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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline SEPTEMBER 11, 2026 | The Indian Eye 28

Fast Buses: Mayor Mamdani Breaks Ground on

116th Street Overhaul to get 65,000 Riders Moving

New bus lanes, protected bike lanes and pedestrian safety upgrades will transform a critical Manhattan crosstown corridor

OUR BUREAU
NEW YORK, NY

ayor Zohran Kwame Mam-
dani and New York City
MDepartment of Transpor-
tation (NYC DOT) Commissioner
Mike Flynn have announced that
construction has begun on a major re-
design of 116th Street in Manhattan,
including 2.5 miles of new bus lanes
and street upgrades that will speed
commutes for more than 65,000 daily
bus riders across 10 routes while im-
proving safety for everyone traveling
along the corridor.
In some sections of 116th Street,
buses currently travel at less than 4
mph — slow enough that New York-
ers can walk nearly as fast as they
can ride the bus. The redesign will
change that. The project will add off-
set and curbside bus lanes, dedicated
traffic signals known as queue jumps
that give buses a green light before Rendering of the future design of East 116th Street and Madison Avenue. Credit: NYC DOT
other vehicles at intersections, pro-
tected bike lanes, 35,000 square feet we’re showing New Yorkers that 116th Street is also a critical con- an islands, a speed hump, on-street
of new pedestrian space and critical the City and MTA are serious about nection to the 2, 3, 6, B and C subway bike parking, updated parking reg-
street safety infrastructure. better bus service,” said MTA Chair lines, as well as the future 2nd Ave- ulations to support curb access for
“When your bus is moving slower and CEO Janno Lieber. “Dedicated nue Subway Q train. drivers and deliveries and hardened
than you can walk, something isn’t bus lanes and transit signal priority Protected bike lanes will be in- daylighting.
working,” said Mayor Mamdani. are proven solutions that are going stalled on Pleasant Avenue between A NYC DOT Art mural will also
“New Yorkers should spend less time to make a huge difference for the East 120th and East 116th streets, be installed at the intersection of East
in traffic and more time with their 65,000 riders who travel on 116th creating new connections to existing 120th Street and Pleasant Avenue.
families and enjoying the city. This re- Street every day.” bike lanes serving Randall’s Island Construction is expected to con-
design brings together bus lanes, bike The redesign will benefit riders and the Harlem River waterfront. tinue through fall 2026. Drivers are
lanes, pedestrian space and proven of the M116, one of Manhattan’s NYC DOT will also improve encouraged to use alternative routes,
safety improvements because our slowest bus routes, as well as the safety along the corridor by install- take mass transit or allow additional
streets have to work for the millions M3, M7, M102, BxM1, BxM6, BxM7, ing three new midblock crosswalks, travel time.
of New Yorkers who use them every BxM8, BxM9 and BxM11. new traffic signals, pedestrian medi- 116th Street is one of 50 priori-
day — however they get around.” ty corridors identified for faster bus
“When buses are fast, it means service in Mayor Zohran Mamdani
getting to work on time, making it to and Governor Hochul’s Next Stop:
an important doctor’s appointment Fast Buses, Better Service, a compre-
and simply more time with family hensive City and State plan to make
and friends. Faster bus service mat- buses up to six minutes faster on
ters and we are delivering on May- more than 175 routes across the city.
or Mamdani’s commitment to fast Since January, the Mamdani ad-
buses here on 116th Street,” said ministration has advanced major proj-
NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Fly- ects to speed up buses across the five
nn. “Buses on this corridor are often boroughs, including on Fordham Road,
stuck in traffic with current speeds 161st Street and Tremont Avenue in
almost as low as walking. We look the Bronx; 34th Street, 116th St., Mad-
forward to speeding up buses and ison Avenue and Lexington Avenue
delivering life-saving pedestrian and in Manhattan; Marcy Avenue, Flat-
cycling improvements that will make bush Avenue, Utica Avenue, Church
this critical crosstown connector and Avenue and Linden Boulevard in
surrounding area safer for everyone.” 116th Street redesign project area. Credit: NYC DOT Brooklyn; Victory Boulevard on Stat-
“With every street redesign, en Island; and Broadway in Queens.

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