On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, Community Board 6 (CB6) passed a resolution in support of the 34th Street Busway Proposal

On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, Community Board 6 (CB6) passed a resolution in support of the 34th Street Busway Proposal from the Department of Transportation (DOT), with a vote of 31 in favor and 5 against.

While residents were under the impression that this was a DOT initiative, it was revealed during the meeting that this project was a joint request from Community Boards 4, 5, and 6.

According to CB5 Transportation Committee Vice Chair Samir Lavingia, who called in to speak (at 2:34:45 in the full video which can be viewed HERE) the boards had coordinated in advance to pass the resolution, before hearing any feedback from the public during the meeting. Lavingia states, “I believe and it has been shown that our voices as community boards are louder when we speak as one, which is the case why we even have this item is because we all wrote a letter together months ago, asking the DOT to come and present the busway to us so that way we could say you know this is a good idea. We were proactive and that’s why we’re being rewarded with you know with this when we speak with one voice. I think it would be a shame to either not comment on it or to say no at this point you know. If we are going to ask the DOT to do things and then they do, then we say oh, just kidding, we don’t actually want it, why would they listen to us ever again? So I would really encourage you to sign on and support. And lastly, you know if you don’t weigh in on this item now you’re not gonna have a chance because the implementation is supposed to be in summer of this year, so I really encourage you to take the opportunity to weigh in today instead of not having a voice at all.” 

Many residents, especially from the Murray Hill neighborhood, voiced strong opposition to implementing the Busway without a proper traffic management plan to address concerns such as increased congestion on narrow side streets. Despite these concerns and the call for further analysis, CB6 moved forward with the resolution. The DOT is now expected to implement the 34th Street Busway later this summer. 

We are actively monitoring these developments and will provide timely updates as new information becomes available.