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BRT Phase II || BRT Phase I || Other Bus Improvements || What is BRT?
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Bus Rapid Transit Phase II
New York City Transit and NYCDOT are looking for ways to continue to dramatically improve transit service through a comprehensive Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network across New York City -- complete with links to subways, ferries, and major destinations. NYCT and DOT invite the public to take part in interactive workshops that will lay the groundwork for the next phase of a BRT program for New York City. Given the magnitude of the MTA's current fiscal constraints, it is even more imperative that we work together to expand this high performance bus service - an approach that will allow for cost savings realized from improving bus speeds, attracting more customers, and providing more efficient bus operations.
The Report
Introduction to Bus Rapid Transit Phase II report contains a general introduction to BRT features as well as an update on the results of BRT Phase I. The first phase of BRT kicked off in June 2008 as NYCT and DOT launched the City's first BRT Phase I route, the Bx12 Select Bus Service (SBS) on Fordham Road in the Bronx. This report also identifies over 30 corridors that present opportunities for new BRT services. These potential BRT corridors address different types of transit needs, ranging from areas underserved by the subway to trips that are difficult to make by subway or bus.
 Read the report
Appendix A Service Needs Assessment Methodology
Bus Rapid Transit Phase II - Public Input
NYCT and DOT invite your feedback on where new BRT routes should be established and how they should operate. Seven public workshops were held in May and June in all five boroughs.
BRT Phase I Corridors / Select Bus Service
SBS stands for "Select Bus Service." SBS is the first generation of BRT in New York City (aka BRT Phase I). SBS is a joint venture of MTA/New York City Transit and NYCDOT. In June 2008, NYCT and DOT launched the City's first BRT Phase I route, the Bx12 Select Bus Service (SBS) on Fordham Road in the Bronx. The Bx12 SBS includes a combination of features, including off-board fare payment, high-visibility bus lanes, and transit signal priority, as well as increased service and distinctive branding. The results of the pilot have been striking. Bus speeds on the Bx12 SBS have increased 20 percent and ridership has increased by 5,000 riders a day. And an NYCT survey found 98% of riders were satisfied or very satisfied with the new service.
- Fordham Road-Pelham Parkway SBS, Bronx (June 2008)
- 34th Street Alternatives Analysis Concludes, Transitway Selected, Manhattan (2010)
- The DOT and MTA / New York City Transit and their
consultants conducted an Alternatives Analysis to identify the most
effective transit options to decrease travel times for transit riders, to
reduce vehicular and pedestrian congestion along 34th Street, and to provide
convenient connections to the major land uses and transportation facilities
along the corridor. Public input was gathered on a number of different
options, and a Transitway was identified as the "locally preferred
alternative." Public comment was then accepted on this proposal. Following
evaluation of public comments DOT and MTA have decided to adopt the
Transitway option. This facility would include a physically separate
right-of-way for buses on 34th Street, as well as passenger boarding
islands, a prepayment fare system, and other bus operations improvements. Read more
about the Transitway.
- First Avenue/Second Avenue SBS, Manhattan (2010) The First Avenue/Second Avenue Select Bus Service (SBS) Corridor spans most of the east side of Manhattan, approximately 8.5 miles, connecting South Ferry in Lower Manhattan to 125th Street. This corridor is presently served by the M15 bus, which is the busiest single route in New York City, with an average weekday ridership of 57,000. Between 125th Street and Houston Street, the route will operate southbound on Second Avenue and northbound on First Avenue. South of Houston Street, the route will operate in both directions on Allen Street, Pike Street, Madison Street, Pearl Street, and Water Street. It will provide passengers the ability to transfer to the F/V, and L subway lines, and will connect to the 1, R/W, and 4/5 lines at South Ferry/Bowling Green, as well as to subway stations along the future Second Avenue Subway line.
The design of First Avenue/Second Avenue SBS takes into account the following goals:
- improve transit service
- improve bicycle access
- improve pedestrian safety
The design relies on components which have proven successful on other corridors in New York City, such as Fordham Road in the Bronx and Eighth Avenue/Ninth Avenue in Manhattan. A range of treatments is proposed due to neighborhood variations in traffic levels, street width, and curbside access needs.
The treatments applied throughout the corridor are comprised of:
The design relies on components which have proven successful on other corridors in New York City, such as Fordham Road in the Bronx and Eighth Avenue/Ninth Avenue in Manhattan. A range of treatments is proposed due to neighborhood variations in traffic levels, street width, and curbside access needs.
