Bus Forward

Better Buses Action Plan

New York City DOT, with MTA, is committed to working together to improve bus service citywide, ensuring that New Yorkers have bus service that they can depend on at any time of the day. The Better Buses Action Plan is focused on improving bus speeds citywide by 25% by the end of 2020 and reversing downward bus ridership trends. This will be done through a combination of DOT’s transit street design treatments like bus lanes and transit signal priority, NYPD’s increased enforcement of bus lanes, and service management initiatives and bus network redesigns by MTA, the city’s transit operator.

The Better Buses Action Plan proposes a comprehensive look at projects citywide to achieve these goals:

Bus Priority

  • Improve 5 miles of existing bus lanes per year
  • Install 10–15 miles of new bus lanes per year
  • Pilot up to 2 miles of physically separated bus lanes in 2019
  • In 2019, implement DOT street design projects that benefit 600,000 daily riders

Technology

  • Add 300 Transit Signal Priority (TSP) intersections per year

Enforcement

  • Expand bus lane camera enforcement
  • Increased NYPD bus lane enforcement with seven dedicated tow truck teams

Bus Stops

  • Evaluate and improve bus stops

Working With The MTA

  • Support MTA Bus Network Redesign efforts with borough bus priority plans
  • Press for all-door boarding, restarting the SBS program, and other improvements to bus operations

In 2019, DOT will implement over 20 bus priority projects citywide and develop borough-wide bus priority plans, starting in the Bronx as part of the MTA Bus Network Redesign process, followed shortly by Queens and Brooklyn. In 2020, implementation will focus on these borough-wide plans.

Download the Better Buses Report (pdf)

2020 Bronx Network Redesign Bus Priority Projects

Bronx Community Board 3 Project

DOT is proposing bus priority treatments on the following corridors that fall within Bronx Community Board 3:

  • 167 St / 168 St

Link to Presentation – presented to Bronx Community Board 3 Municipal Services Committee on February 11, 2020

Bronx Community Board 4 Projects

DOT is proposing bus priority treatments on the following corridors that fall within Bronx Community Board 4:

  • E L Grant Highway
  • 167 St / 168 St

Link to Presentation – presented to Bronx Community Board 4 Municipal Services Committee on February 5, 2020

Bronx Community Board 5 Projects

DOT is studying bus priority treatments on the following corridors that fall within Bronx Community Board 5:

  • Tremont Av
  • University Av
  • 181 St / Washington Bridge
  • Fordham Road / University Heights Bridge / 207 St

Link to Presentation – presented to Bronx Community Board 5 Municipal Services Committee on December 3, 2019

2019 Bus Priority Projects

Battery Pl, MN

DOT is proposing transit, safety and traffic improvements at the intersection of Battery Pl and West St. This project will provide faster travel times and more reliable service for express bus riders heading north on West St and entering the Brooklyn-Battery/Hugh Carey Tunnel.

Battery Pl – presented to Manhattan Community Board 1 Transportation Committee in October 2019

42 St, MN

DOT is proposing transit improvements along 42 St in Manhattan. The project includes enhanced curbside bus lanes, offset bus lanes, bus boarders, bus queue jump signals, turn restrictions, curb extensions, and signal timing adjustments. The project also will improve curb management throughout the corridor. The project will improve safety for all roadway users, enhance bus speeds and reliability, and increase pedestrian space at bus stops. 42 St Transit Improvements – presented to Manhattan Community Board 6 Transportation Committee on Sept 4, 2019 (pdf) 42 St Transit Improvements – presented to Manhattan Community Board 5 Transportation Committee on June 24, 2019 (pdf) 42 St Transit Improvements – presented to Manhattan Community Board 4 Transportation Committee on June 19, 2019 (pdf) 42 St Transit Improvements – presented to Manhattan Community Board 6 Transportation Committee on June 3, 2019 (pdf)

14th St Transit and Truck Priority Pilot Project

On October 3, 2019, 14th Street between 9th Avenue and 3rd Avenue became a Transit & Truck Priority corridor as part of an 18-month pilot project designed to:

  • Increase speeds and reliability for M14 A/D Select Bus Service
  • Improve safety along a Vision Zero Priority corridor
14th St Transit & Truck Priority Pilot Project Brochure (pdf)

Rockaway Beach Blvd, QN

DOT is proposing transit, safety, and traffic improvements along Rockaway Beach Blvd in the Rockaways. The project includes bus lanes, median tip extensions, curb extensions, pedestrian islands, and new sidewalks. The project will improve safety for all roadway users, enhance bus speeds and reliability, and improve accessibility at bus stops. Rockaway Beach Blvd Improvements – presented to Queens Community Board 14 Transportation Committee in June 2019 (pdf)

Webster Av, E 174 St to E 176 St, BX

DOT is proposing to improve bus service and traffic safety along Webster Avenue near the Cross Bronx Expressway. The project includes a southbound bus lane between E 174 St and E 176 St and clarified roadway markings. In addition, a pedestrian island and two painted curb extensions will be added at the intersection of Webster Avenue and Ittner Place. The project will improve safety for all roadway users, enhance bus priority to improve bus speeds and reliability, and improve traffic flow. Webster Avenue, E 174 St – E 176 St Improvements – presented to Bronx Community Board 5 in May 2019 (pdf) Webster Avenue, E 174 St – E 176 St Improvements – presented to Bronx Community Board 6 Transportation Committee in May 2019 (pdf) Webster Avenue, E 174 St – E 176 St Improvements – presented to Bronx Community Board 5 Municipal Services Committee in May 2019 (pdf)

