Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bus Rapid Transit

Scores of New Yorkers Turn Out to Reimagine 14th Street

Photo: Brad Aaron
Photo: Brad Aaron
Photo: Brad Aaron

A capacity crowd of around 80 people gathered at a community center in Chelsea last night to brainstorm the future of 14th Street.

The forum was the second 14th Street PeopleWay workshop, hosted by Transportation Alternatives, to help prepare for the crush of people who will need a new way to get around when the L train tube under the East River is closed for Sandy repairs.

TA Director of Organizing Tom DeVito prefaced the breakout session by explaining why designating 14th Street exclusively to transit, biking, and walking is the only realistic way to get the job done.

"Ride-share companies are eager to take advantage" of the situation, DeVito said. In September Uber proposed that the city suspend taxi regulations in order to spur more Uber trips along the corridor. "This is a recipe for catastrophe," said DeVito. With 250,000 people taking the L train every day, he said, "That's just not feasible."

Data show that at peak travel times 14th Street handles 490 cars an hour in the eastbound lanes, and 430 cars per hour westbound -- or eight cars and seven cars a minute, respectively. DOT can minimize the auto traffic impact on surrounding streets with traffic-calming measures -- including neckdowns, chicanes, and mid-block crossings -- according to TA.

The M14 is already the eighth busiest MTA bus line, with 32,868 daily riders. It's also one of the city's slowest lines. TA estimates that a car-free transitway on 14th Street could enable buses to travel smoothly while arriving every 30 to 60 seconds during peak hours.

To complement proposed bus improvements -- dedicated lanes; off-board payment; at-level, ADA-compliant boarding; and transit priority at signals -- the PeopleWay concept includes protected bike lanes and Citi Bike "super stations."

Several of the people I listened in on during the breakout session live on 14th Street and in the immediate area. Some said they regularly traverse the street by bike. At least one of them owns a car. Among the problems they identified with the current layout of 14th Street were crowded sidewalks, lack of bike lanes, too much daytime car traffic, traffic noise on 14th and surrounding streets, and crowded bus queues.

Suggested opportunities for improvement included dedicated bus and bike lanes; bus bays designed to minimize congestion; street-level bus boarding; adequate parking for personal bikes; ferry service from Brooklyn, with bus fare integration; accommodations for deliveries that would not clog the street; and nighttime sanitation pickup.

One popular suggestion was replicating the PeopleWay design on other crosstown Manhattan streets at designated intervals. The idea of providing New Yorkers incentives to drive less on the whole came up more than once.

More than 70 small business owners along 14th Street have expressed support for the PeopleWay concept, along with City Council transportation chair Ydanis Rodriguez, State Senator Brad Hoylman, and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer.

TA and Gothamist are sponsoring a competition for 14th Street redesign proposals, with cash prizes. Submissions are due by January 8. TA is also exploring a Grand Street PeopleWay to accommodate L train commuters on the Brooklyn side of the East River.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Day 1: Criminal Court Judge Issues Safety Lectures to Cyclists, Including Citi Bike Celeb

A Manhattan Judge used the bench to give "a talking to" to suspected cyclists — including one of the Citibikeboys!

DOT Proposing A 14th Street-Style Busway For 34th Street

It's the sequel you've been waiting for. Here's hoping Mayor Adams delivers, said one activist.

May 19, 2025

Sohn in Albany: State Bill to Force Drivers to Pass Safely Stalls

Apparently, New York City is just too unsafe for legislation forbidding drivers to pass cyclists too closely.

May 19, 2025

Car Harms Monday: Machines Took Over Cities and Left Humans in the Dust

There isn't enough physical space for every single household to store its fleet of personal vehicles in front of the home, nor is there space for everyone to drive at the same time. So let's fix that.

May 19, 2025

A Valuable History Lesson for Jessica Tisch: ‘The Rules of the Road’ Were Written for Cars

Hey, Commissioner, listen to this historian: When rules recognize reality, suiting the distinct needs of categorically different users, everybody wins.

May 19, 2025
See all posts