Zohran Mamdani bets on buses to fix one of Manhattan’s most congested corridors

NEW YORK, United States (MNTV) – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has moved forward with a plan to redesign 34th Street in Manhattan, reviving a dedicated busway project that had previously been stalled amid federal objections during the Trump administration.

The proposal establishes a one-mile corridor between Third and Ninth Avenues where lanes would be reserved primarily for buses, emergency vehicles, and delivery trucks during peak hours. City officials argue the redesign will improve transit efficiency along one of Manhattan’s most congested routes, which serves more than 28,000 bus riders daily and includes the heavily used M34 crosstown line.

The project had been paused under the previous city administration after federal transportation officials raised concerns about restricting access for freight traffic and emergency services. The Federal Highway Administration had warned that 34th Street’s designation as part of the national highway system required federal review, and indicated that funding could be at risk if the city proceeded without addressing those concerns.

City officials say they are now re-engaging with federal authorities and incorporating the project into formal transportation planning documents in an effort to secure approval and avoid a funding dispute. They maintain that the design itself is unchanged and will proceed with public outreach and infrastructure installation beginning this summer, with completion targeted for fall.

Supporters of the busway argue that it addresses a structural failure in New York’s surface transit system, where average bus speeds citywide sit at roughly eight miles per hour — and even lower on the M34 corridor. They point to the earlier 14th Street busway redesign, where reported outcomes included faster travel times and reduced collision rates, as a proof of concept.

The Mamdani administration frames the project as part of a broader commitment to faster and more reliable bus service, including a campaign pledge for “fast and free” transit. Officials argue that reducing congestion on key corridors will benefit not only riders but also freight movement, by rationalising curb access and reducing bottlenecks.

Opponents warn that restricting general traffic could shift congestion onto adjacent streets and disrupt commercial flow in Midtown Manhattan — a tension that has characterised busway debates across the city. Despite earlier federal resistance, some trucking industry representatives have recently expressed support, arguing that improved traffic organisation could enhance delivery reliability over time.

The approval of the 34th Street busway may also influence other pending street redesigns across the city, including proposals in the Bronx that had been delayed due to similar federal highway classification concerns.