If you were head of Regional Bus Ops.

[via White Plains Road]

why you want to scrap Orion V cng??they not even that old.

 

Sorry I'm not feeling those buses @ all....I never liked them from jump start

[Novabus 5000]

put a CNG fueling tank in ENY and buy 5o Nabi CNG (the ones similar to Metro in LA )

[Q25toJamaica]

I'll scrap all Orion V and VII CNG's and Orion VII HEV and only keep the NG's

 

But that wipes out a huge amount of our fleet...we'd never make it

[Eric B]

Here's the followup I just sent in, revising my earler suggestions from a few years ago:

 

I realized that the idea of completely rerouting the Q58 (along Eliot Avenue) was too drastic, at least to begin with. Yet, the Eliot Avenue route is still much quicker for travel from Ridgewood to the Queens Blvd corridor and the malls. So my revised idea is to simply split the existing Q38 into two separate routes. The southern half, as in my previous suggestion, would end in a loop along Metropolitan, Fresh Pond Rd, Eliot and Mt, Olivet Crescent. The Eliot half would then continue into Ridgewood, perhaps remaining on Eliot until it merges with Metropolitan, and then use Forest and Gates Avenues to reach Myrtle-Wyckoff.

Another option is to simply extend the Q88 along this route. Since this is a feeder to the Queens Blvd subway; extension may actually draw riders away from the overcrowded line, and encourage them to use the instead.

 

Also revised is the Q39 ideas. I had suggested Andrews Avenue and 59th Pl (northbound) and 60th St (southbound), but having seen how narrow the streets and how tight the turns onto 59th Dr. are, northbound, using 54th St from Metropolitan to Grand Avenue, then to Rust St. would probably be better. If the turn southbound from 59th Dr. to 60th St is too tight, then maybe it could take Flushing Ave. And make the right onto 60th. Otherwise, it would have to be Rust St to Grand Av and then to 55th and 54th Sts. (But then if it goes this far west, then this also suggests another of the previous ideas, of using it to replace the Metropolitan Avenue branch of the B38, and taking it off of Forest Ave. altogether). The goal here, again, is to keep the Q39 off of the busy Fresh Pond Rd, and find a more direct route to Rust St.

 

As for the rest of the route. It would again remain on Rust St. to 48th St, then from Van Dam, take Queens Blvd to the Plaza, and from there run to Courthouse Square where it would terminate.

 

Other ideas I had mentioned before were to provide a direct route from Ridgewood to Woodside or Jackson Heights. Perhaps straightening out and extending the Q18, or creating a new route that would go straight down 58th St. Also, routing the Brooklyn express routes the more direct and quicker way via Beverley Rd.

 

Other suggestions from the DOT Consultant that I would like to reiterate:

 

• Q7 via Conduit to Green Acres

• Express routes adopt DOT style "dual borough letters" instead of "X" designation

[via White Plains Road]

But that wipes out a huge amount of our fleet...we'd never make it

 

All NG will take those buses place with better interiors

[BJC]

All NG will take those buses place with better interiors

 

Well they didn't improve the interior talking about space wise.

[via White Plains Road]

Well they didn't improve the interior talking about space wise.

 

 

Hince why I dislike the Orion VII's with a passion. The only reason I like the NG's is b/c of the front and back of the bus and it sound a lil better. The interior really needs some improving..... a narrow aisle with stairs in the back isn't cute @ all, it just made it worser

[Q43 Floral Park]

1. Swap 100 1999 O5 CNGs (CP) for 100 O7 CNGS (WF).

 

2. Bring back the Classics put them at YON. Kill the MCIs and either get O5 Suburbans or have Orion make a Suburban NG O7.

 

3. KB loses all the O5s for hybrids. Run the M98 out of KB because its the closest depot. Bring back the old Bx24 out of KB except have it start at 263, run the current 20 route to 225. then 225 to bailey, bailey to fordham then to fordham plaza.

 

4.Make the BX3 and BX10 Artic routes rush hours only. m100=Ltd. KILL the BX20

 

5. Give GH the QBX1 (renumbered BX23 because it makes more stops in the Bronx).

 

6. Split the Q44 out of WF and CS

 

7. Never allow SI to outsource their problem buses ever again. This whole stealing KB and GH's 6000s, just to get 38-3900 brand new is bull.

