Good morning and happy holidays. I’m Jack Connors, Research and Communications Associate at the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, PCAC.
The holiday season is upon us and better buses are at the top of PCAC’s list this year. We were happy to find the Queens Bus Redesign Proposed Final Plan under our tree last week. This is the first comprehensive redesign of Queens bus service for the most bus-dependent borough since the MTA’s inception.
From 8 new overnight routes to 27 rush routes connecting riders to rail hubs, to long-sought express bus service from Southeast Queens to Downtown Manhattan, there’s a lot to be excited about. We’re particularly happy about greater connectivity to other bus routes, the LIRR—which is more affordable now thanks to the 24/7 CityTicket—and more options for traveling to the Bronx and between the Bronx and LaGuardia — which we’ve been advocating for for years.
Some 800,000 daily riders are counting on the MTA getting this right, particularly as we approach implementation of congestion pricing, which will get more New Yorkers out of their cars and onto buses. That’s why we need the public to weigh in on the redesigns on the MTA’s website and at public meetings — and especially why we need the city to step up and do better by New York’s bus riders.
ACE enforcement will pack an even greater punch than ABLE by issuing tickets to double parked vehicles in addition to those in the bus lane. But ultimately, it’s NYCDOT that controls New York City’s streets and the city that must live up to its Streets Plan requirements. Therefore, as we anticipate a spring launch of congestion pricing, we implore the city to hastily implement the mandated 150 miles of new bus lanes by the end of 2025 and call upon NYPD to step up enforcement of our traffic laws.
While President Davey made a great traffic cop last week, it shouldn’t take the President of New York City Transit to enforce the basic rules of the road. It’s simple: if you’re not a bus, stay out of the bus lanes!
Thank you.