Major Bus Lane Upgrade Set To Kick Off This Fall On Brooklyn’s Flatbush Avenue

BROOKLYN, NY — Brooklyn’s traffic-choked Flatbush Avenue is set for a major overhaul starting as soon as this month, city officials announced — promising bus riders faster, more reliable “train-like” service.

In an announcement last Thursday, officials outlined changes designed to speed up commutes for 132,000 daily bus riders along the Flatbush corridor while improving safety on one of Brooklyn’s most dangerous streets.

Following extensive community engagement and public feedback, the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) presented a detailed block-by-block plan for center-running bus lanes to Brooklyn Community Board 2 last Thursday evening. Additional presentations are planned, and the agency welcomes further input before construction begins this fall.

NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez confirmed that installation of the new bus lanes will start this fall, covering the stretch from Livingston Street to Grand Army Plaza. This area spans Downtown Brooklyn, North Park Slope and Prospect Heights.

"We are excited to get Flatbush Avenue moving. Today 132,000 daily bus riders are stuck waiting too long for slow buses, drivers are caught in a mess of traffic, and pedestrians are left crossing intersections clogged with vehicles," Rodriguez said. "These new bus lanes will speed up bus service and make the street safer for everyone."

Flatbush Avenue is designated a Vision Zero Priority Corridor, ranking among Brooklyn’s most dangerous streets. In the past five years, 140 people have been killed or seriously injured there.

The B41 bus route, which serves nearly the entire eight-mile Flatbush corridor, carries more than 4.4 million riders annually—making it one of NYC’s top 10 busiest bus lines. That high ridership reflects the reality that nearly 60% of households along Flatbush don’t have access to a personal vehicle, officials said.

The DOT is focusing on the northern stretch between Livingston Street and Grand Army Plaza, where bus service is slowest. Buses along this corridor move at rush hour speeds of less than four miles per hour — barely faster than walking.

The redesigned center-running bus lanes will include expanded pedestrian spaces to enhance safety and shorten crossing distances. Key features include:

• Six large concrete bus boarding islands covering over 13,000 square feet, creating physically separated lanes for smoother transit.
• An additional 14,300 square feet of painted pedestrian space.
• Eleven dedicated loading zones accommodating over 50 trucks or 83 passenger vehicles.
• Up to 14 new bike parking areas with space for more than 170 bicycles.

“By implementing center-running bus lanes on Flatbush Avenue, DOT is not only improving commutes down the Flatbush corridor, but also laying the groundwork for the implementation of a true bus rapid transit system throughout Brooklyn,” Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso said. “Hundreds of thousands of Brooklynites rely on our bus system every day – they deserve street infrastructure designed for mass transit and service that is efficient and reliable.”

The DOT notes that center-running lanes are the most effective way to boost bus speeds by separating buses from personal vehicles. A similar redesign on the Edward L. Grant Highway in the Bronx resulted in a 29% drop in pedestrian and cyclist injuries and a 17% reduction in total injuries.

Installation of bus lane markings and painted curb extensions will begin this fall. Construction on the concrete islands will resume in spring 2026. Due to the project’s size and complexity, completion is expected by fall 2026, the DOT said.

This marks a major milestone in a yearslong effort to overhaul Flatbush Avenue. The Adams administration initially proposed adding bus lanes earlier in 2023.

"The Flatbush Avenue bus corridor moves tens of thousands of Brooklynites who live, work and shop in Downtown Brooklyn every single day. But those bus riders are stuck on busses crawling through traffic at speeds even slower than many Brooklynites can walk," City Councilmember Lincoln Restler said. "I'm pleased that DOT is beginning to fix Flatbush with dedicated bus lanes and center boarding to deliver the faster bus service that Brooklynites deserve."