 

8. Have the Bx10 run on Goulden Av between 205st and Bedford Park Blvd. Make the Bx28 acutally end at Fordham Road and add LTD service.

 

9. SBS on the Q46, artics would be nice but the layover can barely fit all the O7s and RTS. add Q79 service and extend it to the Floral Park STA.

 

10. Have the Glen Oaks QM1A run express in Queens to 188st-73Av

 

MTA 2 MARTA good luck killing the Bx18, Bx33, M30 and Q79.

 

Also to whomever suggested the M98 ending at 225 st and Broadway, there are multiple issues with that. A lot of people use the M98 on Ft. Washington Ave and You cannot turn a bus route around efficiently at 225 and Bway.

[Q25toJamaica]

1) Close down LGA Depot

2) Open new Elmhurst and Hunter's Point Depots

3) Send Q67 to Hunter's Point Depot

4) Send LGA routes to Elmhurst Depot in addition to Q11, Q39 to HP

5) Give Far Rockaway the Q53

6) Retire Q110 route, instead, have Q36 stay on Jamaica Avenue the whole time

7) Give Q67 to Hunter's Point, as well as lower Q100 routes

8) Reorganize Q46 Limited Stops around Hollis Hills

9) Put hybrids on the Q31 on afternoons only

10) Q32 to Elmhurst Depot (Still split with MJQ)

11) Q31 is unfixable

12) Q60 split w/ Elmhurst

13) Eliminate Q75 unless they do extend it to QCC

14) End Q38's southern terminal at 71-Continental Ave

[FamousNYLover]

If i were:

For Long Island Bus, I would built more depot and study the ridership of very busy Long Island Bus.

 

I also would start testing future fleet buses.

[Shortline Bus]

Replies in Black.

 

As head of MTA regional bus ops, I would:

 

1) Cut the Orion VII NG order to 100 buses, #3800 to 3899, for local bus service on short/low capacity routes. Dont know this so no comment.

 

2) Put out a contest for the best new transit bus, with the following features required: standard floor, body size 46.5ft by 9ft by 9ft, hybrid drivetrain using a gas turbine engine to generate electric power for batteries on the roof. The batteries would supply power to four motors, one to a wheel, which would poer the bus. Wheelchair lifts: 1 at each of the two doors. The winner would receive a 1000-bus contract, with the new buses numbered #3900-4899. Agreed.

.

 

3) Additional SBS corridors would be created along Grand Concourse, White Plains Road, Webster Avenue, 2nd Avenue (Manhattan) Broadway, Flatbush Avenue, Nostrand Avenue, Main Street (Queens), Northern Blvd, Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Hylan Blvd, Victory Blvd., and Merrick Blvd. Agreed and also 'light rail' for places like Hylan, Hilliside and Northern Blvds. too.

 

4)The M98 would become a full-time limited route, operating from Target/225 St in the Bronx to Smith / Fulton Sts in Downtown Brooklyn along Broadway in the from 225 St to 178 St, the Harlem RIver Dr from 178 St to 125 St, and Lexington Ave / 3 Ave / Bowery from 125 St to the Manhattan Bridge.

 

Agreed about extending the M-98 hours but strongly disagree on extending it to Downtown Brooklyn. Maybe only a slight extension to the current M-102/103 terminal at Astro Place/3rd Ave but that it.

 

5) The X25 and X90 would become full-time routes and be redesignated as the M25 and M90.

The X25 might be gone as part of the doomesday budget. I do agree with the M25 idea and could be used as a way to relieve riders on overcrowded Lex subway line.

 

6) Similar (mostly) intraborough express service would be created in Staten Island as the S27 from Newark Airport (local in NJ, operates along Western Av / Richmond Terrace / Morningstar Rd in the north, the W Shore Expwy to Arden Rd, and then Arden Rd / Amboy Rd to Tottenville.

 

Agree 100% about a SI-Newark Aiport line but it needs to terminate at the SI Mall/Eligntville area to get riders from the entire boro and Bay Ridge area via S79.

