UPDATE: New York City is set to revamp Madison Avenue with dedicated bus lanes, significantly impacting nearly 92,000 daily riders. This urgent development was announced on Sunday by city officials, aiming to enhance transit speed and reliability on one of Manhattan’s busiest corridors.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has made it clear that improving bus transit is a priority, and this redesign is a major step forward. The plan will extend double bus lanes from 42nd Street to 23rd Street by the end of the year, providing much-needed dedicated space that will allow buses to navigate the congested traffic more efficiently.
Currently, buses below 42nd Street crawl at just 4.5 miles per hour, which is only half the citywide average of 8.1 miles per hour. This sluggish pace has frustrated commuters and underscores the necessity of the redesign. DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn stated, “Madison Avenue is one of the most important bus corridors in the city, yet tens of thousands of riders are crawling along at walking speed.”
The redesign will allocate two lanes specifically for buses while retaining one lane for general traffic and another that will alternate between parking and travel during rush hour. This layout is designed to reflect the actual movement of people in the area, with 55% of travelers on this stretch opting for bus transit.
City data indicates a slight increase in bus speeds within the congestion pricing zone, specifically in Manhattan below 60th Street. Officials are optimistic that the new lanes will build on this momentum. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal highlighted the synergy between this initiative and ongoing congestion pricing efforts, stating, “As a complement to what we have already started in Albany and at City Hall in terms of congestion pricing, it couldn’t be a more perfect marriage.”
This redesign was originally proposed in 2025 but faced delays during the previous administration. Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson explained that the project was paused due to missed deadlines in the last painting season. However, the current administration’s decision to restart the project has been met with approval from transportation advocates.
Similar initiatives, such as the redesign on nearby Fifth Avenue, have shown promising results. After the addition of double bus lanes there, local bus speeds surged by up to 12% and express buses became up to 20% faster.
Betsy Plum, executive director of Riders Alliance, emphasized the importance of bus transit in the city, declaring, “Buses are the silent backbone of this city. We are excited to see faster buses that give riders back their time.”
This new bus lane initiative is not just a transportation improvement; it represents a significant shift toward prioritizing public transit in a city where traffic congestion has long been a challenge. As the city gears up for the redesign, commuters can anticipate a more efficient travel experience in the near future.
Stay tuned for more updates as this project moves forward, ensuring that New Yorkers enjoy faster and more reliable bus services.
