Contact: FHWA.PressOffice@dot.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Administrator Sean McMaster announced today that the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) is halting all work on the 34th Street busway project following the agency’s request for the pause. This is the second notice the federal agency has given NYCDOT, including an initial letter that highlighted several concerns with the project blueprints, including the absence of plans to accommodate truckers that rely on access to routes impacted by the project.

FHWA requested a meeting between NYCDOT and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) for coordination and discussion on how to bring the project into compliance with the National Highway System, ensure the safe movement of commuters and commerce—including large truck deliveries—and maintain access for emergency vehicles along this vital city artery.

“I'm glad to see New York officials have agreed to halt the project and come to the table to discuss the project's impact on the flow of traffic through one of the city's most important corridors on our National Highway System,” said Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster. “Ensuring our great truckers and emergency vehicles can safely access this important corridor with as few aversions as possible is top priority.”

Additional Information:

In September, FHWA sent NYCDOT a letter listing a number of concerns with their proposal for the 34th Street corridor across Manhattan, including:

• Clarification on whether routes on the NHS will continue to meet applicable NHS standards (23 U.S.C. 103(b)), which means that the route must continue to serve the interstate and interregional travel and commerce needs for which the route is designed.
• Clarification on whether the busway can safely and efficiently accommodate all commercial motor vehicle deliveries meeting the specified dimensions specified in 23 CFR part 658.  23 CRF 658.19(d) states, “No State may enact or enforce any law denying access within 1 road-mile from the National Network using the most reasonable and practicable route available except for specific safety reasons on individual routes.”
• Clarification that a traffic analysis of the busway proposal has been completed, and what the implication would be for traffic diversions in the area, or if coordination with New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) has occurred to meet metropolitan transportation planning process requirements (23 CFR 450).

Find the full notice HERE.

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