Photo Courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
“A recovery for all of us means reducing our dependence on fossil fuels while deepening Vision Zero,” Mayor de Blasio said.
By Forum Staff
Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Department of Transportation Commissioner Hank Gutman Tuesday announced plans to increase last year’s record protected bike lane installation and nearly double last year’s record bus project totals. The administration plans to install 28 miles of new and improved busways and bus lanes in 2021, along with thirty miles of protected bike lanes. Both will be the most installed in one year in New York City history, breaking records set by the administration just last year.
New and improved projects
will include:
Busway Pilots: By the end of 2021, DOT and MTA will complete five busways – four more than have ever been completed in one year. In addition to already-completed projects on Main Street in Flushing and 181st Street in Manhattan, busways will be constructed this year along Jamaica and Archer Avenues in Queens, and along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. In total, these five busways will improve service for 657,000 bus riders daily.
New and Improved Bus Lanes in Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island: Both new and improved bus lanes will serve bus riders citywide, with changes including new red paint and markings, signals improvements, pedestrian safety and clearer signage. These bus lanes will benefit an additional 200,000 bus riders daily and include projects on 1st and 2nd Avenues, Battery Place and Avenues A and D (Manhattan), Merrick Blvd (Queens), and Hylan Blvd (Staten Island). In total, DOT will this year create 11.5 miles of new lanes and 16.3 miles of improved lanes.
Signal Priority: In line with the Better Buses Action Plan, DOT will activate technology to give priority to buses at over 300 locations, ensuring that buses are waiting at fewer red lights.
MTA Coordination: DOT will continue to work with the MTA on including bus priority in their essential Borough Network Redesign work as that process works forward and encourage MTA to implement all-door boarding on all bus routes, now that OMNY contactless payment has been installed system-wide.
DOT plans to build a record 30 miles of protected bike lanes in 2021, including:
- “Return to Manhattan”
- East 61st and 62nd Street, Manhattan/Northern Blvd, Queens: Connecting midtown to the Queensboro Bridge and the 34th Ave Open Street in Jackson Heights
- 7th Avenue – Connecting Central Park to midtown
- Varick Street/West Broadway/Church Street/6th Avenue and Centre Street: Connecting Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan to Tribeca and Chinatown
- Bike Boulevards
Bike Boulevards slow vehicular speeds and limit volumes to create low-stress bike infrastructure in a pedestrian-friendly environment.
The planned boulevards will include a portion of:
- 21st Street (South Slope, Brooklyn)
- 39th Avenue (Sunnyside, Queens)
- Jackson Avenue (Mott Haven, Bronx)
- University Place (Greenwich Village)
- Netherland Avenue (Mariners Harbor, Staten Island)
In coming weeks, DOT borough commissioners and planners will present proposed plans to elected officials and community boards, with the expectation that they will be completed this year.
“A recovery for all of us means reducing our dependence on fossil fuels while deepening Vision Zero,” de Blasio said.
