While it falls short of a more ambitious proposal pitched by the MTA recently, a new plan to expand bus priority on the streets of New York City would mark a significant expansion of a trend that started on 14th Street in Manhattan.
"Mayor de Blasio says he’ll create 20 miles of car-free busways and dedicated bus lanes across the city, starting this month — and make the successful 14th Street busway permanent," reports Gersh Kuntzman.
The total mileage falls short of the 60 miles of bus lanes and busways requested recently by the MTA, "but it's a start," according to Kuntzman.
The first new addition will be a busway on Main Street between Sanford and Northern Boulevard in Flushing. Car-free stretches of 1) Jamaica Avenue from Sutphin Boulevard to 168th Street; 2) Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, from 57th to 34th streets; 3) Jay Street in Brooklyn, from Fulton to Tillary streets; and 4) E. 181st St. in Manhattan, from Amsterdam Avenue to Broadway will follow, adding up to 3.5 miles of car-free streets.
Bus lanes will be added on 16.5 miles of streets: 1) 14th Street between First Avenue and Avenue C; 2) 149th Street in the Bronx from Southern Boulevard to River Avenue, 3) Merrick Boulevard in Queens from Hillside Avenue to Springfield Boulevard, and 4) Hylan Boulevard in Staten Island from Lincoln Avenue to Nelson Avenue.
More on the decision-making process and the response of a few advocacy organizations is included in the article.
Read the full story: Mayor Creates More Busways — And Makes 14th Street Permanently Car-Free
Backtracking From Ambitious Bus Lane Promises in New York City
Back in June, the city of New York seemed poised for a major shift in transportation priority. In October, reality is setting in about how hard a sell the transformation will be.
New York's Bus Lane Program Slow to Start
It's a case of arrested development, as local opposition has derailed ambitious plans to greatly expand bus priority on streets around the city of New York.
Bus Priority Falling to Local Political Opposition in New York City
An ambitious program to add 20 miles of bus lanes and protected bus ways in the city of New York has been diminished by political opposition in parts of the city.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
Satanic Place Names
From streams and lakes to valleys and canyons, I mapped more than 1,000 places named after the Devil.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority