Federal Highway Administration Requests Pause on 34th Street Busway Project Following Safety and Accessibility Review

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has requested that the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) pause work on the proposed 34th Street Busway Project to allow for further review of safety, accessibility, and compliance with national transportation standards.

The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association (MHNA) has shared resident concerns with city and state officials regarding the project’s potential impacts on traffic flow, accessibility for individuals with disabilities, and spillover congestion on nearby residential streets.

FHWA Administrator Sean McMaster announced that the agency is coordinating with both NYCDOT and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) to ensure the project complies with National Highway System (NHS) standards. The 34th Street corridor serves as an important east–west route through Midtown Manhattan, connecting the FDR Drive and the Lincoln Tunnel and supporting both local and regional transportation needs.

“Ensuring our great truckers and emergency vehicles can safely access this important corridor with as few aversions as possible is a top priority,” said FHWA Administrator Sean McMaster.

Macro and Micro Concerns

The decision reflects both macro-level concerns from the federal government and micro-level concerns from local residents.

At the federal level, FHWA is focused on ensuring that 34th Street—part of the National Highway System—continues to meet interstate and interregional standards for commerce, freight, and emergency vehicle access.

At the neighborhood level, residents and community associations have raised issues surrounding traffic diversion to side streets, accessibility for seniors and individuals with disabilities, and the overall livability of residential blocks.

Concerns Identified by FHWA

In a formal notice to NYCDOT, the FHWA requested clarification on several points, including:

• Whether the 34th Street corridor would continue to meet NHS requirements for interstate and interregional travel.
• How commercial vehicle deliveries and truck access would be maintained within one mile of the National Network, as outlined in 23 CFR Part 658.
• Whether a comprehensive traffic analysis was conducted to assess diversion impacts on surrounding streets.
• If coordination occurred with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC), as required under 23 CFR 450 for metropolitan transportation planning.

Local and Accessibility Considerations

Residents have expressed deep concerns about potential traffic diversion, noise, and accessibility challenges for those relying on paratransit or mobility services.

The 34th Street already features a dedicated express bus lane, and that improvements to bus service could be achieved through enhanced enforcement, signal timing adjustments, and curb management rather than through a full busway conversion.

Next Steps

The FHWA has recommended continued coordination among federal, state, and city transportation agencies to review the project’s design and ensure compliance with safety, accessibility, and commerce requirements.

The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association remains committed to providing accurate information and encouraging collaboration among local stakeholders and government agencies to ensure balanced solutions that meet both community and citywide transportation needs.

Letter from October 16, 2025

Letter from September 8, 2025