By Gus Saltonstall
Dozens of Upper West Siders gathered Thursday morning at the corner of West 96th Street and Columbus Avenue to show their opposition to the city Department of Transportation’s (DOT) plan for dedicated bus lanes along 96th Street.
Many in attendance were nearby residents of West 96th Street, worried that the bus lanes would increase congestion and make it more challenging to be picked up or dropped off at the curb. But as the opponents gathered, so did another sizable contingent of Upper West Siders, who turned up in support of the proposal.
There was not much interaction between the opposing sides, as supporters of the bus lanes proposal who had caught wind of the press conference, organized by the West 96th Street Neighbors Coalition, decided to also come and watch the event. Those in favor of the new bus lanes did not deliver their own remarks, but some individuals did speak to members of the media.
Last spring, the DOT proposed creating dedicated crosstown bus lanes in each direction on West 96th Street between West End Avenue and First Avenue. One of the two vehicular lanes in each direction would be converted to buses-only traffic, leaving slightly narrower curbside parking lanes and one lane for cars and trucks in each direction, as shown in the graphic below.
Every weekday, 15,500 people use the M96 and M106 buses that travel the 96th Street corridor. The DOT said its plan would improve bus speed along the corridor, which is among the slowest in the city, and limit double parking that often blocks car and truck traffic.
But the proposal has left local residents divided on the issue, as Upper West Siders in the crowd on Thursday morning voiced both sides of the bus lane debate.
Ellen Harvey, one of the speakers at the opponents’ press conference, warned that the plan would complicate access for those living on 96th Street. “The problem is that 96th Street on Columbus and Central Park West are largely residential. Now, with the implementation of buses having cameras and ticketing, it gets much more complicated having access to the front of our buildings.”
“The city is trying to address a problem that does not exist,” Paul Zuckerman, a resident of West 96th Street, told the Rag. “It’s going to change the fundamental nature of this part of the street and most likely add traffic. I guess there might be a problem on the East Side, but I don’t currently see an overcrowding problem here.”
Countering the opposition were other local residents.
“I came to support the bus lane proposal,” said K.C. Rice, who frequently takes the M96 bus to the 92nd Street Y on the East Side. “It [the M96] looks pretty smooth today, but there is usually a lot of double parking that slows the bus down. So I came out to support this idea that will speed it up.”
Upper West Side Councilmember Gale Brewer, who has a long history of being in support of bus lanes, was the lone politician to attend and speak at the press conference.
“In the past, and as Manhattan Borough President, I supported bus lanes at 14th Street, 34th Street, and 181st Street,” Brewer told the press conference. “But as somebody said, every street is different in New York City. And, in this particular case, there are concerns to be had. I think you have to look at alternatives for making the bus go faster.”
Councilmember Shaun Abreu, whose district includes West 96th Street, did not attend the Thursday event but told the Rag in an email that he has heard from constituents on both sides of the bus lane debate. “My primary goal right now is to make sure that there is real community engagement from DOT and that they’re not making implementation decisions without understanding the needs in the neighborhood,” he said. “The people who live on 96th Street should have a serious role in that conversation.”
In an email on Wednesday, a DOT spokesperson indicated the project is moving ahead, and quickly, with work expected to start soon and be completed by the end of this year.
“96th Street is one of the city’s busiest crosstown routes for bus riders, yet at rush hours it can be just as fast to walk as it is to take the bus,” the spokesperson said. “Dedicated bus lanes will make bus service faster and more reliable for more than 15,000 daily bus riders on the corridor.”
Although the project initially was to be funded from the traffic congestion pricing plan suspended recently by Governor Kathy Hochul, the DOT official said it is one of 37 city projects that will go forward despite the suspension.
You can check out the full proposal for the dedicated bus lanes across 96th Street — HERE.
Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here.
“’In the past, and as Manhattan Borough President, I supported bus lanes at 14th Street, 34th Street, and 181st Street,’” —
Gale Brewer
Except 34th Street and 14th Street are highly commercial, whereas 96th Street is residential. And people do park outside their apartment buildings to unload/load.
