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, local access is permitted but generally only from side streets, and vehicles must leave the corridor at the next required turn per posted signage.

NYC Busways

Main Street Busway, Queens

  • Serves approximately 155,000 weekday riders
  • Busway along Main Street between Sanford Avenue and Northern Boulevard (northbound)/37th Avenue (southbound) and Kissena Boulevard between Sanford Avenue and Main Street.
  • Busway is in effect 6 am to 7 pm, seven days a week
  • 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)
  • Southbound busway began March 2017
  • Northbound busway began January 2021

Jamaica Avenue Busway, Queens

  • Serves approximately 139,000 weekday riders
  • Busway from Sutphin Boulevard to 168th Street
  • Busway is in effect 6 am to 7 pm, seven days a week
  • Only buses, trucks, and emergency vehicles have through-access along the corridor
  • Local access is permitted from the north and south only and must take the next required turn off the corridor
  • Busway launched October 2021

Archer Avenue Busway, Queens

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

14th Street Busway, Manhattan

  • Serves approximately 32,000 weekday riders
  • Busway between Third and Ninth Avenues
  • Only buses, trucks, and emergency vehicles have through-access along the corridor
  • Busway is in effect 6 am to 10 pm, seven days a week
  • Local access is permitted from the north and south only and must take the next right turn off the corridor
  • Busway launched October 2019

181st Street Busway, Manhattan

  • Serves approximately 42,000 weekday riders
  • Busway from Amsterdam Avenue to Broadway
  • Busway is in effect from 6 am to 8 pm, seven days a week
  • Only buses, trucks, and emergency vehicles have through-access along the corridor
  • Local access is permitted from the north and south only (except at Broadway) and must take the next required turn off the corridor
  • Local traffic may not enter 181st Street via Broadway
  • Busway launched April 2021

Jay Street Busway, Brooklyn

  • Serves approximately 47,000 weekday riders
  • Busway from Livingston Street/Smith Street to Jay Street/Tillary Street
  • Enhanced protected bicycle lanes on Jay Street and Smith Street
  • Busway is in effect 7 am to 7 pm, Monday through Friday
  • Only buses, trucks, bicycles and emergency vehicles have through-access along the corridor
  • Local access permitted from the east and west only
  • Busway launched August 2020

Fulton Street Busway, Brooklyn

  • Serves approximately 40,000 weekday riders
  • Busway between Adams Street and Flatbush Avenue
  • Busway is in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week
  • Only buses may use busway; truck loading zones are provided on adjacent streets
  • All vehicles may use small sections of Fulton Street to make north-south connections
  • Busway launched in 1970s