New York City has officially broken ground on a major overhaul of 116th Street in Manhattan, adding 2.5 miles of dedicated bus lanes and safety upgrades designed to speed commutes for more than 65,000 daily riders. The project, part of Mayor Mamdani’s broader “Fast Buses: Mayor Mamdani Breaks Ground on 116th Street Overhaul to get 65” initiative, tackles a corridor where buses currently crawl at less than 4 mph, slower than walking pace. Construction began in summer 2026 and is expected to continue through fall 2026.
Key Takeaways
- 65,000 daily riders across 10 bus routes use the 116th Street corridor, connecting to the 2, 3, 6, B, and C subway lines.
- The “Fast Buses: Mayor Mamdani Breaks Ground on 116th Street Overhaul to get 65” project aims to significantly improve bus travel times.
- Current bus speeds in some sections of 116th Street are under 4 mph, causing roughly 785 hours of delay for M116 passengers every weekday.
- The overhaul adds 24/7 bus lanes between Fifth Avenue and Pleasant Avenue, with queue-jump signals that give buses a green light before other traffic.
- The project includes 35,000 square feet of new pedestrian space, protected bike lanes on Pleasant Avenue, and upgraded crossings.
- 116th Street is one of 50 priority corridors in the city-state $850 million plan to improve bus speeds by roughly 20% across 175+ routes.
- Construction is underway as of August 2026, with core elements expected to be in place by fall 2026.
What Are Fast Buses and How Do They Work?
Fast buses are not a new vehicle type. They are regular buses given priority on the road through dedicated lanes, special traffic signals, and street design that keeps other traffic from slowing them down. The goal is simple: move more people faster by giving buses the space they need to function as intended.
On 116th Street, the Fast Buses overhaul installs a mix of offset and curbside bus lanes. Offset lanes sit one lane away from the curb, preserving parking and loading zones while still giving buses a dedicated path. Curbside lanes appear at bus stops and left-turn areas. Red paint visually marks the lanes as bus-only, and automated enforcement helps keep cars out.
The most powerful feature is the “queue jump” traffic signal. At key intersections, buses get a green light a few seconds before other vehicles, letting them pull ahead of traffic before cars start moving. This small head start can shave significant time off a crosstown trip.
Choose this approach if your city has a corridor where bus ridership is high but speeds are abysmally low due to congestion. Dedicated lanes and signal priority are cheaper than building rail and can deliver results within months.
Where Is the 116th Street Bus Project Located?
The project spans 2.5 miles along 116th Street in Manhattan, running from Riverside Drive on the west side to Pleasant Avenue on the east side. This crosstown corridor cuts through Harlem and Morningside Heights, connecting residential neighborhoods to major subway lines and crosstown bus routes.
The corridor intersects with the 2, 3, 6, B, and C subway lines, making it a critical transfer point for commuters heading downtown or to other boroughs. Seven perpendicular bus routes also cross 116th Street, meaning improvements here ripple outward to riders who never ride the M116 itself but transfer through the area.
For readers in upstate New York and the Mohawk Valley, the principle is the same whether you’re in Manhattan or Utica: when a main corridor moves slowly, the entire network suffers. The 116th Street project is a case study in what targeted infrastructure investment can do for a bottlenecked street.
When Will the 116th Street Bus Line Be Completed?
Construction is currently underway as of August 2026, with core bus lane and safety elements scheduled for installation through fall 2026. The Mayor’s Office confirmed that work is proceeding on schedule.
According to the NYC DOT’s June 2026 community board presentation, the implementation plan calls for 24/7 curbside and offset bus lanes, with the configuration shifting depending on the block. Offset lanes dominate most of the corridor to preserve parking, while curbside lanes appear at stops and turn zones.
Common mistake to watch for: riders sometimes assume “construction underway” means lanes are already active. The new bus lanes and signal changes will take effect as each section is completed and marked, not all at once. Check MTA service alerts for real-time updates on which segments are operational.
How Many People Use the M15 Bus on 116th Street?
More than 65,000 daily riders use bus routes along the 116th Street corridor. That figure includes riders on the M116 local service as well as express routes and other lines that use this crosstown connector.
To put that number in perspective: 65,000 people is roughly the population of Rome, New York. Every single day, a city’s worth of commuters depends on this one street to get to work, school, medical appointments, and home. When buses crawl at under 4 mph, the cost is measured in lost wages, missed appointments, and stolen time with family.
The NYC DOT’s current projects page notes that weekday congestion alone causes approximately 785 hours of delay for M116 passengers each day. That is nearly 33 full days of collective wasted time, every single weekday.
What’s the Difference Between Fast Buses and Regular Bus Service?
