Jim.henderson, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
The Department of Transportation is proposing a number of bus and pedestrian safety improvements along 96th Street on both sides of Central Park.
Advertisement
While various projects have improved safety throughout the corridor over the years, 96th Street is still in the top 10% of streets with the most people killed or severely injured per mile, according to a presentation made by the DOT to Community Board 8. It specifically notes that there were “391 injuries on the corridor in the past 5 years, including 44 who were killed or severely injured.”
The goals of the project are to create safer streets for pedestrians while also improving the reliability and speed of the m96 crosstown bus, which the DOT notes is especially slow on the UES (as well as around Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue). The project also aims to enhance the speed of and safety around the m106 route, which overlaps with the m96 in Central Park and on the UWS.
One element of the DOT’s proposal is the creation of an offset bus lane so that buses wouldn’t have to share the lane with other vehicles. The DOT argues that this would increase bus speeds – which “are as low as 4 mph during peak hours” – while also alleviating traffic congestion on parallel lanes.
DOT
The DOT is also proposing “left turn bays” to “facilitate traffic flow and preserve turning movements” while also “safety by reducing ‘back pressure.'” These are being considered for implementation on Central Park West (eastbound), Park Ave (eastbound & westbound), Lexington Ave (westbound), and Third Ave (eastbound).
Advertisement
In addition, “queue jump signals” which would allow “buses to get a head start to bypass traffic” are being considered at 96th and Central Park West (eastbound), 97th and Fifth Avenue (westbound), and 96th and Third Avenue (both directions).
To improve pedestrian safety, the DOT is also proposing the installation of “turn calming treatments” throughout the corridor.
DOT
To view the presentation in full, please click here. To see the DOT’s presentation to Community Board 8, please click this Youtube video link (the segment begins at about 1 hour and 3 minutes).
The slowdown of bus and all traffic in Manhattan is double-parked cars, including courier vehicles, Fresh Direct, Amazon, and POLICE vehicles that double park for hours at a time while they watch videos on their phones??? The last thing DOT would think of doing is enforcing the millions of traffic rules that exist – just make more?
Agreed, and East 96th is notorious for this double-parking. Ticket and tow quickly.
The 96 street crosstown bus IS slow and very busy so why is it not a SELECT BUS
like other crosstown buses????????