 

7) The Q53 would be restored to its Triboro COach service pattern and extended to Queens PLaza in the west, making Limited stops on Queens Bl and Roosevelt Ave.

 

"Strongly disagree.' I am willing to restore back to it "triboro coach bus' days as super express but it needs to stop at least at Metro Ave/Woodhaven and Cross Bay/Liberty.

If anything IMO, the Q53 northern terminal should be at the 74th St/Bway-Jackson Heights subway and bus station.

 

8) The B6 would be extended to JFK Airport via Linden Bl, and Limited stops would be added all the way to the western end of the route.

Strongly disagree. The B6 right now has terrible bunhcing. A new route between Midwood(Flatbush & Nostrand-Brooklyn College)and JFK makes much more sense.

 

 

12) Create new express bus lines through Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester Counties as well as New Jersey. Not happening in near future due to current national/international recession. Make this suggestion again at earliest in 2011-12.

[Novabus 5000]

Buy enough rts to go forr 30 at each yard

[eli]

http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=81928

 

NYC Transit Weighs Return Of Double-Decker Bus

 

I hope the does not order double Decker bus,the double Decker buses are NOT needed at all.

[eli]

you're funny,lol(especially at #5 LAMO)you should post this

3.repower the CAT D4500 buses to 6v92 or D 60 with jake brake

 

 

I disagree,why would you want to repower the CAT D4500 to a 6V92TA engine?,the 6V92 engines pullotes a lot

 

If you want to repower them,repower them to DD60 not 6V92TA.

[eli]

All older Artics will be replaced by D60LF and Neoplans

 

Um......the tested a Neoplan AN-460 back in the early 1990's :

http://gallery.bustalk.info/displayimage.php?album=16&pos=64

 

but it failed the test.

 

Also Neoplan was out of business in 2006,so you can't order buses from Neoplans since they are out business.

 

The D60LF was tested on the in 1999 but it failed the test.

 

So most likely the will either order the Nova Bus LFS Artic (which they are ordering),Nova Bus LFX,NABI -60-BRT or Mercedes-Benz Citaro G.

[KNIGHTRIDER3:16]

This is a good thread indeed I've read some great feedback and I have to agree with most of these plans ,However 1 important factor still remains and that is the name of this company it's gotta be simplified (MTA)bus ,New York City Bus and Transit we must be called (1)name <4>all .I would simply call all of us (MTA)NEW YORK BUS:tup: <R>

[R110B]

NAH MTA Regional is better.

[eli]

NAH MTA Regional is better.

 

agreed,NYCB,LIB, Bus under MTA Regional is better.

[Shortline Bus]

OK my ideas.

 

 

A)Manhattan Bus changes

 

M1 extend the route to South Ferry 7 days a week 6am-Midnight. Expand limited stop service to Weekdays 6am-8pm and Saturdays 8am-8pm. "short trips' and all overnight service starts/ends at current terminal at 8th St/St Marks.

 

M2 limited extended to 10pm weekdays 9pm Saturdays-Sundays.

 

M4 hours extended to 1am. Last Northbound Bus leave Penn Station 11pm weekdays and 10pm weekends. M4 runs as shuttle between 110th St-5th Ave and Ft Washington-93rd 11pm-1am.(last bus)

Use M5 for late Midtown-Washington Heights service.

 

M5 runs as limited on all trips between 14th Street and 72nd Street. Last Southbound bus leaves GW Bridge 12 Midnight(11pm Sundays)and northbound leaves 8th Street at 1am(12 Midnight Sunday Night)

 

M8 overnight hours are canned.

 

New M13 runs between Belluve(1st Avenue-33rd St)and Battery Park City via existing M21 between Belluve(33rd Street & Houston) then via Essex, Grand, Pine/Pike Slip, FDR Service Road(South St)then via dowtown to Battery Park.

 

M9 reouted to serve the Pathmark on Pike Slip/FDR Drive.

 

M15 City Hall branch is elimanted. Replaced by expanded M103 service.

 

M16 extended to Javits Center overnights/weekends when M34 is not running.

 

M18 merges with M106.

 

M22 serves the Pathmark shopping enter on Pike Slip/FDR Drive.

