Mayor Mamdani Announces Flatbush Ave Bus, Safety Overhaul

Redesign aims to dramatically improve bus speeds and commute reliability for 132,000 daily riders

Apr. 10, 2026 at 12:16am

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A serene, cinematic painting depicting a lone bus stop on Flatbush Avenue, with the street and surrounding buildings bathed in warm, golden light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of urban tranquility and anticipation.The redesign of Flatbush Avenue aims to deliver faster, more reliable bus service for the over 132,000 daily riders who depend on this critical Brooklyn corridor.NYC Today

New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a major reconstruction of Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn to begin in late April. The redesign will install center-running bus lanes to speed up one of the borough's busiest bus routes, the B41, as well as the B67, B69, B63, B45 and B103. The project will also include safety improvements and 29,000 square feet of new pedestrian space.

Why it matters

Flatbush Avenue is a critical transit corridor for over 132,000 daily bus riders in Brooklyn, but slow speeds and unreliable service have long plagued the route. This redesign aims to dramatically improve commute times and reliability for these essential workers and residents who rely on public transportation.

The details

The Flatbush Avenue project will include dedicated bus lanes, loading zones, safety upgrades, and new pedestrian space. DOT has seen similar designs deliver strong results elsewhere, with bus speeds increasing up to 43% and injuries decreasing by 29%. Construction is expected to continue into fall 2026, with DOT maintaining access and clear signage throughout.

  • Construction is expected to begin in the last week of April, weather permitting.
  • The project will be completed in four phases over the course of 2026.

The players

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who is overseeing this Flatbush Avenue redesign project.

Mike Flynn

The Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT).

Julia Kerson

The Deputy Mayor for Operations in New York City.

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What they’re saying

“Time is money, and too often, our city has taken both from working people who rely on our buses. These center-running bus lanes will give New Yorkers back something precious: time with their families, time at work, time in their communities.”

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani

“Delivering this redesign means improving the lives of 132,000 bus riders every single day. These are the types of projects that New Yorkers want and deserve, and I look forward to seeing this next phase of reconstruction advance later this month.”

— Julia Kerson, Deputy Mayor for Operations

“It can often be as fast to walk as it is to take a bus on Flatbush Avenue - and with over 100,000 riders relying on the bus to get around, that must change. The new Flatbush Avenue offers a bold blueprint to speed up buses and deliver safer streets.”

— Mike Flynn, NYC DOT Commissioner

What’s next

Construction is expected to continue into fall 2026, with DOT maintaining access and clear signage throughout the project.

The takeaway

This Flatbush Avenue redesign represents a major investment in improving public transit and street safety for the over 132,000 daily bus riders who rely on this critical Brooklyn corridor. By prioritizing bus lanes and pedestrian infrastructure, the city is taking an important step towards a more equitable and sustainable transportation system.