New York City Breaks Ground on Bronx Bus Service Improvements

Project to add bus-only lanes, pedestrian safety upgrades, and new amenities near Yankee Stadium

Mar. 25, 2026 at 3:00am

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New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Design and Construction announced the start of a major project to improve Bronx crosstown bus service and street safety near Yankee Stadium. The project will add westbound bus-only lanes, convert the 161st Street underpass to buses only, and include pedestrian safety upgrades and new amenities for bus riders.

Why it matters

The corridor serves 25,000 daily riders on the Bx6 Select Bus Service line, and the improvements will speed up bus service and improve safety around Yankee Stadium, which sees more than three million visitors each year. The project is part of the city's efforts to deliver better buses and safer streets for all New Yorkers.

The details

The project will reconstruct and redesign East 161st Street from Ruppert Place to Morris Avenue, including portions of East 163rd Street between Washington Avenue and Tiffany Street, as well as segments of the Bx6-SBS route in Manhattan. It will create a fully protected, center-running bus lane along East 161st Street from Concourse Village West to just west of River Avenue, one of the only corridors of its kind in New York City.

  • Construction has already begun on East 163rd Street between Intervale Avenue and Tiffany Street.
  • The project is scheduled for completion by 2028.

The players

Zohran Kwame Mamdani

The Mayor of New York City.

Mike Flynn

The Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation.

Eduardo del Valle

The Acting Commissioner of the New York City Department of Design and Construction.

Frank Farrell

The Executive Vice President of Buses for MTA New York City Transit.

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What they’re saying

“Unfortunately, as the Mayor of New York City, I must deliver fast and reliable buses for Yankees fans as well. I can think of no better way to welcome the start of baseball season than by breaking ground on a project that will make commutes faster, streets safer and daily life a little easier for tens of thousands of New Yorkers every day.”

— Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Mayor of New York City

“Improving the bus-rider and pedestrian experiences for those who visit or live in the South Bronx is a home run for all New Yorkers. From Fordham Road to Yankee Stadium, this administration is doubling down to deliver better buses and safer streets.”

— Mike Flynn, Commissioner, New York City Department of Transportation

“This project will help link some of the busiest areas of Manhattan and the Bronx with a fast and safe bus route and access to vital civic resources, moving closer to the administration's goal of a great bus network for every neighborhood. DDC is phasing the construction so as to not interfere with baseball season but we are hard at work in other areas so that we can meet the 2028 completion date.”

— Eduardo del Valle, Acting Commissioner, New York City Department of Design and Construction

“We are pleased that the City is moving forward with the long-planned effort to make 161st Street more bus friendly. It's good news for South Bronx bus riders, and we look forward to celebrating even more improvements throughout the five boroughs because nothing makes buses faster than clear streets.”

— Frank Farrell, Executive Vice President of Buses, MTA New York City Transit

What’s next

The project is scheduled for completion by 2028, with construction phased to avoid interfering with baseball season at Yankee Stadium.

The takeaway

This project is part of the city's broader efforts to improve bus service and street safety, particularly in high-traffic areas like the South Bronx. By investing in dedicated bus lanes, pedestrian upgrades, and rider amenities, the city aims to make commutes faster, streets safer, and daily life easier for tens of thousands of New Yorkers.