Mayor Zohran Mamdani is backing a major rebuild of a one-mile stretch of Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn after a series of deadly crashes left neighbors shaken and bus riders fed up. The plan would transform the corridor with center-running bus lanes, concrete boarding islands and more pedestrian space, all meant to slow speeding traffic while giving buses a clear path.
As reported by Gothamist, the redesign targets the section between Fountain and Conduit avenues. The proposal would shift bus lanes from the service road into the center of Linden, keep those lanes off-limits to passenger cars at all hours, create new intersections at Pine and Emerald Streets, and add concrete islands along with wider sidewalks. City officials told Gothamist they expect work on the mile-long segment to wrap up by summer 2027.
What the plan aims to fix
The overhaul would pull buses out of the sluggish service road and give riders raised, concrete boarding islands, which are designed to cut down on conflicts with turning vehicles and shorten crossings for people on foot. The mayor’s office has promoted similar center-running bus lanes with boarding islands as a way to deliver faster, more reliable bus service and boost safety for everyone using the street, according to the Mayor’s Office.
Recent crashes pushed the timeline
Neighborhood frustration over a run of hit-and-runs helped push Linden higher on the city’s to-do list. Two deadly collisions last month, including the March hit-and-run that killed 4-year-old Zachariah Padilla at Rockaway Parkway and Linden Boulevard outside Brookdale University Hospital, galvanized demands for change. CBS New York reported on the child’s death, and Hoodline chronicled other leaving-the-scene crashes along the corridor that have amplified calls for immediate action. The recent violence spurred neighborhood leaders and transit advocates to press the city for capital-level safety upgrades rather than temporary fixes.
A corridor long flagged by DOT
The city’s Department of Transportation has for years flagged parts of Linden Boulevard as a Vision Zero priority, noting especially high rates of fatal and serious crashes along segments of the corridor. NYC DOT data helped shape earlier safety measures, and Transportation Alternatives, quoted in Gothamist, argues that the city should extend robust safety upgrades across the entire six-mile stretch from Flatbush to Ozone Park.
Legal consequences for hit-and-run
New York law treats fleeing a crash as a serious offense. Under Vehicle & Traffic Law §600, a driver who leaves the scene of a collision that results in someone’s death can face a Class D felony charge. The statute and its penalties are detailed by the New York State Senate.
Next steps and timeline
DOT officials say they will finalize design details and conduct additional community outreach before shovels hit the ground. Construction is expected to roll out in stages so bus service can keep moving, with city statements pointing to work across the coming year and an initial phase slated to be completed by summer 2027. Neighbors and advocates are now watching for firm construction dates, details on traffic detours and clear enforcement plans for the new 24-hour bus lanes.