 

M21 runs only as a crosstown Houston St route between Battery Park City and FDR/Grand St.

 

M23 elimante artics. Use normal size 40-foot buses.

 

M27-50th Street crosstown- reduced to rush hours only running between Penn Station(extended service via 9th Avenue southbound & 8th Avenue ) and United Nations. Use M50 for 24/7 service.

 

M31-Becomes a 24/7 route and replaces the M57 as 57th St Crosstown.

 

M42-Replaced by 'light rail' in 5 years. Late Night service canned.

 

M50-Extended to 72nd St/Broadway via west end avenue and 72nd Street. Replaces the M57.

 

M57-replaced by expanded M31(57th Street) and M50(West End Avenue service)

 

M60-renamed the M125 to avoid confusion with the Q60 route. Route stays the same.

Rush Hours create new M125 running non stop between 31st/Astoria Blvd("N/W" trains)and LGA Airport.

 

M79-Elimante late night service. Also remove artics from this route.

 

M96-Loop in/out to serve Mount Siani hosptial on madison ave between 100-102 Sts.

 

M98-Run the route all day weekdays with 30 minute headways middays 10am-3pm.

 

M100-Extend to 231st-Riverdale Ave to serve the Harlem River/Marble Hill Shopping center.

 

M102-Elimante Late Night service. Use the M7 and transfer at 125th St/Lenox to/from M101.

 

M104-Elimante or 'can' weekends/overnight service to United Nations. Weekday service to/from 1st Avenue/41st from 6am-11pm only. Weekends/Overnights and short trips runs between 145th/Amsterdam and 40th St/PA Terminal.

 

 

 

 

Brooklyn Bus route changes.

 

Merge the B2/B100 (operated by MTA Bus Spring Creek depot)to run between Mill Basin and Kings Highway station 7 days a week. Rush Hour 'short trips' and late evenings (11pm-1am daily) ends at Mill Avenue/Ave U.

 

Avenue R service use the B31.

 

New East Bound "B2" route. Current B100 route from Quentin road/East 16th St to Flatbush Avenue, then right onto Flatbush, a left onto Avenue T(Flatbush/Ave "T" is 1 block from Kings Plaza or transfer to B9, B41 or Q35)Mill Ave, Avenue U, East 66th St and then current B100 route to existing terminal.

 

there no need for bus service along Fillmore since the B41 is 2 blocks away on Avenue N/Veterans Ave or along Avenue T for new "B2.'

 

 

B4 is shortended to Sheapshead Bay station. New main route operates between East 16th St/Ave. Z-Sheapshead Bay "B & Q" subway station and 77th Street/4th Avenue 'R" train. Rush hours only westbound B4 is extended to NY waterways ferry(B11 Sunset Park terminal) on 1st Ave/58th Street via BAY RIDGE Parkway, 2nd Ave/Narrows Ave and 57th/58th Sts.

 

 

B4 Route is too long IMO. Replaced by new B5 service.

 

"New" B5 replaces the B4 in Sheapshead Bay and new Knapp Street bus service. Thanks to guys at CBT.(committee for Better Transit for this idea)Oprates 5am-1am Monday-Saturdays and 7am-11pm Sundays.

 

B5 Operates between Stillwell-Coney Island and Avenue U-East 71st Street. This B5 designed to relieve overcrowding on nearby B3 and B36.

 

Eastbound B5 route. stillwell, Neptune, Shepshead Bay Rd, left on Jerome Ave, Ocean Ave, back onto Emmons, Knapp, Gerristean, Avenue U to terminal at East 71st.

 

Westbound: Avenue U, left onto Gerrtistean, Knapp, Emmons, the Sheapshead train station, Neptune, West 5th, (serve DMV office-Motor Vechiles/Walgreens shopping center) Surf, end at Stillwell Bus Terminal.

 

B7-Restructured to run between Myrtle-Wyckoff(helps B26)and Avenue H-Utica. Extended to CI Ave-Kings Highway weekdays only 6am-9pm.

 

New B7 route. Wyckoff, Halsey, Saratoga, Lenox, Kings Highway.

Replaced by the B82 along Kings Highway.