Regular bus service shares the road with all other traffic. When cars are stuck, buses are stuck. When a delivery truck double-parks, the bus waits behind it. There is no structural priority for the vehicle carrying 50 or 80 people over the one carrying one.
Fast buses change that equation through three main tools:
| Feature | Regular Bus | Fast Bus |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated lanes | None, shared with all traffic | Red-painted bus lanes, 24/7 enforcement |
| Traffic signals | Standard timing | Queue-jump signals giving buses early green |
| Street design | General travel lanes | Left-turn bays, offset lanes, pedestrian space |
The 116th Street redesign combines all three. The result should be a corridor where buses move through congestion rather than sitting inside it.
How Much Is the 116th Street Bus Project Costing?
The 116th Street overhaul is part of the joint city-state plan called Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service, which commits more than $850 million to improving bus service across 50 priority corridors and 175+ routes citywide. The specific cost for the 116th Street segment has not been broken out separately in public documents.
That $850 million investment targets a roughly 20% increase in bus speeds systemwide. For context, NYC’s bus action plan represents one of the most significant transit investments in recent city history, focused entirely on the bus network, which serves neighborhoods that subways do not reach.
Will the Fast Bus Reduce Commute Times?
Yes, based on the design features and the city’s stated goals. Queue-jump signals alone can save several seconds per intersection, and dedicated lanes prevent buses from being trapped behind double-parked vehicles and turning traffic.
The city’s target is a 20% speed increase across all priority corridors. On 116th Street, where speeds currently dip below 4 mph in some sections, even a modest improvement would be meaningful. A 20% increase from 4 mph brings buses to nearly 5 mph, but the real gains come from eliminating the worst bottlenecks entirely.
Mayor Mamdani has framed the issue directly: “When your bus is moving slower than you can walk, something isn’t working.” Faster buses mean more time with family, better access to jobs, and fewer missed medical appointments.
What Neighborhoods Does the 116th Street Bus Serve?
The corridor runs through Harlem and Morningside Heights, connecting several distinct neighborhoods:
- Morningside Heights near Columbia University and Morningside Park
- Central Harlem along Malcolm X Boulevard and Lenox Avenue
- East Harlem toward Pleasant Avenue and the East River
These are densely populated, working-class and mixed-income neighborhoods where car ownership is lower than the city average. Bus service is not a convenience here. It is a lifeline. Many residents depend on buses to reach subway connections, grocery stores, medical facilities, and schools.
The project also includes protected bike lanes on Pleasant Avenue between 116th and 120th Streets, creating safer north-south cycling connections alongside the crosstown bus improvements. For those who ride bikes in Utica or other upstate communities, the principle of complete streets, designing roads for all users, not just cars, is gaining traction everywhere.
How Does Mayor Mamdani’s Bus Plan Compare to Other Cities?
New York is not the first city to invest heavily in bus priority. Cities like Los Angeles, Boston, and San Francisco have all implemented bus-only lanes and signal priority. What sets the Mamdani plan apart is its scale: 50 corridors, $850 million, and a commitment to 24/7 enforcement rather than rush-hour-only lanes.
Many cities limit bus lane enforcement to peak hours, which undermines the benefit. A bus rider traveling at noon or 10 p.m. faces the same congestion as during rush hour. The 116th Street project’s 24/7 bus lane operation between Fifth Avenue and Pleasant Avenue means the priority is permanent, not conditional.
For smaller cities like Utica, the lesson is about political will. You do not need $850 million to paint a bus lane or adjust signal timing. You need a mayor willing to say that moving 40 people on a bus matters more than parking for one car.
What Construction Impacts Should Riders Expect?
Construction on 116th Street will involve lane closures, shifted traffic patterns, and temporary disruptions to parking and loading zones. The NYC DOT has been presenting plans to Community Boards 10 and 11 since early 2025, and the June 2026 presentation confirmed the final configuration.
Riders should expect:
- Temporary bus stop relocations during lane construction
- Reduced parking in sections where curbside bus lanes are being installed
- Noise and dust typical of street resurfacing and lane marking
- Possible delays during the transition period before new lanes and signals are fully operational
The DOT has stated that work will proceed in phases to minimize disruption, but any major street overhaul involves growing pains. Just as school buses returning to roads require drivers to adjust their routines, construction on 116th Street asks everyone to be patient while the long-term improvements take shape.
Are There Alternative Routes During 116th Street Construction?
Yes. Riders can use several alternatives during construction:
- The 125th Street crosstown buses (M125, M101) run parallel to 116th Street and connect to many of the same subway lines
- The 106th and 110th Street crosstown routes offer alternate east-west paths through Harlem
- Subway connections via the 2, 3, 6, B, and C lines can replace some crosstown bus trips, though transfers may add time
The MTA typically posts service alerts and alternative route information on its website and at affected stops. Riders who rely on the M116 should check alerts daily during the construction period.
