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Transportation & Environment
Application from New York City Department of Transportation to install dedicated double bus lane on 5th Avenue from Central Park South to 34th Street.
WHEREAS, The New York City Department of Transportation ("DOT") seeks Approval of a proposal to install a dedicated double bus lane on 5th Avenue from Central Park South to 34th Street; and
WHEREAS, Currently, from west to east, the existing condition includes five travel lanes comprised of a 12-foot dedicated bus lane, a ten-foot travel lane, and three 11-foot travel lanes; and
WHEREAS, Fifth Avenue is a major commercial and retail corridor of midtown Manhattan, as well as a popular tourist destination, leading to heavy vehicle and pedestrian congestion; and
WHEREAS, Thirty-nine different bus routes originating in all five boroughs of New York City travel on 5th Avenue, including 11 routes from Staten Island, nine routes from both Brooklyn and the Bronx, four routes from Queens, and six routes from Manhattan; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 75,000 travelers rely on these bus routes each day; and
WHEREAS, Traveling down the 5th Avenue corridor is often the slowest segment of these bus routes; and
WHEREAS, According to a study conducted by DOT, 48% of all 5th Ave street users during the morning rush hour are bus travelers, 25% are pedestrians, 22% are taxi or private car for hire users, 12% are private vehicle users, and 1% are bicyclists; and
WHEREAS, The current average local bus speed on this segment on 5th Ave is 4-6 mph and the current average Express Bus speed is 5-8 mph; and
WHEREAS, More than 80% of the existing usable curb space on the west side of this segment of 5th Avenue is currently used for bus stops, preventing efficient bus through travel; and
WHEREAS, In 2009 Community Board Five requested a study from DOT regarding potential improvements to 5th and 6th avenues south of 59th street that would improve the safety and efficiency of travel for all street users; and
WHEREAS, In 1983 DOT implemented a dedicated double bus lane on Madison Ave; and
WHEREAS, In 2012 DOT expanded the hours for the existing double bus lane on Madison Ave from 2:00PM – 7:00PM to 24 hours/day; and
WHEREAS, Since the implementation of the double bus lane on Madison Ave, DOT reports improved average local and Express Bus speeds of as much as 15%, and increased reliability; and
WHEREAS, DOT proposes to apply a similar street treatment to 5th Ave by converting the two westernmost traffic lanes on the avenue into two 11-foot full time dedicated bus lanes; and
WHEREAS, DOT does not propose the installation of any permanent materials and proposes to implement the plan using only paint and the appropriate signage; and
WHEREAS, DOT proposes installation during the fall of 2017; and
WHEREAS, DOT anticipates a measurable improvement in the efficiency on the corridor by increasing the allocation of 5th Avenue street space to buses from the existing 22% to 54%; and
WHEREAS, DOT anticipates the proposed changes will result in only minor disruptions for private vehicles and taxi/for hire vehicles, as those vehicles comprise only 11% of the total traffic that currently uses the 2nd westernmost travel lane; and
WHEREAS, DOT proposes to conduct on-going traffic studies and surveys on this segment of 5th Ave throughout 2018; and
WHEREAS, DOT has committed to returning to the Transportation and Environment Committee of Community Board Five to present the results of the proposed traffic study within 12 months; and
WHEREAS, DOT has committed to removing the dedicated double bus lane in the event that the traffic study results indicate that the installation is ineffective and fails to increase efficiency on the avenue; and
WHEREAS, Although Community Board Five has repeatedly requested from DOT a comprehensive and complete street plan for the district; and
WHEREAS, Although many members of the public have expressed concerns over this proposal's lack of any comprehensive safety measures to protect pedestrians and cyclists in midtown Manhattan; and
WHEREAS, Although DOT has not provided the requested comprehensive street plan for midtown Manhattan, Community Board Five recognizes that the execution of this Application should provide measurable improvements to the district in terms of improved traffic flow on one of the City's most congested thoroughfares; and
WHEREAS, The implementation of this proposal does not require the installation of any permanent street furniture and does not prevent DOT from expanding on the proposed improvements in the future; and
WHEREAS, DOT has expressed its willingness to consider additional improvements for this corridor in the future, such as, but not limited to, the adjustment of the hours of operation of the dedicated bus lanes; the creation of designated taxi and private car pickup and drop off zones; the installation of protective bollards to better separate the dedicated bus lanes; the creation of dedicated protected one-way and/or two-way bicycle lanes within the district to create a safe route for cyclists to navigate midtown Manhattan's busy streets; restrictions on right-hand turns; and the implementation of camera-assisted enforcement of traffic regulations where allowed by New York State regulations; therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of the application from the Department of Transportation to install a dedicated double bus lane on 5th Avenue from Central Park South to 34th Street; and therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five renews its long-standing request for the Department of Transportation to produce a comprehensive complete street plan for midtown Manhattan south of 59th street that would enhance the safety and efficiency of travel for all street users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and travelers in motor vehicles. We ask that any plan consider a wide variety of options including, but not limited to, dedicated bus lanes; dedicated protected one-way and two-way bicycle lanes; pedestrian islands; improved crosswalks; more effective restrictions on vending and newsstands; opportunities for de-cluttering sidewalks including relocating or eliminating food carts, food trucks, street furniture, and street fairs; widened sidewalks and public plazas; leading pedestrian signals; dedicated loading, drop off, and pick up zones for taxis and private hire car services; and designated turn lanes.