Midtown area's redevelopment plan includes reviving the 34th Street busway again
The 34th Street busway project, initially proposed to improve bus speeds and safety by prioritizing buses and trucks, has been revived and incorporated as a key component of the larger Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan (MSMX). This rezoning proposal aims to deliver thousands of new homes for the central neighborhood, marking a down payment on the vision of 100,000 new homes across all of Manhattan over the next decade.
The NYC Council's subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises, and the Committee on Land Use, approved the MSMX on Aug. 6, 2025. The plan aims to rezone parts of Midtown South to allow nearly 10,000 new homes, including permanently affordable apartments, along with major infrastructure investments totaling nearly half a billion dollars, including the 34th Street busway.
Council Member Keith Powers believes the MSMX plan will transform transit in the area and looks forward to the full council approving the rezoning. Council Member Erik Bottcher stated that the rezoning, including the busway, will tackle the housing crisis in one of the most transit-centered neighborhoods in the Big Apple.
The proposed busway will extend from 3rd to 9th Avenues and prioritizes buses and trucks, but allows for local access for pick-ups, drop-offs, and loading needs. It is intended to increase bus speeds by as much as 15% for thousands of riders each day.
Public transit advocacy groups and local council members have expressed support for the busway due to its demand in the area. Danny Pearlstein, policy and communications director of the Riders Alliance, expressed support for the busway but emphasized the need for citywide bus improvements. Ben Furnas, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, stated that the plan prioritizes safe, sustainable, and accessible transportation in Midtown.
Mayor Eric Adams confirmed that the 34th Street busway will continue as planned. The busway limits private traffic, allowing only buses, certain trucks, and emergency vehicles to use the corridor. Local-access vehicles will be required to turn off the 34th Street busway at specific intersections to avoid a traffic violation, similar to the 14th Street busway.
The city's Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed converting a stretch of 34th Street into a dedicated busway on May 20, 2025. The busway's revival as part of the MSMX plan highlights its role in supporting the expected residential growth and improving transit reliability in Midtown South. City officials assert that the busway will speed up commutes by limiting private vehicle access and making the corridor safer and less congested, building upon previous successes such as the 14th Street busway where bus speeds increased by 24%, congestion dropped, and crashes decreased by 42%.
The plan also includes pedestrianizing portions of Broadway nearby, aiming to improve overall streetscape quality and transit efficiency. Gov. Kathy Hochul has committed $1 billion for the City of Yes to maximize affordable housing construction citywide, including lifting the State's decades-old limit on housing floor area in New York City.
Sources: 1. The 34th Street Busway Project: A Boost for Transit in Midtown 2. NYC Council Approves Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, Including 34th Street Busway 3. The 34th Street Busway: A Step Towards Safer, More Efficient Transit 4. Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan: A Down Payment on 100,000 New Homes Across Manhattan 5. NYC Council Approves 34th Street Busway as Part of Midtown South Rezoning Plan
- Due to the approval of the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, which includes the 34th Street busway, the transportation sector is expected to receive a significant boost, especially in the realm of finance, as the plan allocates nearly half a billion dollars for major infrastructure investments.
- The rezoning of Midtown South, as outlined in the MSMX plan, will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the local industry, with the construction of nearly 10,000 new homes likely to stimulate growth and development in the real estate sector.
