New York City Council Pushing for Major Investments in Bus and Bike Lanes

The $3.1 billion requested by the New York City Council to build 500 miles of new bus lanes and 500 miles of protected bus lanes isn't included in New York Mayor Eric Adams's proposed budget.

2 minute read

April 7, 2022, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Bus Priority Zones

More like 14th Street in Manhattan to come? | rblfmr / Shutterstock

"In the Council’s formal response to Mayor Eric Adams’s $98.5 billion city budget proposal from February, politicians called for more investments in the Big Apple’s social safety net and infrastructure, including a far more ambitious vision to reshape the streetscape," reports Kevin Duggan for amNY. In all, the council is asking for $3.1 billion toward the NYC Streets Plan.

According to an earlier article by Duggan, the New York City Department of Transportation unveiled the NYC Streets Plan in December 2021. The plan set several benchmarks for the amount of new bike- and bus-friendly paths the agency must build, as required by a law proposed and approved by the City Council in 2019.

"The goals — which come with minimum annual targets — include 150 miles of bus lanes and 250 miles of protected bike lanes by end of 2026, and 1 million square feet of pedestrian space by end of 2023," explains Duggan in the most recent article. The $3.1 billion requested by the City Council would push those goals much further, according to Duggan: "The Council now wants to earmark more money for at least 500 miles of new bus lanes and 500 miles of protected bike lanes."

Bus lanes have been a tough sell despite wide support in New York City. A plan proposed by former Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2020 to build 20 miles of bus lanes was slowly rescinded due to local opposition.

Sunday, April 3, 2022 in AMNY

Black and white Rideshare Pick-Up Zone sign

The Slow Death of Ride Sharing

From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.

June 1, 2023 - Human Transit

Urban sidewalk shaded by large mature trees

Cool Walkability Planning

Shadeways (covered sidewalks) and pedways (enclosed, climate controlled walkways) can provide comfortable walkability in hot climates. The Cool Walkshed Index can help plan these facilities.

June 1, 2023 - Todd Litman

Traffic on the 405 interstate freeway through the Sepulveda Pass at Getty Center Drive in Los Angeles, California

Congestion Pricing Could Be Coming to L.A.

The infamously car-centric city is weighing a proposed congestion pricing pilot program to reduce traffic and encourage public transit use.

May 30, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Denver City Hall building with green lawn and red flowers in front, Denver, Colorado

Denver Makes ADU Rules More Flexible

The city hopes adjusting its regulations for accessory dwelling units will make the process more affordable for residents and help ease the city’s housing crunch.

5 minutes ago - Denverite

Interstate 55 with cars and green freeway signs in Chicago, Illinois

Illinois Legislators Pass Controversial I-55 Road Expansion Legislation

Legislation to enable the addition of express toll lanes on Interstate 55 in the Southwest Side of Chicago, opposed by environmental justice advocates, cleared the Illinois General Assembly last month.

1 hour ago - Chicago Tribune

Close-up of front og MARTA public transit bus in Atlanta, Georgia with logo wrap

What Is ‘Arterial Rapid Transit?’

Atlanta is planning to build ‘BRT lite,’ a version of bus service that offers signal priority and fewer stops but keeps buses in mixed-traffic lanes.

2 hours ago - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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.