Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced plans to overhaul sections of Brooklyn’s Linden Boulevard, a corridor that has become so dangerous some lawmakers now call it the city’s “new Boulevard of Death.”
Safety Upgrades for a High-Crash Corridor
City transportation department officials recently presented a redesign targeting a one-mile stretch of the boulevard between Fountain and Conduit avenues. The plan introduces expanded pedestrian space, concrete islands, and new intersections at Pine and Emerald Streets.
A central feature of the overhaul is the creation of new bus lanes that will be strictly off-limits to passenger cars 24 hours a day. These lanes will be moved to the main part of the roadway to prevent buses from becoming trapped behind double-parked cars on service roads.
The redesign aims to discourage reckless driving and provide safer crossing options for residents navigating the 140-foot-wide boulevard. Officials expect the work to be completed by the summer of 2027.
The Drive for Reform
The announcement follows a series of tragedies, including two hit-and-run deaths last month, one of which involved a 4-year-old boy. Since 2021, nine people have been killed in car crashes along this busy corridor.
While only one of those deaths occurred within the specific one-mile section slated for redesign—a 2021 crash involving a speeding sedan—Mayor Mamdani stated the project would facilitate make the entire street safer. He noted that 60,000 New Yorkers rely on these buses daily for school, work, and groceries.
A Pattern of Brooklyn Redesigns
This project is part of a larger effort by the Mamdani administration to aggressively redesign Brooklyn streets. The mayor has already moved forward with new bus lanes on Flatbush Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn.
the administration has advanced a plan for Grand Army Plaza that would ban cars from the space between the arch and the park. These initiatives reflect a stated goal of putting people first in city planning.
Potential for Future Expansion
Street safety advocates, including Alexa Sledge of Transportation Alternatives, have expressed support for the plan but are pushing for more. Sledge indicated that the group hopes the safety improvements could be extended to the full 6-mile stretch of Linden Boulevard from Flatbush to Ozone Park.
If implemented, such an expansion may further reduce the risks for pedestrians and commuters across the entire roadway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which specific part of Linden Boulevard is being redesigned?
The redesign focuses on a one-mile stretch of the street located between Fountain and Conduit avenues.
Why are the new bus lanes being moved to the main roadway?
The transportation department found that buses were frequently stuck behind double-parked cars on the service road, causing them to move at speeds as low as 4 mph.
What is the timeline for the completion of these upgrades?
Officials plan to complete the redesign work in the summer of 2027.
Do you believe prioritizing bus lanes over passenger car access is the most effective way to reduce city traffic fatalities?
