Far West Side Could Get New Bus Line by Year's End

[BreeddekalbL 606]

 

 HELL'S KITCHEN — The oft-neglected Far West Side could have its very own bus line by the end of the year.

The new bus, proposed by the MTA and nicknamed the M12, would serve the rapidly developing western neighborhoods from Hell's Kitchen to the West Village — which have boomed with condos, restaurants and bars in recent years, but have little in the way of transit infrastructure.

The bus would run from West 59th Street to Spring Street seven days a week and could start picking up riders as soon as the fourth quarter of 2013, the MTA said in a presentation.

From West 49th to West 24th Street, the route would follow Eleventh and Twelfth avenues; from West 24th Street to West 14th Street, it would run along the West Side Highway; and farther south, it would run on Washington and Greenwich streets to Spring Street.

But the service would be sparse compared to many other major bus routes in Manhattan: Buses will only come every 30 minutes, and the route will only run from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Members of Community Board 4 who saw the plan recently were disappointed with the schedule, requesting that it run every 15 minutes instead. In a letter, the board asked that service hours for the line be extended to 1 a.m. as well.

MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz said the limited running hours were standard across all five of the new routes the agency recently proposed.

"We will then monitor ridership and adjust service accordingly," Ortiz added.

The board will also likely ask the Department of Transportation to change Eleventh Avenue between West 57th and West 45th streets from a two-way street to a one-way southbound street to alleviate traffic and ensure the bus runs smoothly and on time.

According to the DOT, there are no immediate plans to make the change.

"This avenue has only two moving lanes southbound" between 57th and 45th streets, the board wrote in a draft letter to the MTA and DOT. "These lanes are extremely congested during most of the day, but particularly in the peak hours of the afternoon."

The bus would not be the only MTA project coming to the once-sparse Far West Side in 2013: The agency also hopes to open the much-anticipated extension to the 7 Train at West 34th Street and 11th Avenue by the end of the year.

 

Read more: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130204/hells-kitchen-clinton/far-west-side-could-get-new-bus-line-by-years-end#ixzz2K2iH0y00

 

thoughts, comments?

[Eric B 1,027]

Interesting!

[Metro CSW 1,507]

Sounds like a good proposal to me.

[Q43LTD 741]

Good news. I'd tweak it a little though

[Threxx 1,833]

This seems a lot like a map I made... I wonder if the is taking some of our ideas...

[Q43LTD 741]

This seems a lot like a map I made... I wonder if the is taking some of our ideas...

Probably lol

[jgood6195 216]

Wonder if MJQ or MHV will operate it.

[Metro CSW 1,507]

More likely to be Quill, since it's closer. But that again, MHV maybe losing routes later this year to Hale, IF reopened.....

[jgood6195 216]

More likely to be Quill, since it's closer. But that again, MHV maybe losing routes later this year to Hale, IF reopened.....

I can see a 2014 opening for MCH.

[Q43LTD 741]

Another year? Wow

[jgood6195 216]

Another year? Wow

Not for sure, it's just my opinion based on what the TA had done in the past.

[Q43LTD 741]

Not for sure, it's just my opinion based on what the TA had done in the past.

I know. I just see a lot moving around when MCH. Maybe Amsterdam should've stayed open

[Metro CSW 1,507]

Last I checked, The garage was set to open in the summer of this year.

 

Planned date as of April 2012: August 31.

 

Unless there's an update that I missed....

Edited February 5, 2013 by Metro CSW

[Culver 700]

I had mine go longer, but in hindsight, probably too long.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=202807188220210378870.0004d43a7600745bf8f1b&msa=0&ll=40.77877,-73.981848&spn=0.004899,0.009645

[Q43LTD 741]

I had mine go longer, but in hindsight, probably too long.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=202807188220210378870.0004d43a7600745bf8f1b&msa=0&ll=40.77877,-73.981848&spn=0.004899,0.009645

Not bad. But I would keep the extension to 72 St. South Ferry makes it too duplicated to the M20

[checkmatechamp13 2,266]

B...b...b...but they said they had no more money for service additions.   

[CDTA 724]

Really, they're complaining about the schedule? They could just have no bus whatsoever. Although, they need to extend the bus somewhere. The bus needs to have a connection to something. Also, I thought the extension was opening next year?

This seems a lot like a map I made... I wonder if the is taking some of our ideas...

You can put it on your resume. 

[Metro CSW 1,507]

I thought the extension was opening next year?

Funny, I thought so too. Until, I re-read this....

[jgood6195 216]

Funny, I thought so too. Until, I re-read this....

Funny how they showed an R32 on the  in the video.

[Metro CSW 1,507]

Funny how they showed an R32 on the  in the video.

Didn't say anything about the video....... But okay.....

Edited February 5, 2013 by Metro CSW

[Q43LTD 741]

Wikipedia says June 2014 sarcasm

Edited February 5, 2013 by Q43LTD

[Cait Sith 8,020]

Wikipedia says June 2014

 

Never the best place to check for information.

[jgood6195 216]

Wikipedia says June 2014

I would not be surprised if it does open at that time.

[Threxx 1,833]

If you want to see my M12, it's here: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=213458373195564989412.0004d3aa46759c60e6a63&msa=0

 

All the TA did is cut it off @ 57th Street... 

 

And I agree, the scheduling is too weak, it should be at least 15 minutes @ rush and maybe 30 minutes off-peak.

[Q43LTD 741]

 

Never the best place to check for information.

I was being sarcastic. Anyway this M12 should run at least 15 minutes