Lexington Ave, 96th St to 60th St, MN

DOT is proposing upgrades to the existing curbside bus lane, by moving it to the “offset” position, one lane away from the curb. The proposed design will improve bus speeds and reliability for M98, M101, M102, and M103 bus riders while improve curb access for local businesses. Lexington Ave Bus Lane Enhancement - presented to Manhattan CB 8 Transportation Committee in June 2019 (pdf) Lexington Ave Bus Lane Enhancement - presented to Manhattan CB 8 Transportation Committee in May 2019 (pdf)

Fresh Pond Rd, Metropolitan Ave to Putnam Ave, QN

DOT is proposing transit and traffic improvements along Fresh Pond Rd, including a southbound bus lane and changes to curb and meter regulations to increase available parking and reduce congestion. These measures will improve bus speeds and reliability on the Q58, QM24, QM25 and QM35 routes while alleviating traffic congestion for all vehicles. Fresh Pond Rd Transit Improvements – presented to Queens Community Board 5 in June 2019 (pdf) Fresh Pond Rd Transit Improvements – presented to Queens Community Board 5 Transportation and Public Transit Committee in June 2019 (pdf) Fresh Pond Rd Transit Improvements – presented to Queens Community Board 5 Transportation and Public Transit Committee in May 2019 (pdf)

Malcolm X Blvd / Utica Ave, Chauncey St to Atlantic Ave, BK

DOT is proposing a southbound curbside bus lane along Malcolm X Blvd / Utica Ave between Chauncey St and Atlantic Ave, and signal modifications at the intersection of Utica Ave & Atlantic Ave. These improvements will alleviate a major bottleneck on the B46 Local and Select Bus Service, Brooklyn’s busiest bus route. Malcolm X Blvd / Utica Ave Transit Improvements – presented to Brooklyn Community Board 3 in March 2020 (pdf) Malcolm X Blvd / Utica Ave Transit Improvements – presented to Brooklyn Community Board 3 Transportation Committee in February 2020 (pdf) Malcolm X Blvd / Utica Ave Transit Improvements – presented to Brooklyn Community Board 3 in June 2019 (pdf) Malcolm X Blvd / Utica Ave Transit Improvements – presented to Brooklyn Community Board 3 Transportation Committee in May 2019 (pdf)

Church Ave, Flatbush Ave to Ocean Pkwy, BK

DOT is proposing transit, traffic, and loading improvements along Church Ave, including curbside bus lanes and side street meters west of E 16th St and updates to meters and loading zones east of E 16th St. This will provide faster, more reliable bus service for 45,000 daily riders on the B35, B103, BM3 and BM4 buses while improving traffic flow, reducing double-parking, and better facilitating local businesses’ loading and delivery needs. Church Ave Transit Improvements – Project Update, October 2019 (pdf) Church Ave Transit Improvements – presented at Public Forum in July 2019 (pdf) Church Ave Transit Improvements – presented to Brooklyn Community Board 12 in June 2019 (pdf) Church Ave Transit Improvements – presented to Brooklyn Community Board 14 Transportation Committee in May 2019 (pdf)

Broadway, 225 St to 230 St, BX

DOT is proposing transit, traffic, and loading improvements along Broadway from 225 St to 230 St, including an offset southbound bus lane, bus queue jump, and side street meters on 228 St and updates to loading zones on Broadway at 225 St. This will provide faster, more reliable bus service for 38,000 daily riders on the Bx7, Bx9, Bx20, BxM1 buses while alleviating traffic congestion. Broadway Transit Improvements- presented to Bronx Community Board 8 in September 2019 (pdf)

Bus Forward 2017

As part of the City’s comprehensive Citywide Transit Plan to understand the current state of the transit system, how it is meeting the needs of New Yorkers, and how the City is growing in order to develop our vision for the future of transit in New York City, DOT released the Bus Forward report in 2017 to present the future of the Select Bus Service program and the expansion of treatments to other local bus routes. This work is now all part of the Better Buses Action Plan, as well.

Growing the SBS Program

Based on the results of data analysis and public feedback through workshops, on-street surveying and online feedback, NYC DOT and the MTA have identified 21 candidate corridors across the city for the next phase of SBS. After the implementation of M14SBS, however, the MTA does not currently plan on additional SBS routes. DOT is pressing MTA to continue this successful program.

The existing SBS network has over 300,000 daily riders, 12% of city bus ridership. With the addition of the 21 proposed SBS routes, over 800,000 daily bus riders would be on routes with fast and reliable service, over 32% of city bus ridership.

By continuing to grow the SBS network, we are focusing on key issues including improving job access across the City and providing service on trips not well served by the subway and rail systems.

Improving Local Bus Corridors

Complementing the interagency commitment to SBS, NYC DOT and the MTA are committed to the Bus Forward program – improving the customer experience by making buses across the city faster and more reliable. Using tools from the bus priority toolkit, we are taking tangible steps to make changes on local bus corridors to improve travel speed and reliability for riders.

NYC DOT and the MTA is implementing projects on many of these priority corridors in 2019 as part of the Better Buses Action Plan.

Download the 2017 Bus Forward Report (pdf)