Good morning, I’m Lisa Daglian, Executive Director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, PCAC.
It’s a good time to be a bus rider! We’re excited about the rejuvenated partnership between the MTA and the city and seeing the passion and commitment that will bring us the faster, more reliable buses we know are possible. Yesterday’s kick-off for the newly redesigned, separated center running bus lanes on Flatbush Avenue will bring it closer to true BRT and be a gamechanger for 132,000 daily riders. The work will also improve safety across the neighborhood.
As we await more details on future corridors and routes that will see upgrades, we’re also celebrating other recent announcements on Fordham, Linden, and more.
I have been riding the bus much more frequently, and can honestly say that the vast majority of riders I have seen have tapped. The main exception has been after school, but we know from our work on the Blue Ribbon Panel that is going to be a bigger ship to turn through education, primarily, followed by enforcement. We support the work of the EAGLE Teams in quelling the tide of fare evasion, and hope they are also sharing information about Fair Fares. Fare evasion should not be a crime of poverty – we know you agree. Expanding Fair Fares to increase eligibility to 300-percent of the FPL and implementing automatic enrollment, while allowing New Yorkers making 150-percent of the FPL to ride buses and subways for free, is the best way to ensure that everyone gets where they need to go. We’re excited Speaker Menin and the Council have continued to make this a top priority this budget season.
The extent of the capital work coming to the G train, other routes and various stations will bring some pain, but the gain will be overwhelmingly worth it. Accessible transit with reliable and frequent service should be the goal.
We are all hoping there is no pain on the LIRR next month and urge all parties to come to an agreement for the best interests of commuters across Long Island. A strike would be devastating, with no winners.
Thank you.