Major 116th Street Overhaul Breaks Ground In Harlem

HARLEM, NY — A major overhaul of 116th Street is officially underway, with new bus and bike lanes, pedestrian space and safety upgrades planned for one of Harlem's busiest crosstown corridors.

Construction has begun on the redesign, which will add 2.5 miles of new bus lanes along 116th Street and is expected to speed up commutes for more than 65,000 daily bus riders across 10 routes, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city Department of Transportation said Monday.

In some sections of 116th Street, buses currently crawl along at less than 4 mph — nearly as slow as walking, according to the city.

"When your bus is moving slower than you can walk, something isn't working," Mamdani said. "New Yorkers should spend less time in traffic and more time with their families and enjoying the city."

The project will add a mix of offset and curbside bus lanes, along with "queue jumps," or dedicated traffic signals that allow buses to get a green light before other vehicles.

The redesign will particularly benefit riders of the M116, one of Manhattan's slowest bus routes. The M3, M7, M102, BxM1, BxM6, BxM7, BxM8, BxM9 and BxM11 will also benefit from the changes.

The 116th Street corridor provides connections to the 2, 3, 6, B and C subway lines, as well as the future Second Avenue Subway Q train.

The project isn't limited to buses.

DOT plans to add protected bike lanes on Pleasant Avenue between East 120th and East 116th streets, connecting cyclists to existing lanes serving Randall's Island and the Harlem River waterfront.

The overhaul will also create 35,000 square feet of new pedestrian space and add three midblock crosswalks, new traffic signals, pedestrian median islands, a speed hump, on-street bike parking and other street safety improvements.

A DOT Art mural is also planned for the intersection of East 120th Street and Pleasant Avenue.

"When buses are fast, it means getting to work on time, making it to an important doctor's appointment and simply more time with family and friends," DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn said.

Construction is expected to continue through fall 2026. The city is encouraging drivers to use alternative routes, take public transportation or allow extra travel time while work is underway.

For questions, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.