Third Avenue Redesign Plan Revealed

The plan to reimagine Manhattan’s Third Avenue to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists is being applauded by advocates, but some say the city should go further to provide more space for multimodal transportation.

2 minute read

October 18, 2022, 5:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


View of Third Avenue in New York City with cars

Ryan DeBerardinis / Third Avenue, New York City

A New York City street that some call “an inhospitable and dangerous traffic sewer” will soon be reimagined as a multimodal corridor, per a Streetsblog NYC article by Julianne Cuba.

After months of advocacy from local pols and activists — and a shiny spread in New York Magazine showcasing what a reimagined current seven-lane Third Avenue could be — the Department of Transportation on Wednesday night unveiled its plans to a Manhattan Community Board 8 panel to take away two lanes of moving traffic in order to make room for a protected bike lane and designated bus lane on the corridor between E. 59th and E. 96th streets.

According to Cuba, “The plan, which also includes taking away parking spaces near intersections to allow for pedestrian islands and shorter crossing times, will not only help cyclists, but also pedestrians and the more than 50,000 bus riders daily, who currently suffer from exhaustingly slow commutes on the more than 150 buses that traverse the thoroughfare.”

While approving of the new changes, some advocates want the city to install additional protective bike infrastructure and wider sidewalks, with the article indicating that “it’s well documented that the existing protected bike lanes on First and Second avenues are already overcrowded and in need of widening.”

Cuba notes that the project is expected to break ground next year, and plans for the rest of Third Avenue are yet to be finalized.

Thursday, October 13, 2022 in StreetsBlog NYC

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Floor-to-ceiling rotating gates at Fairmount subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems

SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

April 28 - Mass Transit

South LA Wetlands Park in Los Angeles, California.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope

Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

April 28 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

Intersection in downtown Sacramento, California with neoclassical building with columns on left.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects

The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.

April 28 - The Sacramento Bee