125th Street Redesign Would Add Trees, Bike Lanes & More: See It

HARLEM, NY — Picture it: the noisy congestion of 125th Street eased by new dedicated bus and bike lanes. Newly planted trees cool the air and curb pollution, while containerized trash cans get litter off the streets.

All of these changes are part of a new proposal unveiled Wednesday to redesign Harlem's "Main Street," along with four other thoroughfares around the five boroughs that currently leave little room for pedestrians, cyclists — and pretty much anything that isn't a car.

The plan was put together by Transportation Alternatives, an advocacy group working to "reclaim New York City’s streets from cars," and the transportation company Via. Though they have no formal political backing yet, the proposals are being rolled out just before a new mayor and City Council take office in January, with the power to implement many of the ideas.

Indeed, Central Harlem's incoming Councilmember, Kristin Richardson Jordan, told Patch on Wednesday that she would support such a plan.

"The bus lane is always blocked"

125th Street was chosen for a redesign since it serves as a crucial crosstown corridor, lined with dozens of retail stores and restaurants as well as 79 nursing homes, hospitals, childcare centers and schools, researchers said.

Despite its heavy use, most of 125th is devoted to private cars, which constantly block its bus-only lane. Meanwhile, traffic safety is abysmal: a recent study named 125th Street one of the nation's most dangerous streets for pedestrians, based on the number of fatal crashes recorded there in recent years.

More than a third of the 60 public comments submitted about 125th Street mentioned that bus service is "frustratingly unreliable" due to constant double-parking in the street's two bus lanes, the researchers said, adding that Community Board 10 ranks last in the city in bus speed and reliability.

"This bus lane is always blocked and becomes useless as busses have to merge into traffic," one anonymous resident wrote. "I sat on the M60 for an hour just to make it from Amsterdam to the [Metro-North] station."

To combat that trend, the proposal would move the bus lanes into the center of 125th Street, mimicking the 14th Street busway that has managed to significantly speed up buses on that corridor. A two-way bike lane could then be added to the south side of the street, with room still for two car travel lanes and delivery and loading zones.

Asthma-fighting trees

Another aspect of the proposal revolves around trees. As it stands, 125th Street is largely devoid of any greenery, and the planting pits that do exist are notably small, constraining tree growth and canopy size.

Tree cover is a key equity issue, the researchers point out: trees can lower temperatures in summertime, absorb rainwater to reduce flooding, and convert CO2 into oxygen, helping to curb asthma rates. (Central Harlem's air pollution is above the citywide average, according to city health data.)

Drawings in the proposal show newly planted trees running along both sides of 125th Street, and along a new central median.

Another proposal would replace some parking spots with containerized trash cans, helping to curb Harlem's infamous garbage pileups and rat infestations. Other parking spots, meanwhile, could hold secure bike-parking receptacles.

Jordan voices support

The power to implement any of the proposals will belong to New York City's incoming Mayor, Eric Adams, whose Department of Transportation will be charged with regulating the city's streets.

But local Council members, too, can have a major influence on street design. Kristin Richardson Jordan will represent much of the 125th Street corridor when she takes office Jan. 1 in District 9.

Jordan told Patch on Wednesday that she supported measures to reduce congestion on 125th Street, pointing to her campaign materials calling for "a solution that helps move people, busses, taxis, and bicycles faster and safer."

5/ Nearly one-third of comments we got for 125th Street in Manhattan were about unreliable bus service and blocked bus lanes.

Our vision adds a center-running bus lane to prevent double parking, creates more space for street trees, and installs secure bike parking near subways. pic.twitter.com/fR7wLgzdsX
— Transportation Alternatives (@TransAlt) December 8, 2021

"Harlem has traditionally been left out of these types of projects and investments, but as council member I will bring similar initiatives and creative street redesign to Central Harlem," Jordan wrote. Asked about the Transportation Alternatives plan, Jordan said she would "be happy to" back it in the Council.

The proposals are part of Transportation Alternatives' "25x25" initiative, which pushes city officials to reallocate 25 percent of the city's streets away from private cars by 2025, in favor of "space for people."

Read through the 125th Street proposal here, view an interactive version here, and view public comments here.

Have a Harlem news tip? Contact reporter Nick Garber at [email protected].

Related coverage:

• Harlem's 125th Street One Of Deadliest In US, Study Says
• Crash Injuries Rise In Harlem In 2021, Data Shows