2.1.2 Bus Lane GEOMETRY: ROADWAYS & LANES

TABLE 2C: BUS LANES

Limited Access Transit Curbside Bus Lane Contraflow Bus Lane Offset Bus Lane Double Bus Lane Median Bus Lane Center-Running Bus Lane Street Ex: Hylan Boulevard, Staten Ex: Glenwood Road, Brooklyn Ex: Utica Avenue, Brooklyn Ex: Madison Avenue, Ex: Woodhaven Boulevard, Ex: 161st Street, Bronx Ex: 14th Street, Manhattan Island Manhattan Queens

Width 11-14’ 12-14’ 11-12’ 21-24’ 11-12’ 11-12’ 24-48’

Ideal o Streets with narrow right-of o Simplifying bus routing o Congested streets with heavy o Very high-volume bus corridors o Streets with a main line / service o Streets with chronic double- o Very high-volume bus Application way where an offset bus lane o Very high-volume bus corridors demand at the curb o Corridors with a high frequency road design parking issues corridors is not geometrically feasible o Streets with narrow right-of- of bus stops used by many lines o Streets where boarding islands o Streets with minimal curb way where two-way general (i.e. express bus corridors) can be accommodated demand traffic is not feasible or desired

Advantages o Preserves vehicular travel o Eliminates conflicts at the o Avoids conflicts at the curb o Allows buses to pass each other o Separates buses from curb o Removes right-turn and curb o Fully grade-separated lanes curb o Can be in effect 24 hours/7 days conflicts conflicts right-of-way o Bus lane can be used for o Allows buses to use a simpler per week allowing for uncomplicated o Allows for robust median bus parking/loading off-hours routing than the street signage to drivers stops network currently allows o Provides opportunity to construct o Can be grade-separated bus bulbs, adding more space for pedestrians and bus stop amenities o Buses can pass buses who are stopped at the curb

Disadvantages o Removes parking/curb access o Removes parking/curb access o Requires removal of travel lane o Removes parking/curb access o Vehicle intrusion remains o Left turns must be restricted or o Typically requires a capital o Only effective if properly o Requires sufficient right-of-way o For two-way streets ~60’-70’, left o Requires sufficient right-of-way possible have separate signal phasing project enforced turns must often be restricted or o Requires sufficient right-of-way o Loading challenges for bus lanes must often transition to businesses the curb to accommodate a left turn bay (example: Utica Avenue, Brooklyn; Main Street, Queens)

Parking Medium-High High Low-Medium Medium-High Very Low Very Low High Loss o Parking removed when bus o All parking should be removed o Parking typically preserved. Truck o Curbside parking typically o Parking is sometimes gained due o Parking is sometimes gained o All parking should be lane is in effect loading zones and meters should be removed but could allow curb to relocating bus stops from due to relocating bus stops removed added to prevent double-parking in access during off-peak hours service road to main line from service road to main line bus lane (causing the bus facility to function as a de facto offset bus lane)

Red Color o Preferred when bus lane is in o Preferred o Preferred o Preferred o Preferred o Preferred o Preferred but less Treatment effect for at least six hours per necessary since no traffic day is allowed in right-of-way