NYC Gets 14th Street Busway Upgrade

The 14th Street busway pilot launched in October 2019, initially as a temporary measure to mitigate the anticipated L-train shutdown. Despite legal challenges from some community groups who feared increased traffic on side streets, the project was allowed to proceed. Early data showed immediate and significant improvements, with bus speeds increasing by as much as 24% and weekday ridership jumping by 17-30%. This success led to the busway being made a permanent fixture in June 2020, serving as a model for similar projects on other major city corridors. The original restrictions, which are still in effect, limit through traffic to buses, trucks, and emergency vehicles between 3rd and 9th Avenues from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. This policy transformed one of the city's slowest bus routes, the M14, and fears of crippling traffic on adjacent streets proved to be largely unfounded. Now, a more permanent, concrete transformation is underway, moving beyond the initial paint-and-camera enforcement. A $3 million, two-year study is being conducted by the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop a full redesign of the corridor from Avenue B to the Hudson River. The plan, a public-private partnership with groups like the Union Square Partnership and the Meatpacking District Management Association, will use $9.5 million in secured funding for capital improvements. These upgrades are set to include expanded pedestrian plazas, safer bus boarding islands, and protected bike lanes. Public outreach for this new phase is beginning in March 2026, with the first public meeting scheduled for March 25th at Pratt Institute's Manhattan campus. This community feedback will shape the final design of the streetscape.