How Flatbush Avenue’s Redesign Will Change Brooklyn Commutes

BROOKLYN, NY— Construction on a long-awaited redesign of Flatbush Avenue will begin in late April, launching a project city officials say will speed up buses and reshape daily commutes for more than 132,000 riders.

The redesign, led by the New York City Department of Transportation, will install center-running bus lanes along Flatbush Avenue between Livingston Street and Grand Army Plaza.

The corridor serves the B41 and several connecting routes, including the B67, B69, B63, B45 and B103.

Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn said the changes aim to address bus speeds that often rival walking pace.

“It can often be as fast to walk as it is to take a bus on Flatbush Avenue,” Flynn said. “The new Flatbush Avenue offers a bold blueprint to speed up buses and deliver safer streets.”

City data from similar projects show measurable gains.

Bus speeds increased by up to 43 percent on 161st Street in the Bronx, while injuries dropped along corridors redesigned with similar safety features.

The project will also add 29,000 square feet of pedestrian space, along with dedicated loading zones and safety upgrades designed to reduce conflicts between vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.

Construction will unfold in four phases, beginning with the removal of pedestrian islands at Flatbush and Atlantic avenues. Crews will then rebuild each side of the roadway in stages to maintain two-way traffic, before installing final markings, signage and street elements.

Officials expect work to continue through fall 2026.

State Sen. Andrew Gounardes described the corridor as overdue for change.

“Right now, Flatbush Avenue is a dangerous, traffic-clogged nightmare that doesn't work for anyone,” Gounardes said.

Transit advocates say the redesign could reshape how residents move through Brooklyn, where buses remain a primary mode of transportation for tens of thousands of commuters each day.

City officials urged drivers to plan alternate routes or allow extra travel time during construction, while emphasizing that the long-term goal is a faster, safer corridor built around public transit.