The 34th Street busway in Midtown is moving forward as part of a comprehensive rezoning plan. This development comes after some uncertainty surrounding Mayor Eric Adams' stance, with concerns that his administration was working to derail the project. However, the busway, restricting passenger vehicles to only one block before turning, is back in focus, following the approval by the city council's committees, according to a report published by Gothamist.
Much of the speculation about the 34th Street busway being at risk surfaced after a Streetsblog article suggested the idea was scrapped. In an effort to alleviate the housing crisis and bolster citywide transit infrastructure, the New York City Department of Transportation first proposed the busway in May, aimed at improving bus speeds for thousands of daily riders. Despite the buzz, ADOT officials made no announcement to suspend the program. In a statement obtained by AMNewYork, officials maintained that the project will continue as originally intended.
A part of the initiative includes the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan (MSMX), which Council Member Erik Bottcher underscored as tackling New York's housing crisis "by unlocking over 9,500 new homes in one of the most transit-rich, high-opportunity areas of the city." Bottcher told AMNewYork that the rezoning, along with the busway, is envisioned to reduce rents and create a place where "more families can live, thrive, and build lasting community."
The larger rezoning effort aims to introduce several pedestrian improvements on more than 20 city blocks, including the expansion of sidewalks and more bike lanes. According to Gothamist, Broadway will see even larger transformations with cars being removed from certain blocks to promote a more pedestrian-friendly environment. Despite the progress, transit advocates remain vigilant over Mayor Adams' prior decisions that have not always aligned with transit and pedestrian-oriented projects.
Moving forward, lawmakers and residents alike are awaiting a full council vote scheduled for August 14, which if passed, will solidify the path for the 34th Street busway and the broader ambitions of reshaping Midtown.
