Mayor de Blasio Announces that 14th Street Busway Takes Effect Today

October 3, 2019

With Transit and Truck Priority Pilot beginning this morning at 6am, 14th Street from 9th Avenue to 3rd Avenues is no longer a through route for passenger vehicles; automated camera enforcement begins today with a 60-day warning period

NEW YORK— Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the new regulations governing 14th Street in Manhattan took effect this morning.  As of today, 14th Street from 9th Avenue to 3rd Avenue is now a Transit and Truck Priority (TTP) corridor from 6 A.M. to 10 P.M., seven days a week. Designed to increase bus speeds and increase safety along 14th Street, the TTP pilot will last 18 months.  With the M14 Select Bus Service now fully operational, DOT also announced that bus–lane camera enforcement is also taking effect: a 60-day warning period for those violations begins today.

“The new 14th Street busway is now in effect – and bus riders will finally get moving,” said Mayor de Blasio. “This smart project will speed up buses while allowing for the car drop-offs and deliveries the neighborhood requires. Under our Better Buses plan, we are making changes citywide to fight congestion and to give people faster and more reliable transit.”

“With over 27,000 trips taken on the M14 Select Bus Service each day, DOT and New York City Transit together expect the new busway will create more reliable commutes with shorter travel times,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.  “We will continue to work with the NYPD, elected officials, local merchants, neighborhood residents, drivers and bus riders along 14th Street to monitor and evaluate the new service and make any necessary adjustments.  We fully expect that the new traffic configuration under the TTP pilot will help inform and prepare us for the challenges ahead – including the arrival of congestion pricing.”

“The NYPD will deploy traffic agents and the police officers along the 14th Street Transit and truck priority corridor as well as on the surrounding streets,” said NYPD Chief of Transportation Thomas Chan. “The NYPD will be assisting the commuting public during this pilot project.”

“Transit priority and bus lane enforcement such as our new bus-mounted cameras are critical to speeding up buses and improving service,” said Craig Cipriano, Acting MTA Bus Company President and Senior Vice President for Buses of NYC Transit. “We’re confident that bringing all these historic efforts together on the 14th Street busway will yield tangible benefits for tens of thousands of M14 customers. We look forward to working with our City partners to clear an unobstructed path forward for buses throughout the city.”

The TTP regulations, originally slated to begin on July 1st, fully take effect today after a panel of Manhattan Appellate Division judges lifted a stay last Friday. The regulations are as follows:

• Only buses and trucks may make through trips along 14th Street between 9th Avenue and 3rd Avenues.
• All other vehicles, including passenger vehicles can make local trips to access the curb, garages, and make pick-ups/drop-offs, but must turn at the next available right.
• Commercial vehicles may load and unload in short-term metered zones.
• Left turns from 14th Street are now prohibited.

Bus-Lane Automated Camera Enforcement:  The new restrictions along 14th Street will be enforced by both NYPD traffic agents and automated cameras.  Automated camera violations will only be issued following a 60-day warning period, which begins today.  Under a law passed by state legislators this past session, bus-lane camera fines have been changed: after the warning period, the first violation is $50, lowered from $115.  However, the new law now includes a graduated fine structure: fines increase by $50 for each violation in a 12-month period, up to $250.

The 60-day warning period only covers the stationary automated cameras operated by DOT.  MTA New York City Transit has announced that it expects M14 SBS buses will be equipped with bus-lane cameras by later this year.  Violations issued from those cameras are governed by the same law, but will have a separate 60-day warning period.   

“We owe it to bus riders to try and do everything we can to speed up buses all over the city, and especially on routes like the M14 where you can usually walk faster than the bus,” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. “I look forward to the start of this pilot program and to working with my neighbors and with my colleagues in government to learn as much as we can from this pilot so we can get buses moving again on 14th street and throughout New York City.”

“The City’s congestion issue needs to be addressed from all sides. Having designated lanes for trucks and buses will ensure that they run efficiently throughout the City,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Chair of the Transportation Committee. “It is important that the DOT and NYPD make sure that all drivers are notified about the changes to avoid potential traffic violations. As the changes are taking place, we need to make sure that there are no obstructions on bicycle lanes. We must ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. I will continue to work alongside DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and the NYPD to ensure New York City continues to runs safely and efficiently.”

“After months of delays, the implementation of the Department of Transportation’s busway is warmly welcomed,” said Council Member Keith Powers.  “This is a significant step forward for innovative ideas in transportation. Under this plan, the M14 bus will experience much-needed improvements in traffic flow and residents will have more efficient travel options. Many thanks to advocates and my neighbors who have worked in support of this busway pilot program, as well as DOT for their commitment to this initiative.”

“I want to thank DOT, MTA, and all the advocates and community members who pushed for this innovative pilot program to dramatically speed up our buses,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera. “The fight for faster buses on 14th Street has taken far too long and forced far too many New Yorkers to suffer on some of the slowest lines in our City. That all changes today, and I can't wait to take my first ride.”

DOT expects to regularly collect data during the TTP pilot, which it will publicly report.