Joan Byron
Streetsblog Basics
Pratt Center Suggests Eight Routes for Robust BRT — Is de Blasio Listening?
In 2008, a coalition led by the Pratt Center for Community Development laid out a vision for 12 Bus Rapid Transit lines across the city. Nearly six years later, NYC DOT and the MTA have installed six Select Bus Service routes in four boroughs, with plans for more. At a panel discussion this morning, the Pratt Center unveiled a new report [PDF] showing eight routes that are ripe for Bus Rapid Transit, featuring upgrades like separated busways and stations with fare gates and platform-level boarding.
December 17, 2013
With No Separated Busway on 34th Street, What’s Next for BRT in NYC?
The walkback of the city's plans for 34th Street from a physically separated transitway to a package of painted lanes and bus bulbs was unquestionably a defeat for bus riders on the extremely congested street. While features like off-board fare payment, scheduled to go into effect this summer, will provide a speed boost to buses, riders won't be able to go crosstown as quickly as if they had lanes free from encroachment.
April 1, 2011
What Does the Future Hold for New York’s Transit Infrastructure?
Last night, the Museum of the City of New York hosted a panel discussion about the future of large-scale transportation projects in the region. Hosted by New York Times reporter Michael Grynbaum, the panel -- the RPA's Jeff Zupan, MTA Capital Construction's Michael Horodniceanu, the General Contractors Association's Denise Richardson, and the Pratt Center's Joan Byron -- engaged in a wide-ranging conversation, which covered everything from the demise of the ARC tunnel to the high cost of transit projects and the question of whether New York's transit system is too focused on Manhattan and rail.
February 23, 2011
Feds Green Light Funding for Better Nostrand Avenue Bus Service
A potential configuration for the Nostrand Avenue SBS Route. Image: NYCDOT. As Elana reported earlier today, the Obama Administration’s 2011 budget includes $28 million for the Nostrand Avenue Select Bus Service project. The announcement should help build momentum for a high-priority transit project set to launch in 2012. Nostrand Avenue SBS would ply the B44 … Continued
February 2, 2010
High Hopes — And Higher Standards — for Bloomberg 3.0
Our series on the next four years of NYC transportation policy continues with today's essay from Joan Byron, Director of the Pratt Center for Community Development's Sustainability and Environmental Justice Initiative. The Rudin Center for Transportation Policy recognized Byron's work at the Pratt Center with the 2009 Civic Leadership Award. Read previous entries in this series here and here.
November 17, 2009
COMMUTE’s BRT Plan: A Denser Network and Interborough Lines
COMMUTE's proposals for BRT routes in the five boroughs, shown next to DOT's current plan. View an enlarged version.
April 25, 2008
Peñalosa to New York Pols: BRT & Pricing Benefit Working Class
Streetfilms captured highlights of Enrique Penalosa's appearance with COMMUTE.
February 20, 2008
The Human Rights Argument For BRT And Pricing
A map produced by the Pratt Center [pdf] shows neighborhoods with a high concentration of low-income commuters with long commutes.
February 4, 2008
Pricing Alternatives Fail the “Reality Test”
A side-by-side comparison of PlaNYC congestion pricing and alternatives offered by pricing opponents shows that the Bloomberg proposal is the only one that would have an immediate impact on auto traffic while improving transit. Further, the report concludes that plans put forth by Congressman Anthony Weiner, Council Member Lew Fidler, and Keep NYC Congestion Tax Free would actually promote driving.
December 5, 2007