Crosstown commuters will still ride buses traveling along bus lanes on 96th Street in Manhattan, thanks to a court decision on Tuesday allowing NYC to keep an Upper West Side street redesign made last year to improve travel times.
A state Supreme Court judge rejected on June 3 a coalition of residents’ lawsuit that argued the bus lanes on residential blocks of 96th Street between Central Park West and Amsterdam Avenue were out of context, with some residents saying “not every street is the same” at a September 2024 press conference.
Judge Arthur Engoron, who has presided over congestion pricing-related cases, said the plaintiffs’ case against the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) was weak.
“Petitioners have failed to show any irreparable harm caused by the subject bus lanes,” Engoron wrote in his motion. “Despite petitioner’s protestations, a bus lane does not ‘sever’ a resident’s connection to the street in front of their building nor does it ‘make it impossible to make deliveries.’ Inconveniences do not irreparable harm make.”
The DOT finished the 96th Street redesign in December 2024. It now includes new offset and curbside bus lanes, pedestrian safety upgrades, and traffic flow enhancements designed to accommodate the 15,500 weekday riders on the M96 and M106 bus routes.
Ydanis Rodriguez, the DOT commissioner, said in December that buses using 96th Street were traveling at an average of four miles per hour. The new, nearly two-mile bus lanes on East and West 96th Streets were designed to speed up travel times.
Vincent Barone, a spokesperson for the DOT, told amNewYork on Wednesday that the bus lanes are working and the agency applauds the judge’s decision.
“These bus lanes are making commutes faster and more reliable for 15,000 riders while also enhancing safety for everyone along one of Manhattan’s busiest crosstown routes,” he said. “We’ve won countless meritless lawsuits against our street designs and are thankful for the judge’s decision in this case.”
A provision in the decision said that the DOT added the bus lanes “holistically,” and sought input from various stakeholders.
“…petitioners have shown that DOT approached adding the subject bus lanes to the 96th Street corridor holistically, seeking input from, and listening to, stakeholders, and tailoring the lane to the data, while trying to balance the myriad needs of both the New Yorkers who live on the street and those who traverse it,” the judge said.
amNewYork contacted Manhattan Council Member Gale Brewer, who supported the plaintiffs in the case, and is awaiting a response.
Meanwhile, the DOT said it will evaluate the area’s speed “further down the line.”
