Urgent Community Update: Complex 34th Street Busway Proposal Raises Concerns for Murray Hill

Dear Murray Hill residents and New York City neighbors,

I listened carefully at the recent Community Board 6 (“CB6”) meeting which their Transportation Committee unanimously voted in favor the 34th Street Busway Proposal from the Department of Transportation (“DOT”) (see here the concerns raised in advance of the meeting, yet they remain unaddressed).  I was surprised to see such a complex traffic plan — prohibiting cars, narrowing the streets, and creating confusing rules for turns — all on one of NYC’s most vital cross-town routes linking the Queens Midtown Expressway to the Lincoln Tunnel.

I heard long-time Murray Hill residents — neighbors who have lived here for 20, 30, even 40 years — who spoke with intelligence, passion, and understanding of how street traffic functions.  Their input was thoughtful and well-articulated — offered in good faith to help shape a better city.  I also heard from those that support the need to speed the public bus system.

Yet, what was most concerning to me was the absence of a comprehensive traffic management plan.  New York City’s streets are like arteries—when you restrict one without building support around it, you create internal congestion that ripples across the system.  Without a plan for where displaced traffic will go, the inevitable result is overflow onto nearby residential side streets in Murray Hill and surrounding neighborhoods — streets that were never designed to handle such volume.

As a former investment analyst and now CEO, I was surprised by the absence of analytical rigor by DOT. We use data and simulations in every field — from healthcare to finance — to test assumptions, refine proposals, and make decisions. Why not here?

I expected a proposal with a focus on innovation — real-time data analysis, automated traffic routing, creative shared vehicle models, and scalable solutions that reflect both present and future needs.  Yet no data, no models, no simulations were presented to explain how this would be handled or whether the benefits would outweigh the costs.

I have no intention of pitting 34th Street busway riders against Murray Hill residents — many of whom are one and the same — but the lack of thorough analysis in this proposal has unfortunately created that conflict. We need solutions that serve the greater good — even if that means preserving the status quo, rather than rushing into changes with unintended consequences. Tools and technologies are readily available in 2025 to model, simulate, and communicate the impact of proposed major policy changes.  Decisions affecting our city’s infrastructure should be made transparently, with clear data, thoughtful planning, and respect for all communities involved.

– Jon Harari, President, Murray Hill Neighborhood Association and 20 year resident of New York City in Murray Hill

WHAT IS GOING ON

DOT is trying to turn 34th Street into a Busway, similar to 14th Street (only we are not similar to 14th St, being a major connector of I-495 between the Lincoln and Midtown Tunnels). You can watch the DOT presentation in the video below. Here are some basics:

• The Busway would be for buses and trucks only.

• It would be between 3rd Ave and 9th Aves.

• There are some blocks a car can drive on for the legnth of one block, and some that they have to completely stay off, and we assume this will lead to a lot of confusion and circling of blocks in the neighborhood.

• All of the traffic not able to drive on 34th St. has to go somewhere, and will have to divert to other streets like 35, 36, 37, 38, 39th, etc. adding to the existing traffic on these streets and causing congestion, noise, & safety concerns.

• DOT did not do any comprehensive studies on the spillover traffic to Murray Hill’s residential streets, and answered that when 14th St. turned into a Busway, there was never any trouble with traffic going to other streets. The traffic just simply disappeared (we find issue with this of course).

• CB6 Transportation Committee passed a resolution unanimously at the meeting last week supporting this to move forward after listening to many community members share their concerns.

• The resolution now moves to the CB6 Full Board Meeting on Wednesday, June 11th at 7pm where it will be voted on by the full board, and if so then they will be in line with CB4 & CB5 in their support of the DOT to move forward with the Busway.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

#1) Attend the full board meeting of CB6 on Wednesday, June 11th at 7 PM in person at the Lewis Davis Pavilion of 25 Waterside Plaza or via Zoom (https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_Qm74-BLGTamstHX-Sx04Kw#/registration) and register to speak: https://airtable.com/appgK5bKw7rWMRJEh/shryEckEPsTlwrsAy. A final decision from CB6 may be made on this proposal at this meeting.

#2) View below the presentation from DOT to CB6 on June 2, 2025 to get better informed and comment below so we can collect your feedback (all comments will also be collected by Jessica Lavorie, Chair of Quality of Life, Murray Hill Neighborhood Association who can also be reached at jessica@jessicalavoie.com). Your comments and feedback will be shared with DOT, MTA, and our elected officials.

 Key Questions

• Where is the traffic management plan for displaced vehicles from 34th St. and what data was used to assess impacts on nearby residential streets?
• Why hasn’t M14 and M34 Bus Route Data been shared for 34th between specifically 3rd-9th Ave.— number of buses, ridership, wait times, speed, etc.? 
• Not having enough buses is a real problem on 34th St., so why hasn’t the city added more buses to meet the demand on 34th Street?
• The fact that each block is different will create a lot of confusion and circling of blocks when drivers don’t know where they can go. Have there been studies done showing where the cars will circle when they realize they can’t go straight and how dangerous it could be to pedestrians and bicyclists? Also, studies that show the effects of circling with congestion, pollution, car noise, and honking from frustrated drivers?
• Why isn’t existing enforcement (like ticketing cars blocking bus lanes) being prioritized as part of a simple fix?
• How has Congestion Pricing already improved traffic flow on 34th, and has that been factored in? Why do we need this if Congestion Pricing is working?
• Why isn’t the city using modern data tools like real-time traffic analysis and simulations?
• Why did CB6’s Transportation Committee overlook concerns from long-time residents who know the neighborhood best?
• How will local feedback be included moving forward?
• What criteria will be used to measure the plan’s success or failure?

 Key Concerns

• No traffic plan has been shared to handle displaced cars.
• Residential side streets face serious congestion and safety risks.
• No data, models, or simulations have been provided to support the plan or take into consideration that 34th St. is unlike 14th St.. It is a continuation of I-495 and connects the Lincoln Tunnel to the Midtown Tunnel and therefore has a lot more traffic.
• The city skipped basic improvements—like adding more buses or enforcing existing rules.
• Even with Congestion Pricing, there are still not enough buses on 34th.
• The proposal may be targeting the wrong problem—speed instead of service volume.
• A survey was done with anyone walking by, and not actual community members, and that is not how to conduct a proper survey.
• CB6 has not adequately reflected community feedback or neighborhood-specific realities. 
• Traffic is moving better after Congestion Pricing, and a major infrastructure change isn’t necessary.
• The process lacks transparency, planning, and balance between transit goals and neighborhood needs.

34th Street Busway Presentation from DOT (starts at 6:30)

Comments from CB6 Transportation Committee Members (starts at 32:25)

Comments from Murray Hill residents and others who attended (starts at 45:50)