Big changes coming to Flatbush Avenue: New bus lanes aim to speed up commutes, improve safety
The project, led by the New York City Department of Transportation, will add center-running “bus only” lanes and concrete boarding islands so riders can get on and off more safely—almost like a train platform.
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Work is starting this week on a major redesign of Flatbush Avenue that city officials say will make bus rides faster and the street safer.
The project, led by the New York City Department of Transportation, will add center-running “bus only” lanes and concrete boarding islands so riders can get on and off more safely—almost like a train platform.
Flatbush Avenue is one of Brooklyn’s busiest corridors, with about 132,000 people riding buses here every day. But right now, buses often move at less than 4 mph during rush hour—slower than walking.
DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez says the redesign will change that. “This project will make bus trips faster and more reliable for commuters and includes new intersection safety upgrades,” he said.
The redesign also comes with a safety push. Flatbush is considered a Vision Zero Priority Corridor—one of the most dangerous in Brooklyn. Over the past five years, 140 people have been killed or seriously injured along this stretch. Officials say more pedestrian space and safety upgrades will help bring those numbers down.
The first section of the project—between Livingston Street and State Street—is expected to be finished in the next couple of weeks. The full redesign is set to wrap up in 2026.
City leaders and transit advocates say the new setup will help thousands of riders who depend on the B41 and other routes along Flatbush every day.
