Letter from FHWA Administrator McMaster to NYSDOT and NYCDOT Regarding Proposed Busway for 34th Street Corridor Across Manhattan

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration

Office of the Administrator

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington DC, 20590

October 16, 2025

Ms. Marie Therese Dominguez, Commissioner
New York State Department of Transportation
50 Wolf Road
Albany, NY 12232

Mr. Ydanis Rodriguez, Commissioner
New York City Department of Transportation
55 Water Street, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10041

Subject: NYCDOT Proposed Busway for 34th Street in Manhattan

Dear Commissioner Dominguez and Commissioner Rodriguez:

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is charged with the responsibility of protecting the integrity of the National Highway System (NHS), as well as the public trust of the Federal-aid highway program. For this reason, I am writing to follow up on the September 8 letter to you from Richard Marquis, FHWA New York Division Administrator, regarding the proposed busway for the 34th Street corridor across Manhattan, along with several other busway projects throughout New York City.

The September 8 letter outlined a number of concerns FHWA has with the proposed 34th Street busway and requested detailed information on the project. To date, you have not responded formally to this request. Moreover, it appears the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) is proceeding to implement the project, despite the concerns raised by FHWA. This action is unacceptable and puts at risk decisions regarding pending and future Federal-aid projects. As the Federal-aid highway program is administered through the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), it is incumbent upon NYSDOT to ensure that NYCDOT's actions with respect to this project comply with all Federal requirements.

To reiterate, specifically, FHWA is concerned about the lack of coordination between NYCDOT, NYSDOT, and the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Council on this regionally significant project, seemingly in violation of FHWA's planning regulations at 23 CFR Part 450. In addition, the 34th Street corridor is currently a route on the NHS, and it is unclear how implementation of the proposed busway would ensure the corridor remains compliant with the applicable standards at 23 U.S.C § 103(b). The September 8 letter also raised potential concerns regarding truck access, and whether the busway can safely and efficiently accommodate large vehicle deliveries.

Given these concerns, and NYCDOT's lack ofresponse, I demand you cease and desist all activities to implement the 34th Street busway project immediately, until a meeting occurs between NYCDOT, NYSDOT, and FHWA to discuss the project and its implications. Please respond within seven (7) business days, indicating the dates when NYCDOT and NYSDOT are available to meet. Until such meeting is scheduled and FHWA's concerns are addressed, NYSDOT should work with NYCDOT to ensure additional project actions are not implemented.

If NYCDOT and NYSDOT refuse to meet on this project and continue to proceed in a manner that is not compliant with Federal law, I will implement appropriate remedial actions pursuant to 23 CFR § 1.36. These actions could entail withholding project authorizations and approvals, restricting the obligation of funding, limiting transfers, or other actions deemed necessary. I also reiterate Mr. Marquis's request for additional information regarding other busways in New York City that are on the NHS and expect you will provide such information shortly.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Sean McMaster
FHWA Administrator