Fast Buses: NYC DOT Begins Reconstruction of Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn With New Bus Lanes, Safety Upgrades

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2025
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Fast Buses: NYC DOT Begins Reconstruction of Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn With New Bus Lanes, Safety Upgrades

Project will speed up bus service by adding physically protected, center-running bus lanes from Livingston Street to Grand Army Plaza

Drivers are encouraged to use alternative routes, take mass transit or allow additional travel time during construction

Rendering of the future design of Flatbush Avenue and Fourth Avenue following Flatbush's 2026 redesign. Credit: NYC DOT

NEW YORK - New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today announced construction has started on a major redesign of Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn that will speed up bus service and improve street safety. The redesign features new center-running bus lanes and other upgrades that will improve service for 132,000 daily bus riders and enhance safety for everyone traveling on the corridor.

"Today we begin a major project to deliver faster buses and safer streets on Brooklyn's Flatbush Avenue," said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. "This redesign will help change the look and feel of the street, transforming it from a highway-like roadway into more of a neighborhood street that finally puts people first."

"Faster, more reliable service and a safer Flatbush Avenue for all - that's what this project delivers," said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. "We're working with NYCDOT to bring the same improvements to key corridors across the City."

Construction is expected to continue into fall 2026. Drivers are encouraged to use alternative routes, take mass transit or allow additional travel time.

Bus speeds on Flatbush are as slow as four miles per hour. The redesign follows extensive public outreach and will serve the B41, one of Brooklyn's busiest bus routes, as well as the B67, B69, B63, B45 and B103. NYC DOT began the redesign last fall, adding center-running bus lanes to the northern-most streets along the corridor, from Livingston to State streets.

NYC DOT has seen similar designs deliver strong results. On 161st Street in the Bronx, bus speeds increased by up to 43%. On Edward L. Grant Highway, pedestrian and cycling injuries decreased by 29%, with total injuries down 17%.

The Flatbush Avenue project will also include dedicated loading zones, safety improvements and 29,000 square feet of new pedestrian space through concrete bus boarding islands and painted curb extensions at intersections.

NYC DOT will complete the project in four phases, while maintaining general vehicle access. Work has begun with the removal of two concrete pedestrian islands, followed by reconstruction of each half of the avenue to preserve two-way traffic on one side at all times.

• Phase 1: Removal of two concrete islands at Flatbush Avenue and Atlantic Avenue.
• Phase 2: Reconstruction of one side, including removal of existing roadway markings, installation of concrete elements and the addition of temporary markings, bus stops and reroutes.
• Phase 3: Reconstruction of the opposite side.
• Phase 4: Installation of final markings, signage, signals and street elements, including bike corrals and flexible posts.

Flatbush Avenue is one of several impactful bus projects the Mamdani administration is undertaking in 2026 to make buses faster and more reliable for New Yorkers. The agency has either already broken ground or will soon break ground on new bus lanes on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, benefitting 92,000 daily local and express bus riders; on Fordham Road in the Bronx, benefitting 130,000 daily riders; on 161st Street in the Bronx, benefitting 25,000 daily riders, with much more to come this year.

"The Flatbush Avenue project, led by the incredible people at the New York City Department of Transportation, is so exciting for the Brooklyn community. Over 100,000 New Yorkers ride the buses on Flatbush Avenue daily, but slow speeds can really harm commute times," said Congressman Dan Goldman. "This project will not only vastly improve bus speeds, but also increase public safety. Every great city depends on safe and effective public transportation, and in the greatest city in the world, I'm thrilled we're taking the steps to improve ours."

"Flatbush Avenue is the thread that stitches together so much of Brooklyn, but its outdated design means it often serves as a barrier instead of a connector. Our communities deserve better," said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. "This redesign is an opportunity to offer faster, more reliable service to bus riders, and to make this street safer and better for everyone who uses it. Today, we take a step toward transforming Flatbush Avenue from a traffic-clogged nightmare into a transportation dream: a street that works for all New Yorkers. Thanks to the Mayor and NYCDOT for moving quickly to make this important idea into reality."

"It's great to see DOT breaking ground on this important project. I applaud Mayor Mamdani and Commissioner Flynn for their commitment to making our buses faster and more reliable," said Assemblymember Robert Carroll. "I have long advocated for measures to make our streets safer for everyone and to ensure that the MTA has the funding it needs to maintain and improve our public transportation system. This work will both improve bus service and improve street safety along the vital Flatbush Avenue corridor."

