Brooklyn Transit: DeKalb and Lafayette Streets Undergo Major Redesign
DOT crews begin painting dedicated lanes to speed the B38 bus route and add protected bike paths across four neighborhoods.
By Carolina Wood ·
Commuters on DeKalb Avenue and Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn will see changes to their daily routines as the city begins construction on a major street redesign. Work started on Thursday, involving the painting of new curbside and offset bus lanes along both one-way corridors. The project covers 2.7 miles of each road, stretching from Flatbush Avenue to Broadway on DeKalb Avenue and from Ashland Place to Patchen Avenue on Lafayette Avenue.
The Department of Transportation aims to improve the speed and reliability of the B38 bus route, which serves approximately 18,000 riders daily. MTA data indicates that buses on these streets often travel as slowly as 4 miles per hour during morning and evening peak hours. By adding dedicated lanes, officials hope to reduce congestion and allow buses to maintain faster speeds through Downtown Brooklyn, Clinton Hill, Bedford Stuyvesant, and Bushwick.
Safety for non-drivers is a central component of the plan. The redesign includes the installation of protected bike lanes, using both parking and barrier protections to separate cyclists from motor vehicle traffic. DOT data shows that these streets have been injury hotspots, with a combined total of 841 reported injuries since 2021. Of those incidents, 47 were classified as severe, and one resulted in a fatality. Pedestrians and cyclists accounted for 310 of the total injuries and 22 of the severe cases over the last five years.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that the project is designed to help New Yorkers arrive at their destinations on time and safely. "New Yorkers shouldn’t have to choose between getting where they need to go on time and getting there safely," Mamdani said. The administration argues that the new infrastructure will create faster bus services and safer streets for all users.
DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn emphasized that the corridor serves a large number of residents who do not drive. According to DOT figures, 80% of people living within one-fourth mile of the B38 route commute via public transit, biking, or walking. Additionally, 62% of households along the corridor do not own a car. Flynn said the goal is to ensure that access to affordable transportation does not depend on a specific zip code.
This project is part of the joint city and state plan known as "Next Stop," released in the summer. The plan identifies 50 priority corridors traveled by 175 bus routes, which represent nearly 75% of the city's bus network. The administration pledged to increase bus speeds by at least 20% on these routes. Since the roadmap was released in July, the city has completed the first busway on Tremont Avenue in the Bronx and continues construction on projects in Fordham Road and Flatbush Avenue.
The construction marks the first physical changes to the DeKalb and Lafayette streets since the project was announced earlier this month. Crews will proceed with painting the lanes and installing safety infrastructure along the parallel streets that are separated by a single block.
