Bus Stop

Usage: Wide

A dedicated space for passengers to get on and off buses. Bus stops are delineated on the sidewalk with signage indicating the routes served, and sometimes include shelters as an amenity for bus riders. They may be located on the near or far side of an intersection, or less frequently, at a midblock location. Bus Stops may also be located on Boarding Islands or Bus Bulbs.

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Story Avenue, Bronx
Court Street, Brooklyn

Benefits

  • Provides dedicated space for bus boarding and alighting
  • Creates linkages between transit and neighborhood destinations

Considerations

  • Driveways can create challenges for ramp or lift operations at an accessible bus stop. Special attention should be given to stop locations to reduce this conflict as much as feasible
  • Elevated subway infrastructure can make it difficult to site easily accessible bus stops and may warrant a Bus Bulb or Bus Boarding Islands
  • Stop spacing, determined by the MTA, is based on the route type (local, limited, rush, SBS, and express routes). Local routes prioritize shorter distances to access a stop but tend to operate at slower speeds compared to limited or express routes, which have fewer stops

Application

  • DOT coordinates with transit providers, including MTA, Westchester County’s Bee Line, and Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE Bus), to install and maintain bus stops along each of their routes serving NYC

Design

  • Accessible boarding areas must be included for bus passengers
  • Buses can only load/unload on the right-hand side
  • In order to ensure accessibility at bus stops, vertical elements should remain outside of door clear zones, and Ribbon Sidewalks shall not be installed at bus stops

Stop Placement & Intersection Configuration

  • Far-Side, In-Lane Stop
    • Generally the preferred configuration by the MTA when multiple lanes of traffic are present in each direction. In-lane stops take away less curb space than pull-out stops, as buses are not required to shift to the curb.
  • Far-Side, Pull-Out Stop
    • Preferred pull-out configuration by the MTA. Allows buses to use the intersection to merge to the curbside lane and avoid conflicts with turning vehicles.
    • Uses the least amount of curbside space compared to other pull-out stops.
  • Near-Side, In-Lane Stop
    • Facilitates in-lane stops where turning movements and queued vehicles do not block the intersection.
    • Preferred on corridors with one travel lane per direction, often found under elevated subway lines (e.g., 31st St in Astoria, Queens).
    • Preserves curb space as buses do not shift to the curb.
  • Near-Side, Pull-Out Stop
    • Favors vehicle traffic flow, with limited benefits to transit. May also function as a right-turn lane in high-traffic areas.
  • Mid-Block, In-Lane Stop
    • Most appropriate where there are large mid-block destinations with high access needs.
    • Preserves curb space as buses do not shift to the curb.
  • Mid-Block, Pull-Out Stop
    • Most applicable near large mid-block destinations.
    • This configuration requires the most curbside space.

Stop Length Minimums

  • The length of a bus stop extends from the bus pole to the next curb regulation (near-side and mid-block) or to the crosswalk (far-side). Length depends on bus frequency and sizes. When multiple bus types use a stop, it should be designed for the longest vehicle. Review Roadway Design, Vehicle Swept Path Analysis, and Emergency Access.
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