Queens Fighting DOT S(BS)

[BrooklynBus]

http://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/fighting-the-dot-s-s-bs-on-woodhaven/article_1e633569-31d2-55c3-a1a8-5925ca67dcb4.html

 

http://www.ny1.com/nyc/queens/news/2016/08/7/op

 

http://www.leaderobserver.com/view/full_story/27245919/article-Woodhaven-residents-rally-against-Select-Bus-Service?instance=home_news_right

 

http://www.leaderobserver.com/view/full_story/27246015/article-DOT-s-flawed-plan-for-Woodhaven?instance=home_news_2nd_left

[Via Garibaldi 8]

What I will say is that drivers along Woodhaven Blvd. really don't have much regard for pedestrians.  I saw this time and time again as I walked to and from the QM15 or waited for the QM15 and saw people scurrying across Woodhaven Blvd.  Something definitely needs to be done to stop these reckless folks from racing down the street at ridiculous speeds.  With that said, I also agree with Addabbo's suggestions regarding bus service, even though I didn't use the local buses with any regularity during my trips to the Woodhaven area.  

[Gotham Bus Co.]

Let's take score of the Queens NIMBY's...

 

- The folks on Woodhaven Blvd. don't want Select Bus Service (they probably don't want any bus service).

 

- The folks in Maspeth don't want a homeless shelter. 

 

- Solution:  Switch it up — put the SBS in Maspeth and the homeless shelter on Woodhaven Blvd. Would that make everyone happy?

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Let's take score of the Queens NIMBY's...

 

- The folks on Woodhaven Blvd. don't want Select Bus Service (they probably don't want any bus service).

 

- The folks in Maspeth don't want a homeless shelter. 

 

- Solution:  Switch it up — put the SBS in Maspeth and the homeless shelter on Woodhaven Blvd. Would that make everyone happy?

Most of Woodhaven is pretty crappy save a few areas, so a homeless shelter would probably be the final nail in the coffin. I've never walked around a neighborhood with so much dog crap everywhere... Disgusting...

[IAlam]

Definitely agree the Q52/53 SBS needs to be revised, however one thing that needs to be done is the installation of a Bus that runs from at least 6AM to 9PM Monday - Saturday. Buses should always get priority over cars, and NYCT buses aren't the only buses traveling on that stretch, buses to/from JFK and the Casino are also using Woodhaven too.   

[BrooklynBus]

Let's take score of the Queens NIMBY's...

 

- The folks on Woodhaven Blvd. don't want Select Bus Service (they probably don't want any bus service).

 

- The folks in Maspeth don't want a homeless shelter. 

 

- Solution:  Switch it up — put the SBS in Maspeth and the homeless shelter on Woodhaven Blvd. Would that make everyone happy?

Don't be ridiculous. First of all Woodhaven does want better bus service. They just don't believe that SBS as currently designed is an improvement. They are also upset that DOT is doing whatever they please. They held workshops and although sone don't want SBS, those that did wanted on the service roads. But DOT insisted it be on the man roads despite all objections. They also proposed 26 left turn bans before collecting any data. After community protest, then they collected data and rescinded 20 of those 26 proposed bans. The planning process has been totally miserable.

 

Most of Woodhaven is pretty crappy save a few areas, so a homeless shelter would probably be the final nail in the coffin. I've never walked around a neighborhood with so much dog crap everywhere... Disgusting...

You are being very unfair. The people in Woodhaven take pride in their area and many have lived there their entire lives. I dare you to tell them to their face that their area is crappy.

 

And since when do you judge an area by the amount of dog crap?

 

Before the laws were changed do you know which neighborhood had the most dog crap in he city? It was the upper East Side. Would you call that area crappy? When I went to Hunter College in the late 60s, I stepped in dog crap about three times a day when I took a half mile walk and I was watching where I was walking too. There was just that much of it.

 

Definitely agree the Q52/53 SBS needs to be revised, however one thing that needs to be done is the installation of a Bus that runs from at least 6AM to 9PM Monday - Saturday. Buses should always get priority over cars, and NYCT buses aren't the only buses traveling on that stretch, buses to/from JFK and the Casino are also using Woodhaven too.

 

Did you mean "installation of a bus lane"? If so I disagree. Rush hours only is sufficient and they should allow HOV in there too. The only priority buses need over cars is a state law mandating cars give buses the right of way when leaving bus stops.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Don't be ridiculous. First of all Woodhaven does want better bus service. They just don't believe that SBS as currently designed is an improvement. They are also upset that DOT is doing whatever they please. They held workshops and although sone don't want SBS, those that did wanted on the service roads. But DOT insisted it be on the man roads despite all objections. They also proposed 26 left turn bans before collecting any data. After community protest, then they collected data and rescinded 20 of those 26 proposed bans. The planning process has been totally miserable.