"For the more than 130,000 New Yorkers who rely on Flatbush Avenue every day, today's groundbreaking is a major step toward faster, more reliable bus service and safer streets," said Council Member Shahana Hanif. "Brooklyn's first-ever center-running bus lane is a transformative investment in transit riders, especially those of us who cannot use our inaccessible subways. This project is the result of years of advocacy from riders and community members. I'm proud to celebrate this milestone and will stay closely engaged throughout construction to keep my constituents informed."

"Every day, tens of thousands of Brooklynites rely on Flatbush Avenue to get where they need to go. They deserve better than buses that sit in traffic and run behind schedule," said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. "I'm grateful to DOT for investing in a project that puts riders first, and excited to see Brooklyn build on this momentum. The Flatbush Avenue Bus Priority Project is a step in the right direction-now it's time to keep pushing to make borough-wide bus rapid transit a reality."

"Flatbush bus riders fought for and won transformative improvements along the slowest stretch of the spine of Brooklyn," said Riders Alliance Senior Organizer Jolyse Race. "This project marks a major step forward in the fight for better buses, replacing business-as-usual with the kind of robust infrastructure riders deserve. It will speed up service, improve transit access, and make crossing Flatbush Avenue safer for everyone. We applaud the Mamdani administration for moving ahead on Flatbush and we are eager for what's to come."

"Brooklynites deserves fast and reliable bus service, and we're thrilled that DOT's Flatbush Avenue redesign is breaking ground today," said Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Ben Furnas. 'This project is a great example of bus improvements and street safety going together: it will improve the commutes of 132,000 daily riders and also create 29,000 square feet of new pedestrian space on the corridor - that's a lot more room for New Yorkers, whether they're hopping on the bus or just walking down Flatbush!"

"RPA is thrilled to support the kickoff of construction on center-running bus lanes along Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn to protect the boarding riders, preserve two-way traffic flows during construction, and crucially, speed up bus service for more than 130,000 daily riders," said Regional Plan Association (RPA) Executive Vice President Kate Slevin. "We applaud NYC DOT Commissioner Flynn and Mayor Mamdani for advancing this long-needed project. As champions of better transit, RPA looks forward to supporting bus projects in all five boroughs that showcase high quality, fast and reliable service."

"We've supported the Flatbush redesign since its earliest iterations and through the plans now becoming reality," said Brooklyn Community Board 6 District Manager Mike Racioppo. "Flatbush is too important a corridor to keep limping along at bus speeds that can barely beat walking. This is a great step toward faster, more reliable service and a corridor that works for people that rely on it."

"Today's groundbreaking marks a watershed moment for tens of thousands of New Yorkers who've been made late to work, school, medical appointments, and countless other events because they've been stuck on slow-moving buses on Flatbush Avenue," said StreetsPAC Executive Director Eric McClure. "The new center-running bus lanes and accompanying upgrades getting their start today will mean faster and more reliable services just a few months from now. This vital project underscores the Mamdani administration's commitment to bus riders, and continues progress toward a future when New York City's buses will be on par with the world's best systems."

"These improvements to Flatbush Avenue bus service are a meaningful step toward a safer and more efficient Brooklyn," said Downtown Brooklyn Partnership President Regina Myer. "Downtown Brooklyn is a connective center for the borough, and the Flatbush Avenue bus corridor will get up to speed with the needs of the Brooklyn residents, our neighborhood and its businesses. We applaud DOT's leadership on this initiative and commitment to making transportation in the borough more effective for commuters, residents, and businesses alike."

"The North Flatbush Avenue BID has served this part of Flatbush Avenue for 40 years this year. And we are quite familiar with the slow transit times of the bus routes using Flatbush Ave. We feel for the riders moving at a snail's pace. We are pleased to engage with DOT to enhance our past traffic calming efforts over the years," said James D. Ellis, Executive Director of the North Flatbush BID, and Regina F. Cahill, Board Chair of the North Flatbush BID. "While cautiously optimistic of the outcomes and impacts this project may have, we are encouraged to see dedicated loading zones for business deliveries, additional pedestrian spaces, and public transportation improvements that can benefit community members that choose to shop, dine, work and enjoy the North Flatbush Avenue commercial corridor. We look forward to working with the City and DOT on implementation with the hopes of minimal disruption to our businesses and their continuity. The North Flatbush Avenue BID hopes that this project will be coupled with appropriate enforcement and future additional improvements around the Triangle intersections at 6th Ave, Saint Marks Ave and Bergen St. to increase safety and mobility for our pedestrians using these spaces."