Thousands of New York City bus riders can expect new bus lanes on one of the busiest crosstown bus routes in Manhattan in the coming months, city transportation officials said on Monday.
Officials said the redesign on 96th Street, stretching between West End and second avenues, is set to be completed later this year. Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said the new bus lanes “will reduce wait times and improve service for 15,500 weekday riders” who rely on the M96 and M106 routes.
“These improvements will make commutes faster, more reliable, and safer for everyone,” he said.
While city officials and transit advocates are applauding the project, not everyone has been on board since plans were announced earlier this year. A group of Upper West Side residents and City Councilmember Gale Brewer earlier this month held a rally expressing concerns about losing curb space and requesting alternative solutions to speed up bus service.
A DOT spokesperson pushed back on such concerns, saying the anticipated improvements would reduce congestion — not increase it — while retaining curb access for residents and delivery vehicles. The vast majority of residents in the area rely on transit, with 68% of households commuting to work via public transit, walking or biking, according to the agency.
A similar offset bus lane on Lexington Avenue increased bus speeds by up to 19%, spokesperson Anna Correa said.
The complete redesign on 96th Street will include new dedicated bus lanes, left-turn bays and treatments that will slow down drivers. Once completed, the project will add 1.7 miles of bus lanes on the Upper East and Upper West sides.
The city will construct an offset or curbside bus lane in each direction between West End Avenue and Central Park West, and between Madison and second avenues, according to the DOT.
With the exception of the eastbound curbside lane between Lexington and Third avenues, the bus lanes will operate 24/7. That curbside lane segment will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.
Transportation officials also plan to lengthen bus stops and install daytime loading zones for deliveries and service workers.