BTW the MTA has removed bus stops on the 14th and 34th Street routes.
For example, there is no longer an M34 stop at Lexington Avenue, going West.
Unbelievable.
Not only that, but they didn’t even have the decency to remove the bus stop at 34th and Lexington, so when a bus passed us by the one night we were waiting there, we had no idea why.
Ticket double parkers. And make it hurt. None of these sweetheart deals with UPS, Fresh Direct, etc. where they don’t really care. Then traffic will get a lot better. The bus lane is a bad idea.
I have said it before and I will say it again. Incentivize the delivery companies to lease empty storefronts and drop off all the packages overnight when the roads are less crowded, then go the “last mile” with carts and such so they aren’t double parking, blocking hydrants, etc. It is a win-win for everyone.
This is a good idea! I never thought of this.
Hmmmm, something that benefits 15,000 people (including residents) daily, or something that briefly inconveniences a handful of people occasionally. What a hard choice!!
This local resident is 100% in support of the bus lanes, which will REDUCE traffic and speed commutes for thousands.
What on earth makes you think it will reduce traffic? Where will those cars magically go? They will all be squeezed into one lane which will be a parking lot, so no, it’s the total opposite. 96th Street is not just a local street for people who live on it. It’s a major crosstown route. You’re not thinking clearly.
100% agree! This is a handful of people who want to continue to illegally double park & happen to be free on a weekday morning (ie when most UWS residents are on their way to work). I hope Gale gets the perspective of actual bus riders.
Let’s create more congestion!
The bus is free anyway. Give them there own lane
Do you ride the M96? Because this claim is simply untrue. Any bus route has people who don’t pay, but the vast majority of people do seem to pay on the M96.
The only times I usually see more than one or two not pay are when the bus is already crowded before it gets to the 96th St B/C stop going east, and a train has recently arrived. That situation could be helped/fixed by turning the route into an SBS and allowing all-door boarding, like another commenter mentioned.
Reroute the westbound bus to 97th from CPW to Columbus. That will speed it up and allow a bus lane on the eastbound side of 96 without too much inconvenience to commercial deliveries.
Yes to more crosstown options. As a parent, we don’t even consider east side schools for our kids cause it’s impossible to get across town in a timely manner. Since we’ll never be able to expand the subway because of outrageous costs, we need to make the bus network better. Yes to more dedicated bus lanes. Yes to dedicated delivery zones. Yes to ticketing. Yes!
Why doesn’t this route have SBS buses, as we have on 79 and 86?
I think it is because of the sharp turns the busses have to make at 96/97 om Madison….too sharp for the articulated vehicles.
Native West Sider and lifelong bus and subway rider here.
Bus lanes will not help/improve bus transit – and will make traffic generally worse overall.
That means worse for school buses, worse for Access a Ride, worse for emergency vehicles.
Will be really bad for the church, for people who have mobility issues and may need a taxi or Uber, people who need vehicles for medical appointments
The real issues:
Buses are impacted by the speed limit, by red lights, by a route that has turns, the number of riders, bus crowding (number of riders, the presence of walkers, strollers etc) which impacts entry/exit, the mobility of riders, by the number of stops.
Traffic in general is worsened by more high-rise development and the increase in ecommerce delivery as these generate vehicles and of course the increase in the use of Uber.
The real solution would be to increase frequency – that would reduce crowding, would reduce entry/exit time which would make the ride shorter and would make a more pleasant ride.
Note that the MTA has been reducing bus frequency and bus routes throughout NYC.
Moreover, DOT’s traffic changes on the East Side over the past few years – especially around Madison/where many vehicles turn to go north to Mt. Sinai – have made the 96th Street corridor worse.
DOT’s Columbus-Amsterdam BID weekend closed streets (Open Streets) makes buses detour between 106th St & 110th Street, a major transit artery to Mt Sinai Hospital. This corridor is mainly empty with little attendance for any activities.
Maxine DeSeta,
110-111th is designated as an Open Street as well so that folks can have more space for brunch.
Due to the Columbia campus, that means buses actually need to detour to 120th.
