Single-Occupant Vehicles Banned on Williamsburg Bridge During L Train Closure

Solo commuters crossing from Brooklyn to Manhattan on the Williamsburg Bridge are in for a rude awakening on April 27 when the L Train closes. To accommodate more buses and bikes on the 115-year old bridge, cars will need at least 3 people.

2 minute read

November 27, 2018, 10:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid


Brooklyn, New York

Rgarcia110 / Shutterstock

The L Train's Canarsie Tunnel under the East River between Brooklyn and New York carries 225,000 passengers daily. The tunnel, which consists of two tubes, each carrying one track, was damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Those people will need alternatives come April 27 when the tunnel is scheduled to close for 15 months.

"There is no room on the bridge itself for dedicated bus lanes or a bigger bike path," reports Winnie Hu for The New York Times. "So city transportation officials are squeezing in new bus and protected bike lanes on surrounding streets in Brooklyn and Manhattan to keep traffic flowing on and off the bridge."

The occupancy requirement will apply every day between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. for all passenger vehicles, including taxis and ride-shares, in both directions. When plans were first released last December to make the Williamsburg Bridge the linchpin in the city’s efforts to come up with L alternatives, the carpool requirement was reserved only for rush hours.

Police officers will be stationed on the Manhattan side to hand out tickets to drivers violating the high-occupancy-vehicle requirements.

“The Williamsburg Bridge is critical to our subway and bus plans,” said Andy Byford, the president of New York City Transit, which operates the subway. “We’re doing everything we can to improve reliability on the rails and working closely with our city partners to get the infrastructure and enforcement we need to move our buses efficiently.”

Public transit

New bus service across the bridge will offer displaced L line commuters 80 buses per hour in each direction along four new lines. However, most commuters will resort to other subways. 

Three lines, the J, M and Z, already use the Williamsburg Bridge. They are among the seven lines that will see an additional 1,000 daily trips when the L Train shuts down.

Gearing-up for more bikes

"Cycling on the Williamsburg Bridge’s two-way bike path is already the city’s busiest bicycle bridge crossing with 7,300 trips per day," notes the caption under the photo by Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times.  According to Hu, bike traffic "is expected to double, or even triple."

The New York City Department of Transportation celebrated a green carpet roll-out on Nov. 15 for the opening of a new two-way protected bike lane along Delancey Street on the Lower East Side, providing a safer bike route to and from the Manhattan side of the bridge at the expense of the removal of one vehicle lane.

Planetizen contributor Camille Fink further explores the increase in bike infrastructure in "How New York’s L Train Shutdown Will Boost Cycling."

Hat tip to Annie Dawid.

Friday, November 23, 2018 in The New York Times

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

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

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.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of white panel at top of school bus with "100% electric" black text.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation

California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

April 30 - California Air Resources Board

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

April 30 - Streetsblog USA

"No Thru Traffic - Open Streets Restaurants" sign in New York City during Covid-19 pandemic.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street

How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.

April 30 - Next City