181 Street in Manhattan will have exclusive section for buses

181 Street in northern Manhattan will have a dedicated bus lane beginning April 26, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced.

The stretch of street is part of a major traffic corridor between the east and west of that area of ​​the city.

The long-awaited busway, expected in 2020 and then delayed, will help speed bus traffic through a half-mile section of the highway, which bisects Washington Heights from Fort George, for the roughly 60,000 daily riders. of the route.

At the time, however, when the city’s plan became known, merchants in the area protested, noting that the measure would make parking more difficult for customers.

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Currently, buses in Manhattan and the Bronx on 181st Street travel at an average of 4 mph, depending on the city. The slowness interrupts commuting for passengers transferring to the A and 1 subway lines, and the George Washington Bus Terminal, a major destination for people commuting from New Jersey and between Manhattan and the Bronx.

“Washington Heights deserves faster, safer and more reliable bus transportation. The 181st Street busway will help this iconic neighborhood come back stronger than ever,” de Blasio said in a press release.

The city’s Department of Transportation posted a message on social media informing that the measure will begin in a pilot plan at the end of March and permanently in April.

“Launching on 4/26, the busway will run daily from 6 am to 10 pm from Broadway to Amsterdam Ave Eastbound and Amsterdam Ave to Wadsworth Ave Westbound,” the message noted.

This month, NYC DOT will begin implementing a busway pilot on 181st St in #Manhattan. Launching on 4/26, the busway will be in effect everyday 6AM-10PM from Broadway to Amsterdam Ave eastbound and Amsterdam Ave to Wadsworth Ave westbound. #BetterBuses pic.twitter.com/OUgRb3IvnG

— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) March 19, 2021

The busway will follow a traffic pattern already used on 14th Street in Manhattan, Jay Street in Brooklyn, and Flushing-Main Street in Queens.

Only buses, trucks and emergency vehicles will be allowed to circulate along the road, while cars and other vehicles will have to exit the street to the right at the first opportunity.

The eastbound priority lane will run from Broadway to Amsterdam Avenue – about four blocks – and from Amsterdam Avenue to Wadsworth Avenue westbound, about three blocks.

There will be no bus lane east of Broadway at 181st Street.

Local parking will be allowed, and new cameras along the bus route will issue tickets to bus lane violators for their first 60 days.

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