New York City implements busway plans in Brooklyn and the Bronx

Mayor Zohran Mamdani is implementing new transit initiatives across New York City to improve bus speeds and reliability. Under the city’s ‘Next Stop Plan,’ a joint program between the MTA and the Department of Transportation aims to increase bus speeds by up to 20 percent across 50 priority corridors.

In Brooklyn, the plan will initially focus on Flatbush, Church, and Utica Avenues. These corridors serve high volumes of riders, including many essential workers and low-income commuters, with some buses currently moving as slowly as two miles per hour due to congestion.

In the Bronx, the administration is moving forward with a busway project on East Tremont Avenue. Starting September 19, cars will be largely banned from sections of the six-mile corridor between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., though large trucks, emergency vehicles, and access-a-ride vans will be permitted. While City Hall claims the move will make the Bx36 bus service faster, local motorists and business owners have expressed opposition, citing concerns over potential economic losses and increased difficulty for drivers.