how-new-dot-bus-bike-lanes-could-affect-contractors

Beep, Beep! How New DOT Bus and Bike Lanes Could Affect Contractors

If you’re a contractor with active Department of Transportation permits in New York City, a couple of recently-announced DOT initiatives may impact your projects through at least the end of 2022.

First, let’s take a look at the programs in question:

Better Barriers Pilot Program

Announced June 10, 2022, the Better Barriers Pilot Program will be testing new materials for more durable bike lane barriers.

Pilot materials will be placed at the following locations:

Avenue C, East 3rd Street to East 13th Street (Manhattan)
Union Square East, East 15th to East 17th Street (Manhattan)
Quay Street, Franklin Street to West Street (Brooklyn)
34th Avenue, multiple blocks along Open Street (Queens)
Northern Boulevard, 41st Avenue to 36th Street (Queens)
Edward L. Grant Highway, Plimpton Avenue to West 169th Street (Bronx) (protected bus lane test).

The barriers will be set up throughout the summer and will be tested throughout the fall and winter to test their durability in extreme weather conditions.

Better Buses Action Plan

In a June 17, 2022, press conference, the MTA and DOT announced aims to complete 150 miles of new and enhanced bus lanes and busways over the next four years, beginning with 20 miles in 2022 on the following corridors:

Fordham Road and 207th Street, between 10th Avenue and White Plains Road in Manhattan and the Bronx (3.0 miles);
Gun Hill Road, between Bainbridge Avenue and Bartow Avenue in the Bronx (3.8 miles);
University Avenue, between Kingsbridge Road and Washington Bridge in the Bronx (3.4 miles);
Westchester Avenue at Pelham Bay Park Station in the Bronx (0.1 miles);
First Avenue between 61st Street and 79th Street in Manhattan (0.9 miles);
Avenues A and D, various segments in Manhattan (1.0 mile);
21st Street, between the RFK Bridge and the Queensboro Bridge in Queens (3.4 miles); and
Northern Boulevard, between Broadway and 114th Street in Queens (5.4 miles).

What This Means for Contractors

According to our experts, if a contractor has active DOT permits for a lane occupancy in the designated areas above, DOT will notify the contractor or the DOT Permit Filing representative that they are required to temporarily remove any and all construction equipment or material from the road (parking lane) until the enhancement work on their area has been completed.

This notification should occur a few weeks in advance of when they expect to be in the area, so contractors and filing representatives will have time to plan their work accordingly.

For assistance with your DOT permits, and with how to navigate the latest construction guidelines, please reach out to Outsource Consultants today.

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