Bus Lanes Will Be Extended Along Madison Avenue, Improving Speed & Reliability For Roughly 92,000 Daily Riders

Madison Avenue is one of Manhattan’s most congested corridors –and the nearly 100,000 daily straphangers who rely on the buses along this route to get around NYC can attest to that. Thankfully, NYC transportation officials are moving forward with a plan to redesign the avenue, giving buses the dedicated driving space they so desperately need. NYC Deputy Mayor of Operations Julia Kerson and NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn announced on January 11, 2026 the agency will complete a stalled street redesign on Manhattan’s Madison Avenue. As it stands now, Madison Avenue features two bus lanes, two travel lanes, and one parking lane from 60th Street to 42nd Street, serving 34 local and express bus routes. The issue lies within the fact that buses driving along this route have no dedicated space to do so –though 55% of people making their way down this street are doing so via the bus. And with data showing that straphangers along this road often get stuck traveling as slow as 4.5 mph –nearly half the citywide average bus speed of 8.1 mph–the route is in major need of an overhaul. Under the plan, officials will extend double bus lanes south from 42nd Street south to 23rd Street by the end of the year, which are “key to getting buses through traffic and keeping riders moving,” as stated by NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow. And we’ve already seen firsthand how double bus lanes can significantly improve the rider experience–after they were installed on the neighboring Fifth Avenue, local bus speeds improved between six and 12 percent, and express bus speeds improved between 11 and 20 percent. The project will make buses along this route–the M1, M2, M3, M4, and Q32–faster and more reliable for the 92,000 straphangers that hop aboard each day. The redesign will also support NYC’s congestion pricing program by making it easier to commute to Manhattan without a car. The announcement follows the Mamdani administration’s recent moves to revive critical street redesign projects on McGuinness Boulevard in Brooklyn and 31st Street in Queens. It also shows Mamdani is making good on his word to provide New Yorkers with faster bus service. Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson stated: > The Mamdani Administration is serious about keeping this city moving. Installing new bus lanes on Southern Madison Avenue will speed up commutes for nearly 100,000 riders a day. That saves New Yorkers time, money, and headaches. Source: https://secretnyc.co/bus-lanes-extended-along-madison-avenue/