Brooklyn’s Biggest Bus Routes Move Toward Faster Service

BROOKLYN, NY— Brooklyn bus riders will have a chance to weigh in on proposed transit upgrades as the City begins planning improvements for three major bus corridors.

The City launched a community engagement process Wednesday for Flatbush Avenue, Utica Avenue and Church Avenue, which together serve about 150,000 daily riders across 13 bus routes.

The effort will identify short-term bus improvements that could be implemented as early as next year and develop long-term plans for Bus Rapid Transit corridors on all three streets.

“New Yorkers should not lose hours of their lives sitting in traffic on a bus,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said. “These projects will make commutes faster, make our streets safer and return precious time to nearly 200,000 New Yorkers every single day.”

The City plans to complete a full Bus Rapid Transit corridor on Flatbush Avenue by 2030.

Which Brooklyn Bus Routes Are Being Studied?

The City is focusing on three heavily used Central Brooklyn corridors:

• Flatbush Avenue: Construction is already underway on a center-running bus lane between Livingston Street and Grand Army Plaza. The City plans to build a full Bus Rapid Transit corridor by 2030.
• Utica Avenue: Officials are developing plans for future bus-priority improvements.
• Church Avenue: The city is exploring changes to improve speed and reliability.

Buses on these corridors currently travel as slowly as 5 mph in some areas, according to the City.

What Changes Could Riders See?

The proposed improvements could include:

• Dedicated bus lanes.
• Faster boarding areas.
• Upgraded bus stations with seating and shelter.
• Intersection changes to reduce delays.
• More reliable service.

The City reported Bus Rapid Transit projects across New York have increased bus speeds by as much as 60 percent while reducing injuries by up to 45 percent.

How Can Residents Give Feedback?

The City’s outreach process will include:

• An online feedback portal open through October 31.
• Community engagement events beginning August 6.
• Surveys of riders, pedestrians, businesses and community organizations.
• Outreach at local events, including Open Streets programs and block parties.

The Department of Transportation plans to release updated bus-priority proposals this fall after the summer engagement period.

NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn said the city will use community feedback to shape the projects.

“We want New Yorkers to have faith in our outreach, and that starts with actually delivering on projects promised years ago,” Flynn said.