New York Officials Back Down on Bus Lane Plans

In response to opposition from local businesses and officials, New York City is backing down on plans to improve bus infrastructure on Fordham Road in the Bronx, according to an article by Jesse Coburn and Dave Colon in Streetsblog NYC.

“The Department of Transportation said in May that it would create offset bus lanes along the route, but now the city will merely repaint existing bus lanes and consider adding additional traffic enforcement cameras, officials told Streetsblog.” The city could consider other changes if bus speed don’t improve in the next year. 

According to DOT, moving buses into offset lanes could have increased bus speeds by 20 percent. “The offset bus lane design would have reflected the reality of curb demand in 2023, freeing up the lane right next to the sidewalk and allowing buses to run, pick up and drop off passengers in the center lanes on the street,” the article explains.

“The capitulation on Fordham Road is the latest episode of the Adams administration delaying or watering down transportation projects across the city in deference to local businesses or politicians.” Last year, the city did not meet its legally required goal of building 20 new miles of bus lanes.