We will facilitate access to subways and bus stops citywide
Every transit trip requires the passenger to get to the subway station or bus stop. But in many cases across the city, that can be almost as difficult as the journey itself.

Three main challenges prevent transit stops from being used to their full capacity: subway stations where the sidewalks are congested; bus stops where riders have to wait in the street under elevated rail structures; and bus stops along city streets that lack sidewalks. By making it easier for people to reach and use our existing transit system, we can encourage a broader mode shift in every borough.

All over New York are sites that require simple improvements to make existing transit options more accessible. For example, in the burgeoning neighborhood of Williamsburg, commuters increasingly ride bicycles to the L train. Today the line of bikes at the Bedford Avenue subway station stretches down the block, spilling across the narrow sidewalk. To relieve this condition, we will remove parking spaces, expand the sidewalk, and install more bicycle racks.

After evaluating all 468 subway stations, we have identified 24 areas in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx that are not yet equipped to handle the rise in sidewalk congestion. These sites were selected in 2000, and work is underway to complete all of them by 2019.

In 42 other sites across the city, bus stops are tucked under elevated structures near subway stops. The columns interfere with traffic patterns especially when combined with high volumes of pedestrians. Buses cannot weave through the columns to reach the curb, which forces waiting riders to step into traffic to see if a bus is approaching. When the bus arrives, boarding frequently takes place on the street. To date, we have built raised islands that serve as bus stops at four locations. By 2021, we will complete work at all 42 locations. These upgrades can also include sidewalk extensions to make it easier to get to the stop.

In other cases, there is no sidewalk to the bus at all. For example, at Staten Island's Hylan Boulevard and Fairlawn Avenue, dozens of adults and school children need to cross the road daily to walk to school, work, or the bus stop, but there is no sidewalk along the eastern side of the road leading to the crosswalk or the bus stop.

The Sidewalks to Buses initiative focuses on providing sidewalks, crosswalks, bus waiting areas, and other pedestrian safety improvements to improve access at these locations. Priority will be given to areas where pedestrians are exposed to high-speed or high-volume traffic on their way to and from bus stops. On average, each location will require a quarter mile of sidewalk to provide a safe route. We plan to complete work at up to 15 different stops each year.

Progress (as of 4/22/08):
DOT completed the redesign of three bus stops located under an elevated subway line (El), including stops at 20th Avenue and 86th Street in Brooklyn and at 231st and 238th Streets at Broadway in the Bronx. DOT also implemented an improved interface between the subway station and the surrounding sidewalks (Subway/Sidewalk Interface or SSI) at Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. A new sidewalk was also added along Mosholu Parkway in the Bronx as part of the Sidewalks to Buses program. By June 2008, the City will complete the 40th Street SSI project and will begin survey and design work on additional access projects. DOT is investigating various sidewalk options for a pilot location along Hylan Boulevard in State Island, including rubber sidewalk and curb line changes in conjunction with BRT.