NYC looks to improve bus speeds on Fordham Road with controversial lane redesign
Among the changes are a reduction in car lanes from two in each direction to just one
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The New York City Department of Transportation is poised to begin work on a controversial redesign of the lanes on Fordham Road, which it hopes will improve the speeds of buses on it.
Among the biggest headlines from the plan are a reduction in car lanes on one of the Bronx's busier roads from two in each direction down to just one
"That's crazy. There's too many people, too many cars," said Anthony Edwards, who was stuck in traffic on the street.
"That's going to just cause more problems," agreed Sabrina Brown, who was driving.
The idea is part of a plan announced by Mayor Zohran Mamdani in February, reviving an idea from former Mayor Eric Adams' administration to improve the speed of buses on Fordham Road between Sedgewick Avenue and the Bronx River Parkway.
The DOT says an average of 130,000 people ride the bus on that route every day, but sometimes, buses are stuck traveling slower than 5 mph.
"It'll be bumper to bumper here, and it's real bad," Tyree Clement, who was waiting for a bus, said of the conditions.
"You're better off walking if you taking the bus over here," added Tavious Tucker, another frequent rider.
The final proposal was presented to community boards in May, calling for the current bus lane to be turned into a parking and loading lane, and the outer car lane to become a bus lane.
After the February announcement, representatives from the local Business Improvement Districts told News 12 they were skeptical of the plan, noting the mayor's office had not done any outreach to the businesses in the area to get their thoughts on the plan.
The DOT says representatives spoke with 217 businesses along Fordham Road in April, learning that 60% of them currently get their deliveries in the bus lane - a big part of the reason why the new designs call for the dedicated loading and parking lane.
"Delivery trucks pulling up in front of the store would be a good idea," said Sonia Singh.
"I think it would make a lot of sense," agreed Carlos Martinez from Tejada Furniture, who is also in favor of the plan.
However, Peter Madonia, the chair of the Belmont BID, opposes it, telling News 12 the design is "going to be painful and dangerous and hurtful."
Madonia says the city still never spoke to anybody on his side of the road, where the majority of people visit places like the Bronx Zoo, Botanical Garden and Arthur Avenue by car.
"(The city has) by their own admission said they want to reduce vehicular traffic by 25% and I think it's going to cripple us," Madonia said.
The city's plans call for the new design to be finished by the end of the summer or early fall.