Additionally Columbia has closed passthrough access at 116th due to protests.
Besides Mt. Sinai/St. Luke’s there is also the nursing home/rehab on 112th.
Malt has hit the main point of why MTA service is so problematic. There are not enough buses or subways running to handle the crowds. There used to be (I began commuting to elementary school in the 1960s), but finances woes have forced MTA to pay fewer drivers/engineers/conductors (not to mention maintenance workers). Of course, to increase frequency you need more humans running things, which means higher costs.
That’s why we need congestion pricing.
Bob,
Congestion pricing is for capital projects only – subway projects – and would not increase bus frequency.
The quote from the DOT spokesperson regarding bus speeds along the M96 bus route is very misleading in the context of this discussion. Virtually all of the blocks on the M96 route with the slowest M96 bus speeds are on the East Side, a not unexpected result given the commercial nature of much of East 96th Street. By way of contrast, the DOT’s own data shows that average pm rush hour bus speeds on the two West Side residential blocks between Amsterdam and CPW are among the highest on the entire M96 Bus Route (6-8 MPH). In fact, according to DOT’s own data, the Central Park Transverse is the only section of the M96 Bus Route with higher average bus speeds (10-13 MPH). Since DOT’s measurement of bus speeds includes the time the bus is stopped to pick up and unload passengers, it is hardly surprising that a bus’s measured speed is lower when it makes one and sometimes two stops per block. Moreover, the DOT’s data shows that average rush hour vehicle speeds on the two West Side residential blocks (10-13 MPH) exceed average bus speeds. Simply put, traffic is not slowing down the M96 bus on the two West Side residential blocks, even in rush hour. If the DOT is serious about addressing bus speeds on these blocks, it should look for ways to shorten the loading and unloading process, something dedicated bus lanes do not in any way address.
City DOT claims to care about MTA bus transit and bus riders – yet has allowed Open Streets on bus routes like Columbus and Amsterdam and other places forcing bus detours.
The City does not hesitate to close streets for marathons or street “fairs” or an ever increasing number of parades which also force bus detours.
The hypocrisy is mind-boggling
And, they care little for people waiting in the rain and snow. Most bus stops do not have shelters.
This weekend, yet another “race” – this one on Fifth Avenue by the Metropolitan.
That means detours (to Lexington) of buses going down Fifth.
The City has zero interest in bus riders and bus transit.
There is a simple way for buses to travel faster without disrupting life for residents. A state law that requires all non-emergency vehicles to give the right-of-way to buses when leaving a bus stop. At least two states already have that law.
I Would be a much bigger supporter of these bus lanes if the city increased its care for residents on the streets where they are deploying the buses. For example, Sweden installs metal toilets in many of the ground level apartments on streets that are major bus arteries so that the stream of bus users needing to use ground floor apartments bathrooms does not damage their infrastructure. Where is my metal toilet NYC?
??
?
The residents who are asking for a rethink on this plan are not asking the DOT to scrap the bus lane along the entire route! Of course bus lanes can be an effective tool for the DOT where there is traffic build up. But there are streets along the west side of the M96 route that have no traffic back up, even at rush hour, so the bus lanes will have no added benefit on those streets. These streets are exclusively residential streets, meaning the addition of the bus lane will block access to people’s homes. It will become illegal to pull in front of these apartment buildings to load into or unload from a taxi or a car. Consider the impact of not being able to legally pull in front of your home if you are elderly with a walker, a family with small children and strollers, any one with a trunk load of stuff. The DOT can install the bus lanes along the route without having it on every street. That’s all that is being asked.
For a street to have a bus lane (or bike lane), it has to have at least two or three additional traffic lanes, depending on whether or not it is a major artery. I can’t think of a single crosstown street that is wide enough for this. Only the avenues. And they’re not wide enough to give up two lanes. Also consider that buses get stuck behind each other when one is stopped. Perhaps the real issue is false expectations. A dedicated bus lane will only be slightly faster, if at all, if the buses are to run frequently enough.
