Brooklyn grows first-of-its-kind botanical bus stop aimed at reducing flooding

A bus stop grows in Brooklyn.A first-of-its-kind anti-flooding “green roof” sprouted on top of a bus shelter in Brownsville this week after the Big Apple suffered its wettest summer in years.The Pitkin Avenue stop is now adorned with native grasses, flowers and other greenery that can slurp up to 16 gallons of water during major rain events that are becoming increasingly more common.The herbal hiding spot also provides a thick layer of sun protection for those waiting for the B12 and B14 buses.“Climate change is already redefining what it means to live in New York City, and our response has to protect New Yorkers where they are, including at bus stops.We are turning everyday infrastructure into an opportunity to make our neighborhoods cooler, greener and more resilient,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani.The bus stop garden is one of two heat-resistant shelters on Pitkin Avenue, following in the footsteps of cities like Boston, which implemented similar structures in 2024.

Roughly 70% of Brownsville residents rely on public transportation — but the neighborhood has fewer than 19% tree canopy cover, according to city data.The second stop has an adhesive, reflective material on the roof that reflects the sun, rather than a thick layer of plants.Both projects, however, should reduce the heat suffered by commuters sitting below by as much as 25 degrees — which is crucial as the Big Apple experiences more frequent summer heat waves.The green-topped bus stop, complete with a drainage layer, can absorb as much as 16 gallons of rainwater that would otherwise run off the slick top and dump on the city’s streets like an urban waterfall.The Big Apple experienced the most flooding in years, with the city comptroller’s office tracking more than a foot of floodwater covering the five boroughs nine times this summer.More than 16.7 inches has fallen in Central Park, making it the wettest summer since 2021, when Tropical Storm Henri brought an incredible 24 inches.The Pitk...