 

B12-shortened to run only between Bway Junction and Church/McDonald Aves. Very few riders per trip ride the B12 line the entire route between Cypress Hill and along Clarkson.

 

Liberty Ave portion replaced by extended Q112.

 

New eastbound B12 route. McDonald, Canton, CI Avenue, Parkside, Bedford Avenue, Clarkson (Clarkson become 1-way street eastbound between Flatbush and Nostrand to elimante congestion/double parked causing delays)then existing route to Bway Junction. Change at Bway Junction for Q112 service along Liberty to Cypress Hill and Southwest Queens/Jamaica.

 

B15 create limited stop service on JFK buses both directions rush hours. B15 Limited runs between Fulton St and Elderts Lane/Linden Blvd.

 

B16 runs on Ft Hamilton Pwy full length between 39th Street and 60th Street. B23 replaces the B16 for 13th/14th Avenue service.

 

B17 extended to Woodhull Hosptial via Garvey/Albany(south-east bound) and Lewis/Troy(northbound).

B17 now only operates all times between Canarise (Seaview-East 108th St)and Woodhull Hosptial(Flushing Ave 'station' at Bway.)

 

B80 replaces the Padegdant B17 branch Rush Hours. See B80 for more details..

 

Southbound B17: Garvey/Albany, St John Place, Utica then existing route to Seaview/East 108th.

 

B19-New Limited Stop service between Flatbush/Nostrand Junction and JFK Airport. Again thanks to CBT for this great idea.

 

Route: Flatbush, Avenue K, Flatlands, (FYI: does not stop at Rockaway Parkway station)Van Sicklen, Linden, Conduit, (stops at Cross Bay to connect with Q53/21/41)then non stop to Terminal 4-JFK.

 

 

B20-Resturcuted to run daily 6am-Midnight between Cross Bay/Liberty and Broadway Junction. B83 is extended to replace the B20 Ridgewood branch.

 

New main B20 route. Penn Ave, Wortman, Van Sicklen, Linden, Cross Bay. End/start at Liberty/Cross Bay "A" station.

 

B23 operates between Beverly Road/Nosrtrand and the VA Hosptial. Designed to take off riders from both the B8 & B16. Operates 6am-11pm daily.

Main B23 route. Crospey, 14th Avenue, then B23 replaces the B16 for 13th(westbound)/14Avenue(eastbound) service between 39th Street and 60th Street. Then along existing B23 route.

 

B24-replaced by new B30 and extended Q104.

 

B24 Greenpoint Av replaced by extended Q104 between Astoria and West St via Greenpoint Ave, 48th St, then existing Q104 route.

 

B25 reduced to operating daily 6am-130am Monday-Saturdays and 630am-1130pm Sundays.

 

X27/28 The end of Sunday/Holiday service.

 

B30 operates between Brooklyn Navy Yard(Flushing Ave/Vanderbelt) and LGA Airport. Main B30 Route GCP, BQE, Queens Blvd, 48th St, BQE/Kosciusko Bridge, then along existing B24 route to WBP. Then along Bway, Kent Ave and Flushing Ave to the Navy Yard. There a need for 'more' bus service along Kent Ave.

 

2nd half of Brooklyn bus ideas to come.

 

C)LI BusNassu County

 

LI Bus

Make the N4, N22(to mineola late nights only) N40/41, N71(East Hempstead Turnpike-Sunrise Mall)and N15 all night aka 24/7 routes with 60-90 minute headways.

 

Short trip N20's end/start at CW Post-LIU weekdays. 30 minute headways N20 weekdays 6am-9pm on main N20 route between CW Post-LIU and Flushing with 60 minute headways Hicksville-Flushing non-rush hours.

 

Extend the N80/81 to Brookville and serve LIU-CW Post and NYIT.

 

Expand Saturday and Sunday service on N22 and N24.

Every 15-20 minutes on N22/24 Saturdays from 12 Noon-9pm and Every 30 minutes Saturdays 9pm-11pm.

Sundays every 30 minutes 12 Noon-7pm and every hour 8pm-11pm(last buses leaving RFM)

 

Extend N6 to have limited stop service all day weekdays until 9pm and Saturdays 8am-6pm.

