Overview

• The Federal Highway Administration issued an Oct. 16 cease-and-desist on the 34th Street busway, and NYC DOT said it would pause on-street work while engaging with federal officials.
• Federal officials cited missed notification and coordination, plus concerns about truck and emergency vehicle movement, and warned they could limit approvals or withhold funds.
• NYC DOT maintains the design complies with federal requirements, with spokesperson Vin Barone and Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez signaling the city will defend the project during the pause.
• Transit advocates and local elected officials rallied in Midtown, pressing the city and state to proceed and criticizing the federal intervention, as Rodriguez appeared to back the project’s goals.
• The dispute follows the city's July pause and subsequent restoration tied to a Midtown rezoning, after an initial Sept. 8 FHWA information request that the agency says went unanswered.