Side residents and City Councilmember Gale Brewer earlier this month held a rally expressing concerns about losing curb space and requesting alternative solutions to speed up bus service.
A DOT spokesperson pushed back on such concerns, saying the anticipated improvements would reduce congestion — not increase it — while retaining curb access for residents and delivery vehicles. Most residents in the area depend on transit, with 68% of households commuting to work using public transportation, walking or cycling, according to the agency.
A comparable offset bus lane on Lexington Avenue improved bus speeds by as much as 19%, spokesperson Anna Correa said.
The back-and-forth between Manhattan residents and the DOT continued earlier this month. Brewer said she sent a letter to the DOT sharing residents’ concerns over the bus lanes — which the agency later responded to on Sept. 13.
“All I can say is that I did what I did to represent them. The DOT has their perspective so let’s see what happens,” Brewer told Gothamist on Monday.
The complete redesign on 96th Street will include new dedicated bus lanes, left-turn bays and treatments that will slow down drivers. Once completed, the project will add 1.7 miles of bus lanes on the Upper East and Upper West sides.
The city will construct an offset or curbside bus lane in each direction between West End Avenue and Central Park West, and between Madison and second avenues, according to the DOT.
With the exception of the eastbound curbside lane between Lexington and Third avenues, the bus lanes will operate 24/7. That curbside lane segment will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.
Transportation officials also plan to lengthen bus stops and install daytime loading zones for deliveries and service workers.
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new york city
manhattan
transportation
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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