Brooklyn Bus Stop Gets a Green Makeover to Combat Flooding

A bus stop in Brooklyn's Brownsville neighborhood has been transformed into a "green roof" as part of an initiative to mitigate urban flooding and heat. The Pitkin Avenue bus shelter, serving the B12 and B14 routes, now features native grasses and flowers designed to absorb rainwater.

This pilot project, located at 1530 Pitkin Avenue, can hold up to 16 gallons of water, helping to reduce runoff into the city's storm drains during heavy rainfall. According to city data, Brownsville has a low tree canopy cover, with less than 19%, while approximately 70% of its residents rely on public transportation. The installation aims to address these environmental challenges.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that the city is adapting to climate change by integrating green infrastructure into everyday public amenities. "We are turning everyday infrastructure into an opportunity to make our neighborhoods cooler, greener and more resilient," Mamdani said. The green roof also provides shade, potentially reducing temperatures for waiting passengers.

A second nearby bus stop on Pitkin Avenue features a roof with reflective material designed to deflect sunlight, serving a similar purpose of reducing heat. Both modifications are expected to lower the ambient temperature by up to 25 degrees Fahrenheit.

The initiative follows similar projects in cities like Boston, which implemented green-roof bus shelters in 2024. New York City experienced its wettest summer in years, with over a foot of floodwater recorded multiple times across the five boroughs.

The Pitkin Avenue projects are funded by Resilient Cities Catalyst in partnership with the Mayor's Office and the Pitkin Avenue Business Improvement District. Data collected from these pilot shelters will be used to assess the feasibility of expanding the green roof concept to other bus stops throughout the city. The green roof is expected to remain through at least November, while the reflective roof will stay until May 2027.