Special Reports
Streetsblog Basics
Mapping Life Without the L Train
This fall, DOT and the MTA will unveil their plan to keep New Yorkers moving when the L train west of Bedford Avenue shuts down for repairs. But what if the L train went away and nothing took its place? A new mapping tool from Sidewalk Labs, “NYC Transit Explorer,” shows how far you can get via transit from any point in a given amount of time. It also includes an option to see how things change when you strip the western segment of the L train out of the system.
February 24, 2017
DOT and MTA Expect to Reveal L Train Replacement Plan This Fall
DOT and the MTA have a timetable for releasing their plan to keep L train riders moving when the western portion of the line is shut down for Sandy-related repairs. At a workshop last night, the agencies said they would release a preliminary plan in the spring and a final plan in the fall, with implementation to follow in 2018.
February 17, 2017
4 Ways the Mayor Can Reduce Congestion Without Congestion Pricing
Mayor de Blasio's forthcoming congestion plan won't call for traffic pricing, but the mayor has plenty of other options to reduce traffic congestion. Here are four policies that would provide much-needed congestion relief on NYC streets -- it's difficult to imagine any City Hall traffic reduction initiative that doesn't include some of these ideas.
February 15, 2017
When Grand Street Loses the L Train, It’s Gonna Need a Car-Free PeopleWay
Without the L train, Grand Street will be gridlocked by a surge of car traffic, unless dramatic action is taken to prioritize surface transit, biking, and walking.
February 3, 2017
Senate Dems Put Out Their Own Trillion Dollar Infrastructure Plan
Senate Democrats have an infrastructure "blueprint" of their own, one that's weighted toward transit. The trouble is that Democrats have little power to set terms, and getting drawn into negotiations over an unnecessary infrastructure bill may not play out to their advantage.
January 24, 2017
Bus Lanes Alone Aren’t Enough to Give NYC Buses a Clear Path
This short video makes a compelling case to turn 14th Street into a car-free transit priority route when the L train shuts down. Regular bus lanes on a street shared with cars won't get the job done.
January 19, 2017
Without the L Train, the Best Shot to Avoid Traffic Hell Is a Car-Free 14th Street
If you think traffic will get worse with a car-free 14th Street, imagine what would happen if there's no L train and the city fails to make surface transit an appealing option.
January 6, 2017
Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway Coming to Life on West Street
A two-way protected bike lane is taking shape on seven blocks of West Street in Greenpoint, one of 23 segments that will eventually comprise the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway.
January 5, 2017
Here’s the Plan to Keep Transit Riders Moving During the L Shutdown
The Regional Plan Association has released a new plan to beef up bus and train service for L train riders who'll need robust transit once the western part of the line shuts down for Sandy-related repairs.
November 16, 2016
Scores of New Yorkers Turn Out to Reimagine 14th Street
A capacity crowd of around 80 people gathered at a community center in Chelsea last night to brainstorm the future of 14th Street.
November 11, 2016