During an agenda-filled evening, the NYC Department of Transportation presented an overview of proposed 79th Street Crosstown Bus—Select Bus Service (SBS) improvements, focusing on transit upgrades and pedestrian safety. The presentation also highlighted data from work completed in 2017 along this major Manhattan corridor, which spans from Riverside Park, through Central Park, to East End Avenue. The 79th Street route is one of the busiest crosstown bus lines in terms of ridership per mile, serving approximately 13,500 daily riders on the M79-SBS, according to the DOT. The agency also noted the route’s connection to four subway lines and 16 other bus routes, including the M15.
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Altskan mentioned some highlights from the 2017 street improvement plan, including launching the M79 Select Bus Service to replace the M79 Local. The upgrades included eight bus queue lanes, one full-block bus lane, and signal timing improvements along the route, which can take between 20 and 29 minutes from the first stop to the last. He said the improvements led to a 6% decrease in buses getting bunched up, as well as a 21% reduction in dwell times at stops. Ridership also increased by 9% on the M79 SBS in the first year after launch, while car travel times decreased by 4% to 8% along the corridor and bus speeds improved by 8%. Late buses dropped by 45%—a stat Altskan said was the most important win thus far. He also emphasized that every improvement is an improvement, even if “some of the numbers don’t scream off the page,” citing how small wins on a short route can compound over time.
Since 2017, pedestrian and cyclist injuries have declined, and motor vehicle crashes have dropped by 62%, resulting in a 57% overall decrease in total accidents, according to data from the NYPD and New York State. The decline was partly due to reduced traffic during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in 2020.
Jumping to the new work—with an estimated cost of $60 million across the entire stretch of 79th Street—the DOT intends to upgrade a total of 15 bus stops, 14 bus pads (the chunks of roadway in front of the bus stop, as Altskan put it), and 9 medians where pedestrians can take refuge.
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While not all specific locations were provided, some were, and he said more details would be shared in the next phase of public outreach. Four bus bulbs—which bump out the curb line to create a wider sidewalk while allowing buses to avoid pulling in—are expected to make stops faster and safer for everyone involved. They’ll also add 20 street trees. “Where we will also be installing what are called stormwater infiltration basins, which are effectively like expanded tree pits with special, you know, DEP-like green infrastructure elements to them, which just kind of help deal with excessive runoff when we get these heavy rains that we’ve been having the last three years,” said Altskan.
The DOT’s goal is to finish the design build-out for the project by fall 2025, with construction commencing in the summer of 2026 and a completion date in the winter of 2030. Alskin said community liasons would be in touch with the Upper West Side to get community feedback on the plans, and to keep in mind while four years looks lengthy, it’s for the entirety of 79th Street.
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When the question-and-answer portion began, the first requests were for continuous sidewalks—pedestrian paths that remain level through intersections rather than dipping down to street level—something that is already being implemented on the East Side. Attendees also asked that the soil height in new tree beds be no more than two inches below the surrounding surface, allowing the beds to better absorb stormwater and prevent runoff. City Councilmember Gale Brewer requested advance notice when new trees are planted so residents can help care for them.
Upper West Side Coalition member Steve Anderson highlighted West 81st Street and Central Park West as a “frightening corner,” saying there isn’t sufficient space for traffic or pedestrians to move. “There are cars driving into the other lane—the eastbound traffic—to get around there. It is a nightmare … it’s a nightmare for people who are traveling south from that corner, or going to Central Park, or trying to get from the bus to the subway stop, which is, therefore, a very, very congested area.” Altskan said he would bring all the feedback shared back to the team.
Community Board 7 Transportation Committee member Doug Kleiman confirmed that the off-boarding payment kiosks will be removed once the city fully transitions to the new OMNY system. He also asked about the West 79th Street Boat Basin project to ensure the DOT was coordinating with that team. A DOT representative responded that the two teams are in communication and that construction will be coordinated so they’re not working in the same area at the same time.
To watch the bus presentation and discussion section of the meeting, click here. Once completed, the finalized plan of the project will be presented to the committee at a later date to be determined.
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This is all good. I trust by “upgrading ” bus stops they also mean sheltered bus stops.
I have always wondered why the 96 th St crosstown bus is NOT a Select Bus. This is a very busy and slow crosstown bus.
I agree with the other commenter: Please include shelters at the stops. It’s wonderful to have benches, but please remember that as Global Warming continues to cook our planet, we need to have SHADE, which is equally, if not more important than shelter from rain.
Now the M79 going east starts its route between Riverside and West End.Two or three buses often park there and it is not clear as to which one will depart first. Sometimes it is another bus that comes around the corner from Riverside which doesn’t park but heads east first.There should be some signal system put in place letting customers know which bus is the first to depart and when,
The only slide they should show is the one where it says we are going to put a tool in place whereby anyone who does not pay cannot board the bus. But wait, let’s first spend more $$$ on improvements that get a yawn from most. Fair beaters, who in my opinion, also present a threat to others given the nature of their offense, and so safety is also a factor. THIS IS THE ONLY GODDAMN THING THE MTA SHOULD FOCUS ON!
Yessiree, addressing all those pedestrian casualties certainly pales in comparison to stopping fare-evasion! And some of these freeloading miscreants probably aren’t even legal U.S. citizens, amirite? Yep, put the bill-acceptors on the outside of the bus, where they belong — how hard could that be?
Doesn’t connect so well to east side subways, but what can you do?