Brooklyn DOT Begins DeKalb and Lafayette Redesign for Faster Buses
Construction started Thursday on 2.7 miles of new bus and bike lanes aimed at fixing 4 mph peak-hour speeds.
By David Almasi ·
City Department of Transportation crews began construction Thursday on a major overhaul of DeKalb and Lafayette Avenues in Brooklyn. The project will add nearly three miles of dedicated bus lanes and protected bicycle infrastructure to the parallel one-way streets.
Work involves painting curbside and offset lanes along 2.7 miles of each road. On DeKalb Avenue, the lanes will extend from Flatbush Avenue to Broadway. On Lafayette Avenue, the changes will run from Ashland Place to Patchen Avenue. The redesign targets the B38 bus route, which carries 18,000 riders daily.
MTA data shows buses on these streets move as slow as 4 miles per hour during morning and evening peaks. The DOT states the project is necessary because 80% of residents living within a quarter mile of the B38 commute via public transit, biking, or walking. Additionally, 62% of households along the corridor do not own a car.
Safety data underscores the need for physical separation on these streets. DOT records show 841 reported injuries on DeKalb and Lafayette since 2021. Of those, 47 were severe and one was fatal. Pedestrians and cyclists accounted for 310 of the total injuries and 22 of the severe cases over the last five years.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the project aims to balance speed and safety for commuters. He stated that New Yorkers should not have to choose between arriving on time and arriving safely. Mamdani noted the administration is building streets that respect residents' time and prioritize safety.
DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn emphasized that zip codes should not dictate access to affordable transportation. Flynn said the redesign will increase bus speeds and reliability while creating calmer corridors for pedestrians. He described the changes as a move to improve routes for all road users.
This work is part of the joint city-state plan called Next Stop, which targets 50 priority corridors. The plan pledges to boost bus speeds by at least 20% on routes serving 175 lines. The administration previously completed a busway on Tremont Avenue in the Bronx in September and is currently constructing lanes on Fordham Road and Flatbush Avenue.
