Judge to 14th St Busway opposition: ‘You’ll Live’

[Deucey]

https://gothamist.com/2019/08/06/14th_street_busway.php

New York City can now move ahead with a planned busway on 14th Street, after a group of Manhattan homeowners failed to convince a judge that the planned street design should be permanently halted. 

The lawsuit, brought by West Village resident Arthur Schwartz on behalf of several block associations, was filed just ahead of the project's expected implementation in July. The plaintiffs argued that the city had not undertaken a sufficient environmental review of the vehicle restrictions, which they claimed would cause “horrific traffic jams" on residential side streets while contributing to more pollution. The suit also demanded the removal of 12th and 13th Street bike lanes.

Shortly after, New York State Supreme Court Judge Eileen Rakower issued a temporary restraining order on the redesign—postponing the long-awaited transit project, and adding a combined 8,654 commuting hours for New Yorkers last month, according to advocates. 

That restraining order has now been lifted, and the city is free to resume the project. According to Rakower, the Department of Transportation "went to great lengths to describe the consideration that went into the analysis, considering pedestrian deaths, dangerous intersections and not just the speed of the bus that is going to traverse 14th Street."

DOT

The city's 18-month pilot program, which has broad support from transit advocates, will restrict private through traffic in both directions between 3rd and 9th Avenues, in order to reduce heavy congestion on the corridor and speed up the notoriously slow 14th Street buses. Paired with the recent arrival of Select Bus Service in the area, the city estimates that bus speeds will improve by as much as 30 percent for 27,000 daily riders.

"We've argued all along that what the city is doing on 14th Street in prioritizing bus traffic and passengers is fully authorized," Marco Conner of Transportation Alternatives told Gothamist. "We called the lawsuit by Arthur Schwartz 'frivolous.' This shows the city has a mandate to prioritize the safety and the efficient moving of New Yorkers." 

According to city officials, the busway will go into effect on August 12th. Following the hearing, Schwartz said he was still deciding whether to appeal the decision.

[Lawrence St]

Why are they even complaining? Ever since the shutdown planning started all theyve done is complain.

[Gotham Bus Co.]

The busway plan bans left turns from 14th Street. What about the M7, which just went back to making a left turn from 14th into 6th Avenue?

[MysteriousBtrain]

40 minutes ago, Gotham Bus Co. said:

The busway plan bans left turns from 14th Street. What about the M7, which just went back to making a left turn from 14th into 6th Avenue?

You do realize it's supposed to be buses and deliveries only 3rd-9th yeah?

[Future ENY OP]

2 hours ago, Lawrence St said:

Why are they even complaining? Ever since the shutdown planning started all theyve done is complain.

... and besides the  is running close to normal these days. Most of the work is considered done. Hence the 9/1 announcement with the B91A service. Thats scrapped. 

[B35 via Church]

8 hours ago, MysteriousBtrain said:

9 hours ago, Gotham Bus Co. said:

The busway plan bans left turns from 14th Street. What about the M7, which just went back to making a left turn from 14th into 6th Avenue?

You do realize it's supposed to be buses and deliveries only 3rd-9th yeah?

 

9 hours ago, Lawrence St said:

Why are they even complaining? Ever since the shutdown planning started all theyve done is complain.

7 hours ago, Future ENY OP said:

... and besides the  is running close to normal these days. Most of the work is considered done. Hence the 9/1 announcement with the B91A service. Thats scrapped. 

Not to say they don't have a gripe, but my god, who'd have thought  riders in Williamsburg & points west would end up being more irritating & bitchy (for lack of a better word) than  riders within Brooklyn CB6.....

[Gotham Bus Co.]

11 hours ago, MysteriousBtrain said:

You do realize it's supposed to be buses and deliveries only 3rd-9th yeah?

 

Actually, cars will also be allowed locally, but they will have to make the next available right turn. (https://www1.nyc.gov/html/brt/html/routes/14th-street.shtml)

 

I also realize that my question was about left turns from 14th Street. If left turns are banned, what will happen with the M7's left turn from 14th into 6th?

[Gotham Bus Co.]

12 hours ago, Lawrence St said:

Why are they even complaining? Ever since the shutdown planning started all theyve done is complain.

 

Because New Yorkers like to complain.  (BTW, Arthur Schwartz is also the lawyer for TWU Local 100.) 

[Lex]

8 minutes ago, Gotham Bus Co. said:

 

Because New Yorkers like to complain.  (BTW, Arthur Schwartz is also the lawyer for TWU Local 100.) 

Sounds like Local 100 needs a better lawyer...

[Wallyhorse]

12 hours ago, Lawrence St said:

Why are they even complaining? Ever since the shutdown planning started all theyve done is complain.

Probably because they fear many more cars on their blocks. 

