Busways

An MTA bus travels along Fulton Street in Brooklyn, while pedestrians walk on the sidewalk and wait at the curb to cross the street.

Busways are designed to improve bus speed and reliability to benefit the passengers who rely on transit to get around the city. Significant bus travel time savings may be achieved by dramatically reducing traffic volumes.

Most busways offer transit and freight priority, allowing buses and trucks to travel along the entire corridor. For other vehicles, such as taxis and cars, travel through the busway corridor is restricted, but essential local access is typically maintained in some form.

NYC Busways

Archer Avenue Busway, Queens

  • Serves approximately 189,000 weekday riders
  • Eastbound only busway from 153rd Street to 160th Street (westbound unchanged)
  • Only buses and emergency vehicles have through access along busway corridor
  • No parking nor loading access along busway
  • Busway is in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week
  • Busway launched on October 24, 2021

Jamaica Avenue Busway, Queens

  • Serves approximately 139,000 weekday riders
  • Busway from Sutphin Boulevard to 168th Street
  • Only buses, trucks, and emergency vehicles have through access along the corridor
  • Local access is generally permitted along the corridor
  • Busway is in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week
  • Busway launched on October 24, 2021

181st Street Busway, Manhattan

  • Serves approximately 42,000 weekday riders along five bus routes
  • Busway from Amsterdam Avenue to Broadway launched on April 26, 2021
  • Busway hours are from 6AM to 10PM, seven days a week
  • Local access is permitted but must make the next available right turn (except at Broadway)
  • Local traffic may not enter 181st Street via Broadway

Jay Street Busway, Brooklyn

  • Serves approximately 47,000 weekday riders
  • Busway began on August 31, 2020
  • Busway declared permanent in November 2021
  • Buses and trucks only, 7AM – 7PM, Monday through Friday
  • Enhanced protected bicycle lanes on Jay Street and Smith Street
  • Local access permitted from east and west only

14th Street Busway, Manhattan

  • Serves approximately 32,000 weekday riders
  • Pilot project began October 2019
  • Busway between Third and Ninth Avenues became permanent June 2020
  • Buses and trucks only, 6AM to 10PM daily
  • Local traffic may enter but must turn at next available right

Fulton Street Busway, Brooklyn

  • Serves approximately 40,000 weekday riders
  • Busway between Adams Street and Flatbush Avenue dates to 1970s
  • Dense commercial corridor with lots of pedestrians
  • Restricted to buses only; truck loading zones are provided on adjacent streets
  • All vehicles may use small sections of Fulton Street to make north-south connections

Main Street Busway, Queens

  • Serves approximately 155,000 weekday riders
  • Southbound busway between 37th Avenue and 40th Road began March 2017
  • Northbound busway pilot began January 2021
  • Northbound busway on Main Street from Sanford Avenue to Northern Boulevard, and two blocks on Kissena Boulevard from Sanford Avenue to Main Street
  • Only buses, trucks, and emergency vehicles have through access along the corridor
  • Local traffic may enter but must turn at next available right (except at 41st Avenue where a left turn is permitted)

NYC Busways in Development

NYC DOT is engaging with stakeholders on an ongoing basis to guide the planning, implementation and evaluation of the following new busways.

Fifth Avenue Busway, Manhattan (in development)

  • Serves approximately 108,000 weekday riders
  • Complete Street including expanded bike and pedestrian space from 57th Street to 34th Street scheduled to be installed in 2022