Battle Lines Drawn Over Proposed 96th Street Bus Lane: Report

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY – Many things rile West Siders, but near the top of the list are bus and bike lanes. Some residents, transit hounds and cyclists, are fervently in favor; others, who say they’re concerned about traffic and quality of life, are adamantly opposed.

Both camps have begun to muster their forces in response to a planned bus lane on 96th Street, according to stories on Wednesday and Thursday in I Love the Upper West Side, a neighborhood news site.

What's Happening?

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is planning to add bus lanes on 96th Street, on both the Upper West and Upper East Side. Why? The heavily used M96 and M106 lines provide a critical crosstown connection on 96th, serving 15,500 weekday riders and running as frequently as every 3 minutes during peak hours, according to the agency.

Unfortunately, bus speeds along the M96 route have sunk to a crawl – as low as 4 mph during peak hours – as the city grapples with traffic that’s among the worst in the world.

To improve the situation, the DOT plans to add bus lanes to each side of 96th Street, eastbound and westbound. As a result, the roadway would shrink from four lanes to two for general traffic: a single lane east, and a single lane west.

Such a shift would enable buses to move along 96th Street “unimpeded,” as well as maintain curb access for parking, truck loading and unloading, and passenger drop-offs and pickups, DOT materials promise.

Pedestrians, too, are paramount, project documents emphasize, and safety improvements are integral to the project.

Opponents Rally

The West 96th Street Neighbors Coalition is not impressed.

“Dedicated bus lanes will adversely affect residents’ quality of life by cutting residents’ buildings off from the street, preventing passenger loading and unloading for taxis, disabled people, and school children, and making it impossible to make deliveries,” the group argued, in a press release. “The bus lanes will increase traffic congestion by confining all traffic, including turning cars, to a single lane.”

The release also advertised a Thursday morning press conference, which Council Members Gale Brewer and Shaun Abreu, who represent districts that overlap 96th Street (6 and 7) would apparently attend.

“I respect the concerns of the neighbors and I want busses to be as speedy as possible,” Brewer said. “I think there may be other methods to keep busses moving on these two blocks, such as transit signal priority.” Brewer did attend the Thursday morning press conference, a spokesperson confirmed.

A spokesperson confirmed that Abreu did not attend the Neighbors Coalition event and provided the following statement.

“I’ve gotten calls from folks supporting the bus lane and opposing the bus lane. 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. The people who live on 96th Street should have a serious role in that conversation. I’ve spoken with Commissioner Pincar, and he has agreed to join residents to walk through the affected area and discuss concerns.”

Patch has also reached out to Council Members Diana Ayala and Julie Menin, who represent the districts that cover 96th Street on the East Side (5 and 8).

Supporters Respond

“The opposition to this bus lane isn’t just out-of-touch, it’s not factual,” wrote StreetopiaUWS, in an email. The group aims to “redefine streets from a place for cars and trucks to a place for people and public life,” according to its website.

“[The bus lane] won’t change a thing about residents’ access to the curb, or their free parking,” the email continues. Bus lanes will “relieve congestion, make streets safer, and improve air quality.”

The email directs readers to make themselves heard, and specifically, to call Brewer and Abreu.

What Happens Next?

The project is still in its early stages, with “monitoring” ongoing through fall 2024, per DOT materials.

Patch has contacted the department for an updated project timeline and will update this story when we receive a response.

What do you think about the planned bus lane? Email michael.mcdowell@patch.com.