Overview

• A rezoning plan signed off by the Council’s Zoning and Franchises and Land Use subcommittees pairs a dedicated busway on 34th Street with almost 9,500 new housing units in Midtown South.
• Mayor Eric Adams endorsed the busway plan on August 6, emphasizing its role in pairing housing development with infrastructure upgrades.
• On August 7, city leaders and volunteers walked the 1.2-mile stretch in 15 minutes, beating the M34 bus by seven minutes and spotlighting its 5.5 mph average speed.
• Transportation Alternatives and the Riders Alliance cited the 14th Street busway’s 24% speed boost as evidence that a car-free corridor could transform service for 28,000–30,000 daily riders.
• The project now moves to a full New York City Council vote later this month, followed by a public engagement phase in 2025 before construction begins.