 

You are being very unfair. The people in Woodhaven take pride in their area and many have lived there their entire lives. I dare you to tell them to their face that their area is crappy.

And since when do you judge an area by the amount of dog crap?

Before the laws were changed do you know which neighborhood had the most dog crap in he city? It was the upper East Side. Would you call that area crappy? When I went to Hunter College in the late 60s, I stepped in dog crap about three times a day when I took a half mile walk and I was watching where I was walking too. There was just that much of it.

 

Did you mean "installation of a bus lane"? If so I disagree. Rush hours only is sufficient and they should allow HOV in there too. The only priority buses need over cars is a state law mandating cars give buses the right of way when leaving bus stops.

I spent several months tutoring as a consultant there. I stand by my statement 100%. The only part of Woodhaven that is somewhat decent is above Jamaica Avenue... You want to talk about a nice neighborhood in that area of Queens? Go to Middlew Village... Beautiful houses, CLEAN streets...

[BrooklynBus]

I spent several months tutoring as a consultant there. I stand by my statement 100%. The only part of Woodhaven that is somewhat decent is above Jamaica Avenue... You want to talk about a nice neighborhood in that area of Queens? Go to Middlew Village... Beautiful houses, CLEAN streets...

You are making somewhat of an unfair comparison. Woodhaven is mostly older frame housing construction prior to World War II where as Middle Village is mostly more durable newer brick postwar construction. It is also more isolated only served by the M at Metropolitan AV so it attracts fewer transients.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

You are making somewhat of an unfair comparison. Woodhaven is mostly older frame housing construction prior to World War II where as Middle Village is mostly more durable newer brick postwar construction. It is also more isolated only served by the M at Metropolitan AV so it attracts fewer transients.

True, but that is a nice neighborhood... Much nicer than Woodhaven... Upkept 1000 times better too...

[aemoreira81]

Hold up---is the DOT proposing an elimination of the local stops for the Q11 and Q21 as well? The moving of the Atlantic Avenue (Q52/3) stop is going to be a problematic issue; however, for the Jamaica Avenue and 91 Avenue stops in median, a high fence/corral can be put into place and one should consider having different speed limits for the main and service roads. The main road would keep a speed limit of 30 mph (under Vision Zero, the speed limits on Woodhaven Boulevard and the wide portion of Linden Boulevard were lowered from 35 mph to 30 mph, but only Linden Boulevard has speed camera enforcement), but lower the speed limit on the service road only to the citywide default of 25 mph...there is a service road-only speed camera northbound just before Atlantic Avenue, and add speed camera enforcement for the service road southbound between Jamaica and 88 Avenues (to keep within the 140 camera limit, the DOT should relocate one of the most useless speed cameras---at the narrowest point on Victory Boulevard on Staten Island---and relocate it here). The speed camera for the northbound service road would be relocated to around Woodhaven Boulevard and 90 Avenue, monitoring only the service road.

[IAlam]

Did you mean "installation of a bus lane"? If so I disagree. Rush hours only is sufficient and they should allow HOV in there too. The only priority buses need over cars is a state law mandating cars give buses the right of way when leaving bus stops.

Woodhaven has a lot of traffic throughout the day even outside of rush hour. With bus service already bad enough in the city, people start abandoning it for other alternatives such as cars and taxis, which only results in more congestion. You could possibly be right that SBS won't attract new ridership, however it is proven that the city is loosing bus riders for other alternatives, adding congestion. Even if the Q52/53 attracts 0 new riders, (Which I highly doubt) it would do a better job or retaining the riders, over the current set up or even a rush hour only bus lanes. 

[BrooklynBus]

Sorry, but I disagree. I am often on Woodhaven outside of the rush hour and the only traffic congestion I encounter is just south of Metropolitan Av over the LIRR.

 

I often have difficulty catching up to a bus in my car. I saw one ahead of me at Metropolitan and I finally caught him at Queens Blvd. Another time there was one at Jamaica and I didn't pass him until Union Turnpike. Buses are not delayed that they need exclusive lanes outside of Rush hours if you start the evening rush hour at 3 PM. I have driven from the Belt to Queens Blvd and usually only can pass three buses on weekends.

 

Right now cars can get through most traffic signals on the first green light. With two fewer lanes, that will no longer be the case. Every time you stop for a red light, it will take two signals to get through an intersection while there will be little or no benefit for bus riders.

[Gotham Bus Co.]

I often have difficulty catching up to a bus in my car. 

