The city has halted work on the 34th Street busway project, at least for now, the Federal Highway Administration said Friday, raising new questions about the future of one of the city\u2019s most ambitious transit projects.<\/p>\n
In a letter made public Friday, the Federal Highway Administration said it had asked the city\u2019s Department of Transportation to suspend construction on the car-free corridor until officials address federal concerns about how the redesign would affect freight traffic and emergency vehicles, and until city and state Department of Transportation officials meet with the FWHA to discuss the project.<\/p>\n
The directive, signed by FHWA Administrator Sean McMaster, follows an earlier letter from the agency in September that said the city\u2019s plans appeared to lack adequate provisions for large commercial trucks that depend on the Midtown route. Federal officials also cited the need to confirm that 34th Street \u2014 which forms part of the National Highway System \u2014 would continue to meet federal safety and accessibility standards.<\/p>\n
In a statement, a spokesperson for the city Department of Transportation said the agency is \u201cconfident that the design complies with all applicable federal laws and regulations\u201d and added that the DOT \u201cwill work with the federal government to advance this critical project.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe vast majority of commuters in Midtown are traveling by transit and they deserve world-class, fast, and reliable buses,\u201d the statement reads. \u201cThe redesign for 34th Street mirrors other street designs from across the city and allows for truck, private, and emergency vehicle access on every block.\u201d<\/p>\n