I am a parent of small children and while I would love to be able to always legally pull in front of my destination/home, I realize it is a privilege, not a right. Walking half a block to my building (even with a double stroller) is perfectly doable.
A bus lane on the West 96th street is a no brainer. So is the point about creating several *loading only* bays along the West 96th street (with strict enforcement). Obviously, those loading bays should replace parking spaces.
The reality is there is too much street parking in Manhattan that only benefits a small percentage of the population. This approach is not sustainable in the long run. Re disabled people – there is a very valid argument for creating “blue badge only” parking spaces on each block. The rest of us may have to forgo our beloved street parking but it may be the only alternative for a densely populated borough like Manhattan.
This supposed small percentage of car owners are still New Yorkers who pay the same taxes and high rents as everyone else and deserve consideration of their needs. The city has done practically everything that it can to make Manhattan inhospitable to cars. Dedicated bus lanes, open streets, congestion pricing (when it inevitably gets implemented). Additionally we have seen miles of street parking removed to make way for Citibikes, with more spots to be removed for subway elevators and curb extensions. There is NOT enough street parking, a fact proven by the frequent price increases in all of the underground garages in the area.
Owning a car in a densely populated borough is a luxury, not a right. Yes, the government should consider needs of all taxpayers/stakeholders (pedestrians, cyclists, users of public transports, car owners, etc) and decide on priorities. It is impossible to keep everyone happy and some groups will end up disadvantaged for the benefit of broader community and more vulnerable population.
NYC is overrun by cars. There is too much street parking and not enough space for pedestrians, traffic safety measures (islands, extended curbs), loading / offloading zones/etc. The direction of travel is pretty clear – many other major cities (e.g. Paris, London, etc) have already drastically reduced off street parking. These measures are never popular in the short run but once people experience life in cities with fewer cars and highly effective public transportation, they do not want to go back. NYC will get there as well – it is only a question of time.
PS: Yes, disabled people will need access to cars and yes, they should get dedicated parking spaces (that should not be part of the general off street parking “pool”).
It’s not at all a privilege. One car may serve many more people than just its driver. It might serve someone who commutes at odd hours. Someone who provides transportation or service to others.
Beata,
I personally don’t drive.
But just as an FY many people who park on the street are actually area workers with long commutes in as they can’t afford to live here.
For example, building staff, night shift workers etc..
96th street has got 2 subway station and is serviced by multiple express and local lines. Being able to drive all the way here is also a luxury.
Every big city has got people commuting from suburbs to the city center. Only in NYC people expect to be able to park *right next to their place of work*.
I used to live outside of the city and my commute was driving to the nearest transit point + train + a 12 minute brisk walk. Most able-bodied people are perfectly capable of doing that.
A separate point is that very obviously we need more housing/affordable housing in Manhattan but there is a significant overlap between groups opposing bus lanes and those who block large-scale housing projects.
I grew up in Queens and there are many areas that are mass transit nightmares — no subway access, limited bus service (if you want to take buses), etc.
So, in your example we would have people in one neighborhood drive to another neighborhood to pick up viable mass transit options. Isn’t that essentially moving a congestion/parking problem from one place to another?
BTW over the past few years. City DOT has been expanding (doubling in size in some instances) some bus stop demarcations (extending the yellow line and moving the sign/pole) even extending beyond neighboring building entrances.
That means the building entrances are now in a bus stop…..
A few of many examples: 72nd and West End (southbound), 79th Street and York Avenue (westbound)
And before the Parker building was finished the bus stop was next to a construction zone for 2 (?) years. Bad planning all around.
caly,
The Parker building seems to me a good example of how City zoning increases congestion.
Personally I appreciate that the building has some affordable housing.
But residential buildings generate traffic (service, delivery etc)
And especially on 96th – there is an impact with two new residential buildings (replacing low-rise buildings) also near exiting West Side Highway traffic.
I hate to be a buzz kill but this doesn’t make much sense. Yes, the buses move too slowly on 96th street but in my experience the issue is crossing Central Park (both directions) and on the east side. The west side moves relatively quickly all things considered. Seems to me the best way to improve service on both sides is to enforce the double parking rules so the 3 lane road doesn’t become 1 lane.