The treatments applied throughout the corridor are comprised of:
Design A 
Offset bus lane with protected bike lane
Design B 
Curbside bus lane with protected bike lane
Design C 
Curbside bus lane with shared bike lane
The project will be implemented in two phases
- Phase I
- Offset (the second lane from the curb) or curbside
bus lanes from Houston Street to 125th Street
- Protected or shared bike lanes from Houston Street
to 125th Street on both avenues
- Proof-of-payment fare system, with off-board
payment
- Increased hours of service on BRT, improved frequency on BRT, faster bus travel times
- Phase II
- Bus bulbs extending the sidewalk out to the bus
lane, at selected BRT stations between Houston Street and 125th Street, to
accommodate enhanced BRT stations
- Transit signal priority between Houston Street and South Ferry
- Download a schematic (pdf) of proposed station locations which include:
- 125th Street
- 116th Street and 1st/2nd Aves
- 106th Street and 1st/2nd Aves
- 96th Street and 1st/2nd Aves
- 86th Street and 1st/2nd Aves
- 77th Street and 1st/2nd Aves
- 67th Street and 1st/2nd Aves
- 57th Street and 1st/2nd Aves
- 49th Street and 1st/2nd Aves
- 42nd Street and 1st/2nd Aves
- 34th Street and 1st/2nd Aves
- 23rd Street and 1st/2nd Aves
- 14th Street and 1st/2nd Aves
- Houston Street and 1st Ave (Connection to F/V)
- Grand Street and Allen Street
- Madison Street and Market Street
- Fulton Street and Water Street
- Wall Street and Water Street
- South Ferry (Connection to 1, R/W, and 4/5)
- MTA New York City Transit and the New York City Department of Transportation, in cooperation with Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, have convened a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) to provide guidance in the design and implementation of SBS in this corridor. The CAC is comprised of a broad range of stakeholders, from elected officials to Community Boards to major area institutions. The role of the CAC will be:
- To provide opportunities for input as project
design and implementation progresses
- To keep key stakeholders up to date on the project
- To provide stakeholders with information to pass on
to other constituents about project details and outreach efforts
- To ensure that key issues are not overlooked
- The CAC will meet every two to three months over
the next two years. Public Open Houses will also take place at key points.
- The first meeting of the First Avenue/Second Avenue CAC was held on Wednesday, May 13, 2009. Download the presentation and the meeting agenda.
- The second meeting of the First Avenue/Second Avenue Select Bus Service
Community Advisory Committee was held on Wednesday, September 23, 2009. Download the presentation and the meeting summary notes.
- The third CAC meeting occurred on Thursday, January 14, 2010. Download the presentation. Download the meeting summary.
- The project is being presented to Community Boards throughout the corridor during the winter of 2010. The documents below contain general project background as well as specific project details about project implementation in each area.
Nostrand Avenue-Rogers Avenue SBS, Brooklyn (2012) MTA New York City Transit and the New York City
Department of Transportation have convened a Community Advisory Committee
(CAC) to provide guidance in the design and implementation of SBS in this
corridor. The CAC is comprised of a broad range of stakeholders, including
elected officials, Community Boards, community organizations, and major
institutions.
The role of the CAC will be:
- To provide opportunities for input as project
design and implementation progresses
- To keep key stakeholders up to date
- To provide stakeholders with information to pass on
to other constituents about project details and outreach efforts.
- To ensure that key issues are addressed in timely manner
The CAC will meet every three to four months over the next two years. Public Open Houses will also take place at key points, with the first open house tentatively scheduled for Spring 2010. The first meeting of the Nostrand/Rogers CAC was held on Tuesday, December 8th, 2009.
Download an
overview of this project.
Hylan Boulevard SBS and Transitway, Staten Island (2010, subject to change)
34th Street SBS Phase II, Manhattan (2011, subject to change pending Alternatives Analysis )
Other Bus Improvements
NYCT and DOT will also look for opportunities to provide certain elements of bus rapid transit (e.g. transit signal priority or high-visibility bus lanes) on other bus routes. We will call projects with customer service improvements enhanced bus service and those intended to ease buses through traffic bus priority corridors.
- 34th Street Enhanced Bus Priority, Manhattan (September 2008)
- Read
the press release
- Provide feedback on the Alternatives Analysis for future transit improvements on 34th Street.
- Downtown Brooklyn Surface Transit Circulation Study
- Downtown Jamaica Bus Improvements, Queens (study completion late 2009)
- Fifth Avenue/Madison Avenue Bus Lane Improvements, Manhattan
What is BRT?
BRT stands for "Bus Rapid Transit." It is an integrated, high performance transit system with a unique identity, designed to reduce travel time, improve reliability, and increase the level of comfort for bus customers. BRT systems typically consist of all or a combination of seven main elements, which include the following:
- System identity and branding which bring a unique and distinguished visibility to the BRT service
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- Bus ways where the road is dedicated to the exclusive use of buses
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- A service plan that provides an easily understandable
route map and schedule
- Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) that
provides information on next arriving bus at the bus stations, and the next
stop on-board buses
- Traffic Signal Priority (TSP) which gives buses priority at traffic lights
The video at the top shows some of the first
generation BRT elements already in place in New York City. |
