The city’s Department of Transportation is all about that new 34th Street life, proposing a busway to make commutes faster, more reliable, and safer for the masses. They’re basically saying, “Hey, let’s be like 14th Street, that was a good time.” The agency is talking about how bus speeds shot up by 24% and crashes dropped by 42% after the 14th Street busway was born. Everyone’s on board for a busway on 34th Street, with all three local community boards giving it a thumbs up.
What’s the deal with this 34th Street busway proposal anyway? Well, it’s going to be like a twin to the 14th Street setup, freeing up space for buses and making traffic safer without causing chaos on nearby streets. The plan is to have a busway stretching from Ninth Avenue to Third Avenue, catering to buses and trucks while still allowing for local pick-ups, drop-offs, and loading needs. Just like on 14th Street, local-access vehicles will have to peace out of the busway at certain intersections to avoid breaking the rules.
On top of all that, the DOT is promising some sweet improvements like more curb space for deliveries and better pedestrian safety measures with painted curb extensions and enhanced visibility at intersections along the corridor. Outside of the busway, the existing bus lanes along 34th Street from 11th Avenue to the FDR Drive will stay put. This will be NYC’s eighth busway and the seventh one since the 14th Street transformation in 2019. The Commissioner of NYC DOT, Ydanis Rodriguez, is all about giving Midtown commuters a top-notch bus experience, taking inspiration from the success of 14th Street and hoping to replicate it on 34th Street. Let’s see how this all plays out, shall we?