 

Part 2-to come.

[eli]

I think artics should run on some of the Queens,Brooklyn,Staten Island bus routes also since Manhattan and borxn have too many artics so the artics might as well run on the some of the Queens,Brooklyn,Staten Island bus routes

[East New York]

So here we are a year after the last comment in this thread. There are many opinions as to what should be done, and who should do what within the . That being said, times are much different now than they were just a year ago. So at this point in time, if you were head of the MTA, what would you do? Please only serious replies, and no fantasy solutions. Remember you don't have much money, so cuts have to be made somewhere.

[checkmatechamp13]

I posted some ideas in this post: http://www.nyctransitforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=282337&postcount=55

and in this post: http://www.nyctransitforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=282334&postcount=38

 

Those ideas restore certain service cuts (reducing the savings by about $10 million). In addition, I think that the N94, evening N88 service, and midday N28 service should be restored. That would be an extra $241,000 in reduced savings. Still, that leaves about $83 million in service cuts.

I would also try to coordinate with LI Bus (which the MTA already owns) and Bee-Line Bus to try to improve efficiency by consolidating services. The Q12 and Q43 could be discontinued this way, with artics being purchased for LI Bus to run on their parallel bus routes.

The first post shows some ways that money could be saved by making some routes limited-stop routes. As a result of the shorter run time, either the MTA saves on the bus drivers' pay or gets an extra run out of the line, which boosts ridership anyway.

Finally, if the state legislature or the city didn't come through with the money, I would fund it out of the MTA's regular budget. In my opinion, all of the agencies should work together to keep the city strong, and if the Department of Education can't come up with the money, it is vital to the city's health that the MTA come up with the money.

[NX Express]

Merge B2 and B100.

Make the B74 a branch of the B36.

Eliminate the M101, reroute the M100 to cover the northern portion.

Merge the M9 and the M22.

Merge the Bx5 and the Bx29.

Make the Bx42 an LTD only. Bx40 would provide local service.

[Gotham Bus Co]

...and if the Department of Education can't come up with the money, it is vital to the city's health that the MTA come up with the money.

 

 

In other words, the MTA must bail out the city's school system, at all times and at all costs. Why is it so essential to use transit funds to pay a school expense??

[checkmatechamp13]

In other words, the MTA must bail out the city's school system, at all times and at all costs. Why is it so essential to use transit funds to pay a school expense??

 

I said only if they didn't have the money. I said that all of the agencies together keep the city strong. If the DOE stops giving out Student MetroCards, it is extremely detrimental to the city, the same way if the MTA shut down all service, it would be extremely detrimental to the city.

Of course it would be better if every agency was able to pay for their own expenses, if the DOE didn't rely on the MTA to subsidize the cost of the Student MetroCards. We don't live in a perfect world.

Also, how much extra does it cost to have the students on the buses? Except for the ''special'' buses, where the MTA pays the drivers, there is no extra cost to the extra passengers. If it costs the MTA $214 million to fund the program, and the city and state together pay $70 million, that means that it is $144 million that the MTA has in lost fares. If the Student MetroCards were cut, how much of that $144 million would the MTA actually get, between kids who transfer schools, kids who farebeat, kids who walk to school, kids who drive/carpool, and kids who cut/dropout of school? I would say that at least half of the $214 million would be lost. Now $107 million - $70 million is $37 million.

If the MTA cut $37 million in service, don't you think it would have an impact on the city? For $37 million, you have kids dropping out, living on welfare because they can't afford to go to school, kids cutting school, hanging out on the street, and causing crime to go up, extra congestion around schools as a result of parents who have several kids in a school driving them to school (this would be a minority of parents as very few, including myself, have the option of being driven), overcrowded schools in certain neighborhoods from the influx of students transferring back to schools in their neighborhood, and an increase in the number of domestic disputes with kids fighting their parents over money for a MetroCard (in this case, the cost could be measured in lives).

Now, would it be nice of the DOE or the city prevented all of these problems by giving the MTA the extra money? Yes. But if those problems could be avoided for $37 million, which is dwarfed by the massive $383 million budget gap (less than 10%), then the MTA has to step in, for the sake of the city.