Advice for New York's Bus System Overhaul

It's time for a fresh start, says a bus system redesign expert.

1 minute read

July 10, 2018, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


New York City Winter

Cemil Aksoy / Shutterstock

After the New York MTA announced in April that it would completely redesign its bus system as part of a comprehensive overhaul of the city's bus system, transit and bus advocates were understandably excited. To follow up on that initial excitement, Ben Fried shares some words of wisdom, and models of system redesign success, from Jarrett Walker.

Walker was in New York for a TransitCenter event, where he told the audience to start the system redesign by wiping the slate clean."'Only a blank canvas will yield 'design choices based on the whole network,' [Walker] said, which in turn produce benefits compelling enough to 'overcome little problems,'" reports Fried.

The very recent example of Dublin, in Ireland, also serves to exemplify some of the ideas in the article. As reported in an article by Olivia Kelly, Dublin unveiled a bus system redesign earlier this month.

Thursday, July 5, 2018 in StreetsBlog NYC

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Interior of Place Versailles mall in Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units

Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

May 22, 2025 - CBC

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 4, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and yellow DART light rail train in Dallas, Texas with brick building in background.

DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process

The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.

May 28, 2025 - Mass Transit

Line of multi-colored big rig trucks drivign down highway with other traffic including a yellow school bus.

Study: 4% of Truckers Lack a Valid Commercial License

Over 56% of inspected trucks had other violations.

June 4 - FreightWaves

Pedestrian holding visual impairment cane pressing crosswalk button.

Chicago Judge Orders Thousands of Accessible Ped Signals

Only 3% of the city's crossing signals are currently accessible to blind pedestrians.

June 4 - DRA Legal

People on bike wearing helmets stopped at intersection waiting for passing cars in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Swaps Car Lanes for Bikeways in Unanimous Vote

The project will transform one of the handful of streets responsible for 80% of the city’s major crashes.

June 4 - Philly Voice

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.