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Fourteenth Street has long been one of Manhattan’s busiest cross-town arteries—connecting Union Square, the East Village, Chelsea and the Meatpacking District in a single, chaotic sweep. Soon, it may look very different.
New York City officials have launched a public planning process to permanently redesign the entire corridor from river to river, marking the first major overhaul of 14th Street in decades. The effort, known as “The 14th Street Plan: Keeping People Moving and Business Booming,” will explore upgrades to pedestrian space, greenery, plazas and safety features while preserving the street’s now-famous busway.
Installed in late 2019, the 14th Street busway restricted most through-traffic and prioritized buses across the corridor. The results were dramatic: bus speeds increased by as much as 24 percent and ridership jumped up to 30 percent on routes that carry roughly 28,000 riders a day.
“The 14th Street busway is already a success—faster buses, higher ridership, safer streets. But we’re not stopping at a coat of paint,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “We’re taking it to the next level with greenery, pedestrian space and stronger safety infrastructure.”
The redesign aims to turn what is currently a largely utilitarian bus corridor into something closer to a destination street. Plans under consideration include expanded pedestrian areas, new landscaping and upgraded public spaces linking major neighborhood hubs along the route, from Avenue B and Union Square to the Meatpacking District and Hudson River Park.
Right now, the city is beginning a $3 million design study expected to run for 24 months. The city is contributing $2 million to the effort, with another $1 million coming from the Union Square Partnership and the Meatpacking District Management Association.
“This process will deliver truly transformational, permanently constructed upgrades for the corridor that capitalize on the benefits of the busway and create a world-class street from river to river,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn.
Local groups say the redesign could reshape how New Yorkers experience one of Manhattan’s most heavily traveled streets.
“In the Meatpacking District, we’ve seen firsthand how investing in people-centered public space transforms neighborhoods for the better,” said Jeffrey LeFrancois, president of the Meatpacking District Management Association. “The 14th Street Plan is a generational opportunity to significantly improve this vital, busy corridor.”
For now, the city is asking New Yorkers to weigh in.
The first public workshop for the project will take place on March 25 at Pratt Institute on West 14th Street, where residents, commuters and business owners can share ideas about the future of the corridor. In other words, if you’ve ever had thoughts about how 14th Street could work better, now’s your moment.