Press Releases

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2026
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NYC DOT Starts Construction to Deliver Permanent Upgrades to Manhattan's Avenue B Open Street, With New Pedestrian Space and Bike Connections

Redesign of popular East Village Open Street will bring expanded pedestrian space, safety upgrades, dedicated vehicle loading zones, and calm, comfortable cycling experience

Project will redesign intersections to improve visibility and expand pedestrian space

New Yorkers on the Avenue B Open Street. Credit: Street Lab

NEW YORK - New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today announced the agency has started construction on the redesign of the Avenue B Open Street with expanded pedestrian space, new cycling connections, and safety improvements for everyone from East Fourth Street to East 12th Street. The innovative street redesign builds on the success of the popular Open Street by prioritizing pedestrian and cyclist safety and improving connections and safety to Tompkins Square Park and nearby schools.

"The Avenue B Open Street has been a central meeting place for neighbors, families, and friends for years, serving as a connecting point to nearby schools, Tompkins Square Park, and other points through the East Village," said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. "By moving forward with this permanent redesign, we are showing that streets are public spaces that can be transformed into something that benefits everyone."

Rendering showing the design for Avenue B with expanded pedestrian space and safety upgrades. Credit: NYC DOT

Through redesigns of intersections, new loading zones, and a series of one-way vehicle traffic reversals, NYC DOT will naturally reduce vehicle volumes along Avenue B to create a welcoming pedestrian corridor and a high-comfort two-way cycling experience. NYC DOT expects the project to be completed over the next several weeks, weather permitting.

The new design converts vehicle traffic to the northbound direction for a portion of the project area from East Seventh Street to East 10th Street. This naturally reduces traffic volumes to only necessary local access. Emergency vehicles and other city vehicles, like sanitation trucks, can still access Avenue B under the new design.

The agency will redesign every intersection in the project area with new pedestrian curb extensions that are protected with planters, bike corrals, granite blocks, or other elements.

These sidewalk expansions will provide the triple benefit of creating more public space for pedestrians and shortening crossing distances while also improving visibility between crossing pedestrians and other road users.

The agency will also install neighborhood loading zones at the start and end of every block to help reduce large truck traffic on the corridor. Vans are permitted to use the corridor for deliveries, loading, and unloading. Pedestrians are encouraged to continue using Avenue B during Open Street hours, which remain in effect from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

"The success of the Avenue B Open Street has shown what's possible when we design our streets for people, not just cars," said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal. "This redesign will create a safer, greener, and more welcoming corridor for the thousands of Manhattanites who walk, bike, and gather around Tompkins Square Park every day, while improving connections to nearby schools and local businesses. I'm grateful to Commissioner Flynn and the entire DOT team for continuing to invest in people-first street design that makes our neighborhoods safer, more vibrant, and more livable."

"Our neighborhood is at its best when our streets work for everyone - and this redesign of Avenue B brings helps us achieve that vision," said Assembly Member Keith Powers. "Expanding pedestrian space, improving cycling connections, and enhancing safety around Tompkins Square Park and our local schools is exactly the kind of investment the East Village deserves. I look forward seeing this transformation come to fruition."

"The Avenue B Open Street has become a vital public space for our community, giving New Yorkers a safer, more welcoming place to walk, bike, and gather," said Council Member Harvey Epstein. "This redesign builds on that success by improving pedestrian safety, creating stronger cycling connections, and making the corridor more accessible for everyone while maintaining local access for residents and businesses. I'm grateful to NYC DOT and the many community members who helped shape this project, and I look forward to seeing these improvements enhance quality of life for everyone in the neighborhood."

"The Avenue B Open Street showed how rethinking street space can create a more welcoming neighborhood corridor," said Regional Plan Association Director of Communications Dr. Sam Bowden Akbari. "This redesign takes that concept further with permanent safety and mobility improvements that make it easier and more comfortable to walk, bike, and connect to destinations like Tompkins Square Park while maintaining local access."

"Loisaida Open Streets emerged as a community-led effort in the pandemic to make sure our streets supported the needs of the neighborhood, from mutual aid to block parties," said Transportation Alternatives Senior Organizer Emily Jacobi. "We're thrilled that, after years of community support and programming to transform Avenue B into Loisaida Open Streets, DOT is finally bringing safety and traffic calming to Avenue B permanently! This is a huge win for Alphabet City neighbors, who have long fought for this transformation to become a reality."

"For years, East Village neighbors have championed, activated, and advocated for a calmer, more people-first Avenue B, and we're thrilled to see NYC DOT making that vision a reality," said Open Plans Director of Advocacy and Organizing Jackson Chabot. "Avenue B's Open Street has been a shining example of what's possible when we prioritize people over cut-through traffic, and this investment builds on that success. This redesign includes many of the building blocks of a low-traffic neighborhood-directional conversions, safer intersections, and thoughtfully placed loading zones-all while maintaining essential local access. We look forward to seeing this momentum continue and to bringing a full low-traffic neighborhood to the East Village."