Work on one of NYC's busiest bus lanes to begin this fall
The New York City Department of Transportation says the goal is to speed up bus times.
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The New York City Department of Transportation says it will be installing new bus lanes along parts of Flatbush Avenue running from Livingston Street to Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn through Downtown Brooklyn, north Park Slope and Prospect Heights starting this fall.
It says changes will include things like centralized bus lanes, curb extensions and more.
The New York City Department of Transportation says the goal is to speed up bus times.
News 12 spoke with commuters like Stephanie Polanco who says she's hopeful for the changes.
"Anything that can make busses go faster, more reliable, and safer? Yes, please bring it," said Polanco.
The New York City Department of Transportation says the goal is to also make the roads safer. They say in the past five years, 140 people have been killed or severely injured along Flatbush Avenue. News 12 spoke with Danny Pearlstein, policy and communications director of Rider's Alliance, who says these changes will not just save time, but save lives.
"Those center running bus lanes will discourage speeding on the street. Speeding is a number one cause of injurious crashes, and it will also give people opportunities to stop midway across the street at those pedestrian islands. So it'll narrow the crossing distances while slowing the flow of traffic going over the speed limit," said Pearlstein.
Pearlstein says surveys that Rider's Alliance has done show late bus times impact people's lives.
"We saw large numbers of people who had lost pay at their jobs, people who had been late to important life events, doctor's appointments, etc., and lots and lots of folks, frankly, that said this would be good for business, right? People who would shop more, who would go out to eat more on Flatbush Avenue if they had a faster bus ride," said Pearlstein.
The New York Department of Transportation says it expects to finish the project in 2026.
