Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Buses

Council Members Push DOT and the MTA to Pick Up the Pace on Transit Signal Priority

Council Member Mark Levine and members of the Bus Turnaround Coalition at a Bx19 stop in Upper Manhattan. Photo: Brad Aaron

City Council members are putting some muscle behind the effort to get DOT and the MTA to speed bus service.

At a press conference this morning, Upper Manhattan rep Mark Levine announced legislation that would require DOT to accelerate the implementation of transit signal priority, which reduces the amount of time that buses spend immobilized at traffic lights.

City buses sit at red lights approximately 20 percent of the time. On the five MTA bus routes that currently have TSP (which is usually packaged with other bus priority treatments), travel times improved by an average of 18 percent after implementation, according to DOT.

All city traffic signals are currently TSP-ready, and all MTA buses will soon have the necessary technology. But right now, DOT only plans to install TSP on 10 additional lines by the end of 2020.

Levine and council transportation chair Ydanis Rodriguez want to mandate TSP on "at least" 10 bus routes a year over the next four years.

"Millions who rely on buses are suffering because of slower speeds and longer travel times," Levine said this morning, standing at a Bx19 stop on 145th Street and Broadway with members of the Bus Turnaround Coalition. "Unlike the subway system, major pieces of bus infrastructure are controlled by the city."

All intersections are TSP-equipped, but DOT plans to add it to just a few bus routes a year.
All traffic signals are TSP-ready, but DOT plans to add it to just a few bus routes a year. Image: DOT
DOT is only planning to implement TSP on a few bus routes per year.

Over 31,000 people take the Bx19 every day. During the morning rush, the Bx19 moves at an average speed of 4.9 mph, making it the slowest route in the Bronx, said Levine, and a good candidate for TSP.

"End to end this line is six miles," Levine told Streetsblog after the press conference. "If we're meeting the scheduled time it's an hour and a half. On a slow day it's two hours. You can get Amtrak from New York to Philly in less time than that."

Levine said people are abandoning the Bx19 -- annual ridership dropped from 10.2 million in 2015 to 9.5 million in 2016 -- in favor of car trips, either in taxis or private vehicles. "That's only congesting the streets further," he said. "It's only slowing down this line further. That's going to push more people off the line. It's a vicious cycle which we've got to stop."

Unlike physical improvements that tend to draw motorist and NIMBY opposition, Levine said there's "absolutely no political pushback" to giving buses priority at traffic lights. With the technology already in place, the only expense is staff hours devoted to planning and implementing TSP routes.

"This is crying out for rapid rollout," said Levine, "and we want to push the pace."

Levine said he hopes to have a bill introduced in the next few weeks.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

New Bill Would Block Apps From Deactivating Workers Without Cause

A Brooklyn Council member wants delivery app companies to be more human and less robot.

July 18, 2025

Friday Video: Is Berlin a Great Biking City?

Have recent moves by anti-bike, pro-car legislators ruined the experience in the capital of a unified Germany? Sort of!

July 18, 2025

Eyes on the Street: Meeker Avenue Bike Lane Is a Failure

The Department of Transportation still hasn't finished a critical bike lane under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway that the agency has been stalling for over four years even after identifying the strip's danger and lack of proper signals.

July 18, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Cuomo’s Road Rage Edition

Why does Andrew Cuomo drive so recklessly? Plus other news.

July 18, 2025

Fixing Third Ave. Was Once ‘Top of List’ For Eric Adams — But as Mayor He Backed Off

Mayor Adams has delayed a redesign of Brooklyn's Third Avenue despite once saying safety fixes there should be "at the top of our list."

July 17, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Jerry Nadler Edition

U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler faced off with Sean Duffy on Capitol Hill. Plus more news.

July 17, 2025
See all posts