The bus lanes on Madison Avenue, one of the busiest streets in New York City, will be extended by 19 blocks by the end of this year. This move aligns with Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s commitment to enhance bus service by making it “fast and free,” as announced by the Transportation Secretary on Sunday.
Mike Flynn, who joined the Mamdani administration as a DOT veteran on New Year’s Eve, presented the plan during a press conference alongside Deputy Mayor Julia Carson. The expansion will extend the existing bus lanes from 42nd Street to 23rd Street.
“When Mayor Mamdani asked me to be the transportation commissioner, he really pushed me to make New York City’s streets the envy of the world,” Flynn remarked. “We’ll achieve this by thinking big and moving quickly, focusing on New Yorkers’ daily lives.”
Carson emphasized that making buses “fast and free” is a key priority for Mamdani. She pointed out that Madison Avenue serves approximately 92,000 bus riders each day.
Flynn explained that the configuration of the existing bus lanes—which currently consist of two bus lanes, one general traffic lane, and a flexible parking lane on the street’s eastern side—will remain unchanged in the expansion.
Carson expressed concern over the slow average speed of current bus services, which is around 4 to 5 miles per hour, highlighting how this can affect commuters and their schedules, potentially causing them to miss work or appointments.
She elaborated, “It’s not just frustrating; it can really disrupt lives, from being late for a job to picking up kids from school.”
Carson also noted that their initiative follows a DOT proposal that had been stalled due to “interference” from the previous administration under Mayor Eric Adams. She added that the Mamdani administration is committed to moving forward with this project and anticipates completing it by 2026.
While Flynn couldn’t provide a detailed timeline for the construction, he did mention that the paint application requires “favorable weather conditions” to dry effectively.
“The goal is to complete it this year,” he asserted confidently.
Borough President Brad Will commended the city’s expansion of the central business district around Madison Avenue, emphasizing the need for better public transport in such an essential area for local economies and small businesses.
Neighborhoods along Madison Avenue, such as Murray Hill and NoMad, contribute to its vibrant character. It’s interesting to think that this area is also home to several prominent figures, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
