Flatbush Avenue slated for rapid bus route by 2030 under city-state transit plan

Flatbush Avenue is among five corridors selected for New York City's next generation of rapid bus service under a joint city-state plan announced Wednesday by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul, The Haitian Times reported. The plan, called "Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service," is a partnership between the city Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, targeting 50 priority bus corridors across the five boroughs. Officials said the goal is to speed up bus service by 20% and cut commute times by as much as six minutes each way, backed by $254 million in expense funding and $628 million in capital funding over five years. Flatbush is set to receive dedicated, protected bus lanes, upgraded stations and frequent all-day service, with work beginning this year and completion targeted for 2030. Brooklyn will also see priority corridors along Church and Utica avenues. City Council Member Rita Joseph, who chairs the Council's Committee on Higher Education, called reliable transit a "lifeline," saying it means "shorter commutes, greater economic opportunity and a stronger, more equitable city." Officials noted city buses average about 8 mph, the slowest of any major U.S. system, while carrying 2.75 million daily trips. The plan also calls for roughly 2,500 new buses and all-door boarding phased in from 2027.