Certain bus routes in Brooklyn could be getting a speedy upgrade, according to newly announced lane proposals from the DOT.
The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) has unveiled a proposal to add dedicated bus lanes along Bay Parkway and portions of Cropsey Avenue, a move designed to improve commutes for roughly 80,000 daily riders traveling between Borough Park and Bath Beach.
🚎 What To Know: Speedier Bus Routes In Brooklyn
Presenting to Brooklyn Community Board 11 earlier this week, the plan targets one of Brooklyn’s busiest transit corridors, serving the B6 and B82 bus routes, the borough’s first– and fourth-busiest bus lines, respectively. According to city officials, buses along parts of the corridor can currently move as slowly as three miles per hour at peak times, which is actually slower than the average walking pace.
If approved, the redesign would introduce a combination of curbside and offset bus lanes along nearly three miles of roadway stretching from Avenue J to Shore Parkway. The proposal is part of a broader citywide effort to make bus travel faster, more reliable, and more appealing for the thousands of New Yorkers who depend on public transportation every day.
But the changes aren’t just about speeding up buses. DOT officials say the project would also bring a variety of safety improvements to the corridor, including new pedestrian islands, curb extensions, accessibility upgrades, designated loading zones, and left-turn lanes at some of the area’s busiest intersections.
The agency notes that 52% of residents living along the corridor rely on public transit to get to work, underscoring the importance of improving service in the neighborhood. And with dozens of serious traffic injuries reported along the route in recent years, officials say the redesign aims to create safer streets for pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and transit riders alike.
The proposal is still in the planning stages, but if it moves forward, commuters traveling through southern Brooklyn could soon see significantly faster and more efficient bus service.
