Mayor Zohran Mamdani has made a significant move towards speeding up bus trips in New York City, with plans to extend Madison Avenue's dedicated bus lanes from 42nd Street to 23rd Street. The project aims to alleviate congestion on one of Manhattan's busiest corridors, where local buses currently crawl at just 4.5 miles per hour, more than half the citywide average.
According to officials, nearly 92,000 daily riders on local and express routes will benefit from the redesign, with speeds expected to improve significantly. The plan will dedicate two lanes to buses while maintaining one general traffic lane and an alternating parking/travel lane during rush hours, which is said to better reflect how people move through the corridor.
The redesign was initially proposed in 2025 but faced delays under the previous administration. However, officials say they're building on progress made in nearby Fifth Avenue, where local bus speeds increased by up to 12% and express buses were up to 20% faster after similar double bus lanes were added.
Transportation advocates are hailing the decision as a major victory, praising Mayor Mamdani's pledge to make buses faster. "Buses are the silent backbone of this city," said Betsy Plum, executive director of Riders Alliance. "We're excited to see faster buses that give riders back their time."
With the new lanes set to be completed by the end of the year, officials hope it will further complement congestion pricing efforts aimed at reducing traffic on Manhattan streets below 60th Street. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal praised the move as "a perfect marriage," saying it would help alleviate congestion and improve travel times for riders.
As city residents look forward to faster bus trips, it remains to be seen whether this project will live up to its promise and have a lasting impact on traffic in one of Manhattan's most congested areas.
According to officials, nearly 92,000 daily riders on local and express routes will benefit from the redesign, with speeds expected to improve significantly. The plan will dedicate two lanes to buses while maintaining one general traffic lane and an alternating parking/travel lane during rush hours, which is said to better reflect how people move through the corridor.
The redesign was initially proposed in 2025 but faced delays under the previous administration. However, officials say they're building on progress made in nearby Fifth Avenue, where local bus speeds increased by up to 12% and express buses were up to 20% faster after similar double bus lanes were added.
Transportation advocates are hailing the decision as a major victory, praising Mayor Mamdani's pledge to make buses faster. "Buses are the silent backbone of this city," said Betsy Plum, executive director of Riders Alliance. "We're excited to see faster buses that give riders back their time."
With the new lanes set to be completed by the end of the year, officials hope it will further complement congestion pricing efforts aimed at reducing traffic on Manhattan streets below 60th Street. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal praised the move as "a perfect marriage," saying it would help alleviate congestion and improve travel times for riders.
As city residents look forward to faster bus trips, it remains to be seen whether this project will live up to its promise and have a lasting impact on traffic in one of Manhattan's most congested areas.
I'm so stoked about the new plan to speed up buses on Madison Ave! We need more efficient transportation options, especially for people who rely on buses 
. I've had experiences with crawling along that route and it's a nightmare 
. The fact that nearly 92k daily riders will benefit from this change is amazing 
. It's awesome to see the new admin building on progress made in other areas, like Fifth Ave 
. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this project lives up to its promise and makes a real difference for commuters 
... but also kinda not 
... I mean, who doesn't want faster buses? 92,000 daily riders will benefit, which is awesome 
. But what if it causes more traffic elsewhere in the city? Idk 
... and what about the parking/travel lane thing? Some people might not like that 
.
. And hey, if it works out, that'd be great 
... but also really hopeful 
. We need more of these kinds of projects in the city 
!
. I'm all for makin' buses faster, I've been stuck in traffic on madison av for years and it's a nightmare 
I feel like I've been living under a rock! So, yeah, extending the bus lanes is about time. I take the M1/M2 all the time and it's always a joke waiting for the buses 
. I hope these new lanes really do make a difference and actually get those speeds up. 4.5 miles per hour? That's insane 
. And yaaas to making buses faster, more people will use them instead of driving themselves. It's about time someone prioritized public transportation around here 
.
AND IT'S GREAT THAT MAYOR ZOHRAHN MAMDAINI IS ACTUALLY FOLLOWING THROUGH ON HIS PROMISES AFTER THE PROJECT WAS DELAYED BY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION 
TRANSPORTATION ADVOCATES LIKE BETSY PLUM ARE REALLY GOING TO LOVE THIS, ESPECIALLY SINCE BUSES ARE ACTUALLY THE UNSUNG HEROES OF THE CITY 
we should all be supportin the mayor's initiative, it's about makin life easier 4 everyone 
. I mean, we've seen similar projects try to revamp traffic in other parts of the city and it just doesn't seem to stick 
, who's willin' to take on the tough stuff and come up with innovative solutions. I've seen those numbers - 92,000 daily riders gonna benefit? That's huge! And let's not forget about the congestion pricing efforts they're talkin' 'bout