Send a brigade of ticket issuers to the entire neighborhood and ticket each and every car that is double parked for a week, even those that are taking a nap while waiting out alternate side parking, that will free up so much room to improve traffic.
Businesses would rather pay tickets than change operations. It didn’t impact UPS at all, it just raises the cost of shipping. But providing them with specific loading zones, perhaps two or three per block does have a positive impact.
Eh, I wouldn’t ticket the folks waiting out ASP… the alternative to that is them driving in circles for 90 minutes until it ends. I’d rather them double park for 90 minutes than be driving on the street.
Really, ASP should end once the street sweeper comes by. It’s so silly to have people double park (or even just run their engines) after the street has been cleaned.
Traffic will be a nightmare and backed up for miles.
Street parking car owner here and I drive this route a lot. The real issue is all the double parking delivery trucks. Taking away some street parking to create dedicated loading zones, and ticketing cars that idle in these zones as well as trucks that do not use the loading zones, will solve this issue. Also doesn’t cost much, but we know the city loves an expensive overhaul that will take years to complete, cost tax payers millions, and put big bucks in the pockets of their contractor friends.
I live & take the 96th street bus this is a residential area very different than the other mentioned commercial routes . Its primarily residential Columbus to CPW. You have families &disabled people who need access to their homes front doors MID BLOCK from a car you cant displace them from their front door access to create an express lane . Well you could – but it would be heartless. The reality is the issue I see is on EAST SIDE not WEST side you have two different lines at the same bus stop that go 2 different routes EAST . Perhaps the M106 goes across a different street than 96th perhaps 110th ? M106 at 96th for years creates chaos even the transit app thinks its the M96. Move it to a different x st. logistically before you displace and ticket disabled & little kids who get dropped off mid block . It will create a hardship on the actual people who reside on the block who need mid block access without fear of being ticketed .
Please do not use “families” in your argument.
Parents of young children need access to the curb. No, this access doesn’t need to be right in front of my building. Once my kids are in their double stroller, I (along with the vast majority of parents) are perfectly capable of walking for 1/2 of a block (especially if means I get a more reliable bus service). Hey, I am even ready to walk the whole block as a trade off.
That doesn’t mean others can.
A bus lane will surely be respected by all who use the road, successfully fulfilling its intended purpose.
Oy. I am very much against it in this very residential street. The slowdown is almost always because of DOUBLE PARKING, not because of the bus per se. The city should crack down on DOUBLE PARKING with DOUBLE PENALTIES (and if need be, designate limited-time daytime parking for delivery trucks in a couple of spots in every block), not penalize everyone by leaving only one traffic lane in each direction … and making access to parking, drop-off, and pickup so much harder … oy …
Traffic is already impossible heading to and exiting off the West Side Highway. If there is only one lane the congestion would be overwhelming. The traffic cops stand at Broadway and do nothing, it’s a sad state of affairs.
The assumption is that private property, i.e., cars, belong on public property, i.e. the streets, for free. Get your cars off the streets entirely. Why should anyone be able to use public streets to store their private property? No one seems to address this basic problem.
The city has placed parking meters and ticket issuing cameras almost everywhere and I pay vehicle registration and license fees to the city. Drivers are paying for this privilege.
To summarize some of the best ideas.
1) More buses
2) Right of way laws ( No need to close a lane to cars that 95% of the time don’t have a bus in it. )
3) Incentivize delivery services to rent empty space and do mass delivery at night
4) Take back some free street parking spots ( that should belong to ALL ) and make them loading unloading zones for passenger drop off and small delivery
5) Strict ticket enforcement
Try these for 6 months and see what works
West 96th Street resident for 60 years here.
I am so excited about designated bus lanes on 96th Street. We need less car traffic. I’m sorry for residents w-cars who might find this new policy less convenient- yet we need to make substantive change to save our city. I do not want to continue to live on a loud, polluted highway. Let’s even aspire to make 96th Street vehicle-free!!
And the bike lanes go where?
There is – understandably – concern that buses are slowed by the double-parking of e-commerce delivery trucks.