 

Then the solution should be to scrap the Limiteds so that the bus is always slower than your car.

[IAlam]

Sorry, but I disagree. I am often on Woodhaven outside of the rush hour and the only traffic congestion I encounter is just south of Metropolitan Av over the LIRR.

 

I often have difficulty catching up to a bus in my car. I saw one ahead of me at Metropolitan and I finally caught him at Queens Blvd. Another time there was one at Jamaica and I didn't pass him until Union Turnpike. Buses are not delayed that they need exclusive lanes outside of Rush hours if you start the evening rush hour at 3 PM. I have driven from the Belt to Queens Blvd and usually only can pass three buses on weekends.

 

Right now cars can get through most traffic signals on the first green light. With two fewer lanes, that will no longer be the case. Every time you stop for a red light, it will take two signals to get through an intersection while there will be little or no benefit for bus riders.

Maybe I haven't been on Woodhaven on enough times of the day, but I'm definitely planning a few mid day trips there soon. So I see first hand whether or not bus lanes could be useful outside of rush hour.  

[BrooklynBus]

Then the solution should be to scrap the Limiteds so that the bus is always slower than your car.

No! The solution is you don't put in bus lanes when and where they are not needed.

[Far Rock Depot]

Heres the real solution: reactivate the RoW. If IIRC, the M15 sbs was a short term (lack of a better word lol) for the looooooong delayed SAS. It made the trip quicker as well as on the Bx12. But sbs doesnt work everywhere. Now for thoae who frequent Woodhaven, the 52/53 (especially from rockaway) can help. But what would really help would be Artics. The routes are already LTD. There really needs to be rider capacity.

 

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[IAlam]

So I did make a trip on Woodhaven (northbound) during midday and wow my QM15 was fast, mostly because of how crazy the driver was. However there were already bus lanes on Woodhaven. So are you opposed to the current bus lanes or an expansion of the bus lanes?

[Via Garibaldi 8]

So I did make a trip on Woodhaven (northbound) during midday and wow my QM15 was fast, mostly because of how crazy the driver was. However there were already bus lanes on Woodhaven. So are you opposed to the current bus lanes or an expansion of the bus lanes?

I'm not opposed to traffic calming measures at all.  I think they're needed on Woodhaven Blvd.  The motorists drive like maniacs, and yes, off-peak the QM15 tends to be pretty fast.

[BrooklynBus]

So I did make a trip on Woodhaven (northbound) during midday and wow my QM15 was fast, mostly because of how crazy the driver was. However there were already bus lanes on Woodhaven. So are you opposed to the current bus lanes or an expansion of the bus lanes?

The bus lanes are only in effect rush hours. So you proved my point that they aren't needed at other times. Still, I would allow HOVs into the bus lane.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

The bus lanes are only in effect rush hours. So you proved my point that they aren't needed at other times. Still, I would allow HOVs into the bus lane.

Oh please... Like there are so many people driving on Woodhaven Blvd. that would meet HOV requirements anyway...

[BrooklynBus]

Oh please... Like there are so many people driving on Woodhaven Blvd. that would meet HOV requirements anyway...

About 70 percent of Woodhaven traffic is cars. The point of allowing HOV into bus lanes is to encourage people to carpool. Even if only two percent carpool, that still equals less traffic.

[MikeC]

I live right along Woodhaven. The bus lanes currently in effect are very effective in my opinion. Took me 13 minutes from the mall to get home on the Q11. If SBS is guaranteed to happen changing the area of the bus stops to islands in the middle of the road would be disastrous. Artics are honestly what's needed more than anything especially on the 53. Off board fare payment isn't that necessary, but it would really work well at Hoffman Dr  the lines can be massive there. 

[IAlam]

The bus lanes are only in effect rush hours. So you proved my point that they aren't needed at other times. Still, I would allow HOVs into the bus lane.

One ride doesn't prove anything. Especially with the driver I had, he was cutting off more cars than a taxi driver does. 

[BrooklynBus]

One ride doesn't prove anything. Especially with the driver I had, he was cutting off more cars than a taxi driver does.

 

So ride again and report back.

[BreeddekalbL]

Heres the real solution: reactivate the RoW. If IIRC, the M15 sbs was a short term (lack of a better word lol) for the looooooong delayed SAS. It made the trip quicker as well as on the Bx12. But sbs doesnt work everywhere. Now for thoae who frequent Woodhaven, the 52/53 (especially from rockaway) can help. But what would really help would be Artics. The routes are already LTD. There really needs to be rider capacity.

 

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How do you intend on fighting koslowitz and lil hevesi cause koslowitz treats it like the Devils work like the lirr