What you should know
- Updated design places protected bike lane alongside median while maintaining proposed pedestrian space expansion based on feedback from New Yorkers
- Project will make eleven blocks along Park Avenue safer, greener and more welcoming
The updated redesign of Park Avenue converts a vehicle lane to a protected bike lane based on feedback from New Yorkers.
NEW YORK – Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today unveiled an updated design to put the ‘park’ back in Park Avenue, reimagining 11 blocks of Midtown Manhattan as a greener, safer and more people-centered corridor.
The updated design will expand the avenue’s median, add pedestrian space, seating and landscaping and convert an existing southbound vehicle travel lane into a two-way protected bike lane. The redesign responds to feedback from New Yorkers by moving the originally proposed two-way bike lane alongside the median into dedicated space while preserving expanded pedestrian areas.
“New Yorkers asked us to make more room for people to walk, bike and enjoy their city, and we listened,” said Mayor Mamdani. “This updated design puts more space where it belongs: in the hands of New Yorkers. By expanding our medians, adding greenery and seating and creating a dedicated protected bike connection, we are making Park Avenue safer and more beautiful for everyone who uses it.”
“Building on feedback from the community, this final design converts underused median space into vibrant public space while incorporating a dedicated, world-class bike connection that lays the foundation for future bike network upgrades in East Midtown,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “Whether you’re walking, biking or just looking for a place to sit and take a break, this project is about transforming Park Avenue to work better for New Yorkers as visitors alike.”
Dedicated pedestrian space in the planted medians will feature flexible programming, temporary art and new vantage points for viewing iconic Midtown landmarks.
The updated design covers 11 blocks from 46th Street to 57th Street. It would remove one travel lane in each direction and convert one additional southbound travel lane into a two-way protected bike lane. The expanded medians will accommodate seating, plantings and other pedestrian amenities, while new crosswalks will connect the medians along the corridor.
The project area sits directly above the Grand Central Terminal train shed, which is undergoing a major capital rehabilitation by Metro-North Railroad. As the MTA replaces and waterproofs the structure below, the City is using the opportunity to transform the avenue above, aligning major infrastructure investment with a broader vision for public space shaped by community input.
“The redesign of Park Avenue has been shaped by New Yorkers, for New Yorkers. I am pleased that this stretch of Midtown will be transformed into a safer, more beautiful space for our community to bike, walk, drive and enjoy the City,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. “As more people turn to biking and walking as cleaner, more effective modes of transportation, we must continue updating our infrastructure to keep our riders and pedestrians safe.”
“Today marks an important step toward transforming Park Avenue into a world-class boulevard that works for people, not just cars,” said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal. “After extensive engagement with Community Boards 5 and 6, I’m pleased that DOT’s latest design would widen the median and create more space for pedestrians, public art and landscaping. I’m also glad DOT listened to community feedback by moving the proposed two-way bike lane alongside the median while preserving the expanded pedestrian space. I’m grateful to Mayor Mamdani and Commissioner Flynn for advancing this ambitious reimagining of one of Manhattan’s most iconic thoroughfares, and I look forward to seeing work get underway.”
“Manhattan Community Board 6 is pleased to see DOT’s updated designs respond to feedback from our resolution and better balance pedestrian space, greenery and dedicated bicycle infrastructure,” said Sandra McKee, Chair of Manhattan Community Board 6. “The proposed bike infrastructure in the roadway, separated from the pedestrian-focused medians, reflects an important step toward a Park Avenue that is safer, greener and more welcoming for everyone. We appreciate DOT’s continued engagement with our community and look forward to working with our partners, stakeholders and the public as this transformative public realm project moves ahead.”
"The reconstruction of the Grand Central Train Shed is part of the MTA's commitment to modernize the infrastructure that keeps New Yorkers moving," said MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. "This century-old structure made it possible for Midtown to grow into one of the world’s most important business districts—and now, as we rebuild it, we’re thrilled to partner with the city to deliver a greener, more vibrant public space.”
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