Who Benefits Most From the Fast Bus Service?
The primary beneficiaries are the 65,000 daily riders who depend on this corridor. But the benefits extend further:
- Working families gain time back in their day, reducing the burden of long commutes
- Seniors and people with disabilities get more reliable access to medical appointments and services, especially important given that 116th Street is classified as a Vision Zero Priority Corridor within youth and senior injury priority areas
- Small businesses benefit from faster, more reliable customer access, similar to how Marshall Street businesses see boosts from improved street activity
- Cyclists gain protected lanes on Pleasant Avenue
- Pedestrians get 35,000 square feet of new space and upgraded crossings
The Better Buses initiative reflects a broader recognition that street design should prioritize the people who use it most, not just the cars that drive through it.
What Makes This Bus Project Different From Previous Transit Improvements?
Previous bus improvements in New York have often been piecemeal: a painted lane here, a signal change there. The 116th Street project is different because it combines multiple tools in a single, coordinated redesign.
The project includes:
- 24/7 bus lane enforcement, not just peak hours
- Queue-jump signals at multiple intersections
- Offset and curbside lane configurations adapted to each block
- Protected bike lanes integrated into the plan
- 35,000 square feet of pedestrian space
- Left-turn bays to reduce conflict between buses and turning vehicles
This is a complete street redesign, not a paint-and-pray approach. It also sits within the larger $850 million city-state plan, meaning it is part of a systemwide strategy rather than an isolated project.
How Do I Use the New Fast Bus When It Opens?
Using the improved 116th Street bus service requires no new fare, app, or card. Here is what changes for riders:
- Board the same buses. The M116 and other routes using the corridor remain the same. Route numbers do not change.
- Look for red lanes. The dedicated bus lanes are marked with red paint. Buses travel in these lanes exclusively.
- Expect faster trips. With queue-jump signals and dedicated lanes, buses should move through the corridor more quickly, especially during peak congestion.
- Check for stop changes. Some bus stops may shift slightly to accommodate the new lane configuration. Check MTA alerts for updated stop locations.
- Combine with biking. If you cycle, the new protected lanes on Pleasant Avenue connect to the crosstown corridor, offering a multimodal option.
No special pass or registration is needed. The improvements are built into the street itself.
Conclusion
The 116th Street bus overhaul is a straightforward proposition: 65,000 riders deserve buses that move faster than a walk. For too long, one of Manhattan’s busiest crosstown corridors has been a case study in how not to design a street. Buses crawling at under 4 mph, nearly 800 hours of daily delay, and a corridor classified as a safety priority for children and seniors all point to a system that was not working.
Mayor Mamdani’s Fast Buses initiative, backed by $850 million in city-state investment, represents the kind of infrastructure spending that pays dividends in people’s daily lives. It is not glamorous. It is not a new subway line or a flashy tech project. It is paint, signals, and political will, applied to a street that desperately needed all three.
For readers in the Mohawk Valley and across upstate New York, the lesson is transferable. When local leaders invest in public transit and complete streets, the returns show up as shorter commutes, safer crossings, and stronger neighborhoods. The question is whether your local officials have the courage to prioritize buses over parking.
What you can do: Attend your next town hall meeting or county planning session and ask about bus lane priority in your community. Contact your state legislature representatives and advocate for transit funding. Share this article with neighbors who ride the bus. And if you live in New York City, ride the M116 this fall and see the difference for yourself.
FAQ
What is the 116th Street bus overhaul?
A 2.5-mile redesign of 116th Street in Manhattan adding dedicated bus lanes, queue-jump traffic signals, protected bike lanes, and 35,000 square feet of pedestrian space to speed commutes for 65,000 daily riders.
Who is Mayor Mamdani?
Mayor Mamdani is the current mayor of New York City, leading the Fast Buses initiative as part of a broader transit improvement agenda.
How slow are buses on 116th Street currently?
In some sections, buses travel at less than 4 mph, slower than walking pace. Weekday congestion causes approximately 785 hours of delay for M116 passengers each day.
When will construction finish?
Construction is underway as of August 2026 and is expected to continue through fall 2026, with core bus lane and safety elements being installed in phases.
Will parking be removed?
Most of the corridor uses offset bus lanes, which preserve parking and loading zones. Some curbside sections at bus stops and turn areas will restrict parking.
How much is the project costing?
The 116th Street project is part of a larger $850 million city-state plan covering 50 priority corridors and 175+ routes. The specific cost for 116th Street alone has not been publicly broken out.
Do I need a new fare card to use the fast bus?
No. The bus routes remain the same. The improvements are built into the street design, not the fare system.
What subway lines connect to 116th Street buses?
The 2, 3, 6, B, and C subway lines all intersect with the 116th Street corridor.