[Lex]

12 minutes ago, Gotham Bus Co. said:

 

Actually, cars will also be allowed locally, but they will have to make the next available right turn. (https://www1.nyc.gov/html/brt/html/routes/14th-street.shtml)

 

I also realize that my question was about left turns from 14th Street. If left turns are banned, what will happen with the M7's left turn from 14th into 6th?

Unless a decision is made otherwise, nothing. After all, that route is scheduled to run every 10 minutes at best.

Also, keep in mind that some vehicles are granted exceptions for moves that are otherwise prohibited. Just look at Flatbush Avenue aand Atlantic Avenue. Unless they removed the exemption, the only vehicles allowed to make any (read: left) turns from Flatbush Avenue are buses (B63 to Pier 6, B45 to Ralph Avenue).

[MHV9218]

26 minutes ago, Gotham Bus Co. said:

 

Actually, cars will also be allowed locally, but they will have to make the next available right turn. (https://www1.nyc.gov/html/brt/html/routes/14th-street.shtml)

I also realize that my question was about left turns from 14th Street. If left turns are banned, what will happen with the M7's left turn from 14th into 6th?

It looks like it says that in your link.

"All vehicles are restricted from making left turns off of 14th Street (except MTA buses at signed locations)."

[MysteriousBtrain]

53 minutes ago, MHV9218 said:

It looks like it says that in your link.

"All vehicles are restricted from making left turns off of 14th Street (except MTA buses at signed locations)."

Thanks for posting the obvious

[Nova Fly Guy]

deleted 

Edited August 9, 2019 by Nova Fly Guy

[LGA Link N Train]

18 hours ago, Wallyhorse said:

Probably because they fear many more cars on their blocks. 

TBH, any person who doesn’t need to drive will look for another way to get around.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

On 8/8/2019 at 6:40 AM, MysteriousBtrain said:

You do realize it's supposed to be buses and deliveries only 3rd-9th yeah?

He clearly does not. Those sorts of things always exempt buses. There's a similar thing on Columbus Avenue near Lincoln Center. The express bus and local buses are exempt in that case too.

[checkmatechamp13]

3 hours ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

He clearly does not. Those sorts of things always exempt buses. There's a similar thing on Columbus Avenue near Lincoln Center. The express bus and local buses are exempt in that case too.

Not always. Along 34th (and soon on 42nd) there were intersections (I think 7th Avenue for both) where buses are no longer permitted to make left turns (whereas before it was buses only)

[Via Garibaldi 8]

3 minutes ago, checkmatechamp13 said:

Not always. Along 34th (and soon on 42nd) there were intersections (I think 7th Avenue for both) where buses are no longer permitted to make left turns (whereas before it was buses only)

Those were recent changes though and sometimes a decision made collectively between the  and the DOT.

[Gotham Bus Co.]

3 hours ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

He clearly does not. Those sorts of things always exempt buses. 

Not always. Sometimes traffic engineers see buses as the enemy of automobiles.

[Lawrence St]

https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/transit/2019/08/09/14th-street-manhattan-busway-ban-on-most-cars-delayed-amid-appeal

 

You have got to be kidding me...

[Lil 57]

1 hour ago, Lawrence St said:

https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/transit/2019/08/09/14th-street-manhattan-busway-ban-on-most-cars-delayed-amid-appeal

 

You have got to be kidding me...

I knew it. They might as well start unwrapping the buses and start taking the SBS machines away.

Edited August 9, 2019 by Lil 57

[Future ENY OP]

On 8/8/2019 at 6:23 PM, Lex said:

Unless a decision is made otherwise, nothing. After all, that route is scheduled to run every 10 minutes at best.

Also, keep in mind that some vehicles are granted exceptions for moves that are otherwise prohibited. Just look at Flatbush Avenue aand Atlantic Avenue. Unless they removed the exemption, the only vehicles allowed to make any (read: left) turns from Flatbush Avenue are buses (B63 to Pier 6, B45 to Ralph Avenue).

B54- Flatbush/Myrtle (Ridgewood bound) also fits in that example. 

[Future ENY OP]

1 hour ago, Lawrence St said:

https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/transit/2019/08/09/14th-street-manhattan-busway-ban-on-most-cars-delayed-amid-appeal

 

You have got to be kidding me...

What a Hail Mary. 😩🤦🏽‍♂️

[Lawrence St]

12 hours ago, Lil 57 said:

I knew it. They might as well start unwrapping the buses and start taking the SBS machines away.

I don't know why they didnt just cancel the M14SBS. This is ridiculous.

[R68OnBroadway]

2 hours ago, Lawrence St said:

I don't know why they didnt just cancel the M14SBS. This is ridiculous.

Why should we bow down to the NIMBYs? They can only appeal so much...