Queens Will Add Protected Bike Lanes This Fall

New street designs in Long Island City will reduce motor vehicle lanes on Thomson Avenue to prioritize bike and pedestrian access.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Electric Vehicles

Isometric editorial illustration of a city street cross-section featuring a concrete barrier separating a bike lane from a road. — The New York City Department of Transportation will install 1.5 miles of protected bike lanes on Thomson Avenue in Queens starting this fall. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should city planners repurpose street space for bike lanes when traffic volume declines in your area?

The New York City Department of Transportation plans to install 1.5 miles of protected bike lanes in Queens starting this fall. This redesign will also widen sidewalks near LaGuardia College and reduce travel lanes on Thomson Avenue from six to four.

Why it matters

The shift in street usage follows a documented drop in motor vehicle traffic on Thomson and Skillman avenues between 2024 and 2026. City planners are repurposing this roadway capacity to accommodate growing bike and pedestrian traffic following the implementation of congestion pricing.

The project includes 1.5 miles of protected bike lanes, featuring a 15-foot-wide two-way path on the Thomson Avenue bridge. Parking-protected lanes are also slated for 44th Drive as the city moves to reduce vehicle lanes on Thomson Avenue from six down to four.

The players

New York City Department of Transportation

The municipal agency responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of the city's street infrastructure and transit networks.

LaGuardia College

A public institution in Queens serving as a major local pedestrian generator near the planned street renovations.

The details

The city is reallocating existing road space by cutting travel lanes and converting a concrete median into infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians. These changes specifically target Thomson Avenue and 44th Drive, prioritizing protected lanes to improve safety near LaGuardia College. The project follows a broader strategy to utilize reduced traffic volumes for alternative transit modes.

Congestion pricing began in January 2025.
The project was presented to the community board in September 2026.
Construction work begins in fall 2026.

The Home Front

This project reflects a broader trend of repurposing vehicle-heavy urban corridors for multimodal transit following the implementation of New York City congestion pricing. The reduction of arterial lane capacity indicates a permanent shift in how local infrastructure is managed to favor active transit.

Drivers who commute via Thomson Avenue should plan for reduced vehicle lanes and potential traffic pattern changes starting this fall. Residents near 44th Drive should monitor local notices for parking restrictions as the city installs new protected bike lane infrastructure.

The takeaway

The city is permanently reallocating road space on Thomson Avenue to accommodate the rise in non-motorized travel observed since early 2025. Local homeowners and commuters should prepare for lane reductions as construction begins later this season.