Mayor Mamdani to bar most cars on East Tremont Avenue for faster buses

At a press event in Walter Gladwin Park, Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled a busway revival for East Tremont Avenue, slated to start on Sept. 19 with a daytime ban on most private cars. The restriction, which runs from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., will exempt large trucks, access-a-ride vans and emergency vehicles, while dedicating the lane to eastbound and westbound Bx36 buses over specific blocks. City Hall projects a 60% increase in bus speed and a six-minute reduction in travel time, citing safety gains for pedestrians and cyclists.

Residents such as Hector, 66, and barber Julio Martinez warned the measure could hurt daily routines and local businesses. Critics, including former mayor Eric Adams’ administration and transit expert Allan Rosen, expressed doubt about the promised speed gains, recalling past DOT lane projects that fell short of expectations.