DOT insists only bus lanes will “speed” buses.(Bus lanes won’t – buses are slow due to riders getting on/off and due to stopping for traffic lights )
How is there no discussion of reducing use of e-commerce? Discouraging pervasive use of e-commerce?
E-commerce is the reason for vehicles
Since my bedroom in right on 96th, pollution is a major issue for me. With only one lane for eastbound traffic, there will be long lines of cars waiting for the light, creating even more pollution.
BUS LANES ARE NEEDED!!! Residents of 96 street will still have a parking lane for pick-up and drop-off, they’re upset because they will no longer have a lane to double park in to pick-up and drop-off which is illegal!!!! They will now have to live like the rest of us!
If there is a problem of slow buses on 96th Street it has nothing to do with lack of bus lanes! Most of those favoring them are not from this area or are members of Trans Alt which is a monied lobby working on behalf of car share and food delivery companies who want all private cars out of New York. Bus lanes are one step closer to their goal. Sara Lind who spoke on camera is a paid employee of Trans Alt which includes Open Plans, Streetsblog and numerous other arms.
There is no problem with crosstown buses on 96th Street on the West Side in our residential area! The only problem we have is sometimes a lack of buses which is due to scheduling leading to a large crowd waiting for the bus and as a result longer times for all those waiting to get on the bus! Select service or more buses would address that. Bus lanes will not!
This solution in search of a problem is really more about installing cross town bike lanes having little to do with bus lanes at all. It comes from the profound influence Trans Alt has on the DOT. Bike lanes will follow bus lanes.
And for those younger who claim it’s not a given to be able to access your building with a taxi without walking blocks I’d say that is preposterous. It’s why you pay high rent, maintenance and taxes. And for your info over 50% of the UWS are seniors who often have mobility issues! How arrogant to tell them to start hiking to their buildings even if in wheelchairs!
The DOT is creating many more problems than they are ever resolving and unnecessarily dividing New Yorkers! Time for a change!
Even low-rise building on the UWS typically have 10-30 units. Even if every single inch on every street was devoted to cars you would still only be able to fit 4-5 cars right in front of a building. It’s just not reasonable to expect every driver to be bale to park in front of their home -this isn’t a leafy suburb.
Instead, make all the parking spots need-tested for people who are actually disabled, don’t just offer them not just for anyone why wants to park. Then add bus and bike lanes for people with better mobility and charge for regular parking to pay for upgrades.
The disinformation about Transalt is just preposterous, and mostly reflect on the people trying to spread it.
My parents were involved in Transportation Alternatives years ago.
They’ve said it was really grassroots in the beginning.
Now it has transformed into a wealthy powerful lobby with various entities and also connections to corporate Uber/Lyft.
Sad
Now that the traffic lane is reduced to a single lane for both incoming and going, where would emergency vehicles go? Expect loud sirens and congestion. Oh, shall we charge congestion fee here, too?
Get rid of the parking lanes. Ta-da! Plenty of room for the buses and cars to drive.
Why not have the bus lanes during rush hours but not otherwise?
Traffic would flow better if people didn’t double park.
This is coming to all buses that run in marked bus lanes
The MTA is cracking down with new automated camera enforcement, or ACE, which uses cameras mounted on buses to capture real-time data of violations. That info is gathered and sent back to the MTA.
If you’re caught blocking a bus lane, a bus stop, or even double parking, expect to get a ticket in the mail.
Solution:
NYC should stop funding the bicycle infrastructure – and instead use that money to contribute more to State MTA and ensure more money for bus transit
Both 86;and 96 buses get stuck crossing the park – nothing to do about that.
Another bad anti-car idea by people with nothing better to do. This is a major thoroughfare.
Perhaps the best solution would be to move the buses to 95th and 97th Streets.
It appears to me that the only way a dedicated bus lane on 96th Street will make traffic flow more efficient is if the police get involved to eliminate double parking. The same is true now as I write. Perhaps we first should leave 96th Street as it is and enforce a ban on double parking and see if that alleviates the traffic flow issues.