About Bus Network Redesigns

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Redesigning a bus network is a collaborative planning effort to determine where today's bus service should go. A bus network redesign includes changes to the routes, frequencies, and spans of service, in a way that dynamically responds and adapts to the needs and travel patterns of customers and reallocates available resources where they will have the greatest impact.

Tradeoffs in bus network redesigns

Due to operating resource constraints, transit agencies and the public must choose how best to create the network they want. Working together to determine the answers to questions like the ones posed below, transit agencies and the public can prioritize certain features over others and allocate resources accordingly.

Here are some of the examples of tradeoffs cities and communities make during the redesign process:

Ridership versus coverage
Connections versus one-seat rides
Faster trips versus more stops

A graphic depicting the trade-offs between direct, high-frequency service on one main corridor versus indirect, less frequent service on several routes.

A graphic depicting the trade-offs between straight, direct routes that may require a transfer versus circuitous, meandering, indirect routes that provide a one-seat ride.

A graphic depicting the trade-off between greater distances between bus stops that require a bus to exit and re-enter traffic less often and shorter distances between bus stops.

The MTA’s bus route types

The MTA’s fully redesigned bus network will consist of the following five route classifications. These route types are designed to interact as one network to provide broad connectivity within and between neighborhoods across the city, serving the diverse transportation needs of the city’s residents, workers, and visitors.

Local

Stops spaced approximately 1/4 mile apart
Frequencies based on demand in the areas they serve
Connects between neighborhoods, transit hubs, and key destinations

Average bus stop spacing: 1,000–1,320 feet (1/4 mile)

Limited

Average stop spacing of 1/3 mile and frequent all-day service
Stops located at high ridership locations or key transfer points and destinations
Combine with SBS routes to form a high-frequency core network
These routes serve high-ridership, high-density areas

Average bus stop spacing: 1,760 feet (1/3 mile)

Rush

Stop spacing pattern to consist of local and limited zones
Average stop spacing for local is approximately 1/4 mile; limited is 1/3 mile with stops at key transfer points and destinations
More frequent in AM/PM peak periods
Quickly connects outer-borough neighborhoods to the subway

Average bus stop spacing: 1/4 mile in local zone, 1/3 mile in limited zone

Select Bus Service (SBS)/Crosstown

Wide stop spacing and frequent all-day service
Have busways or bus lanes on a significant portion of their route length
Bus stops with amenities
Combine with Limited routes to form a high-frequency core network
These routes serve high-ridership, high-density areas

Average bus stop spacing: 2,640 feet (1/2 mile)

Express

Connects neighborhoods in the outer boroughs to the Central Business District of Manhattan
Charge premium fare
Long non-stop portion along high-speed corridor
More frequent in AM/PM peak periods with little off-peak/weekend service

Average bus stop spacing: 1,760 feet (1/3 mile), excluding non-stop portion

A graphic showing the characteristics of Local, Limited, Rush, SBS/Crosstown, and Express Bus routes.

Distance between bus stops for each route type

While it may be convenient to have a bus stop right outside your door, too many bus stops too close together dramatically slow down the bus and worsen reliability. Each time the bus stops, it must exit traffic, load and unload passengers, and wait to reenter traffic, resulting in decreased speed and increased travel times. The waiting time for a bus to re-enter traffic can range from 20 seconds during off-peak travel times to more than one minute during peak rush hour. By maintaining appropriate spacing between bus stops, we can keep buses moving with the flow of traffic and get riders where they need to go more quickly.

The following is typical bus stop spacing for each of our five route types. Each distance refers to the average stop spacing for an entire route (or, for Rush routes, a section of a route). Note that based on local conditions – including ridership, land use, and block length – some route averages will fall below the typical stop spacing and some route averages will fall above.

Local routes: Average stop spacing of approximately 1,000–1,320 feet between stops. The distance between consecutive stops should generally not be less than 750 feet or exceed 1,500 feet.

Consecutive stops may exceed 1,500 feet if an intermediate stop cannot be added because:
- The surrounding land use makes adding a stop infeasible (e.g. large parks, bridges, tunnels, busy or extensive driveways).
- A bus stop location would create operational challenges for a turn on the route.
- There is no crosswalk for pedestrian safety.
- A bus stop in the route’s opposite direction is infeasible, as stop pairs are preferred for customer convenience and system legibility.
Limited routes: Average stop spacing of approximately 1,760 feet (1/3 mile) between stops. Stops should be located primarily at high ridership locations or key transfer points and destinations to ensure faster travel.
Rush routes: Local zone should follow the local route guidelines. The limited zone should have an average stop spacing of approximately 1,760 feet (1/3 mile), with stops located only at key transfer points and destinations to ensure faster travel.
Select Bus Service (SBS)/Crosstown routes: Average stop spacing of approximately 2,640 feet (1/2 mile) between stops. Stops should be located primarily at high ridership locations or key transfer points and destinations to ensure faster travel. Some SBS routes without an underlying Local route have closer average stop spacing.
Express routes: average stop spacing of approximately 1,760 feet (1/3 mile) between stops, excluding non-stop segments.

For all route types, the distance between consecutive stops should not be less than 750 feet unless one or both closely spaced stops are:

Transfer points.
Adjacent to key destinations such as schools, hospitals, or senior centers.
On a hill or other difficult terrain/land use.
In areas with a high concentration of seniors (75+) or people with disabilities.

Note that from 10pm to 5am, customers can ask their bus operator to let them off at locations that aren’t bus stops on local and express routes.