BrooklynBus Posted August 16, 2018 Share #1 Posted August 16, 2018 Media outlets report on yesterday’s Wall Street Journal story (noted here) re: MTA’s plans to stop expanding SBS, reduce bus fare-evasion patrols, and cut positions for subway car cleaning as it seeks $562 million in cost reductions during the next few years. Streetsblog: “The MTA will create no new Select Bus Service routes for three years, temporarily abandoning a popular and successful program to save a tiny portion of the $562 million the authority says it needs to trim, according to financial plans presented to the MTA board last month The program will be suspended until 2021 once the B82-SBS launches in southern Brooklyn this fall…Temporary SBS routes already planned for the L-train shutdown will still be instituted as planned…All told, five SBS routes — the agency would not say which ones — will not be created until the program resumes, a spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the story. The agency says the move — which will affect tens of thousands of bus riders — will save $28 million over the next four years. It comes less than a year after the de Blasio administration pledged millions of dollars to create 21 new SBS routes…” On reader asked: “Wait, when did the MTA hire Allan Rosen back?” Another asked: “Seriously? They want to cut the one program at MTA that was attracting new riders?” “Terrible idea. We’re already short on buses as it is.” ABC7: “…"I'm a huge believer in Select Bus Service, I use the Select Bus Service on First Avenue and we are going to continue it," said MTA Chairman Joe Lhota. Still Lhota admits the agency is facing a myriad of challenges with ridership down and operating costs on the rise. "We do cost saving measures every year, actually multiple times a year. Not a day goes by that I don't look at the MTA and the people who run the MTA day to day, look at it and say how can we make it more efficient, how can we make it more effective. We've been experiencing a decline in riders, we've been experiencing a decline in revenues. When you see that kind of decline in revenues you have to find an equal amount of reduction in expenses." From CBS2: “Two members of the board, appointees of Mayor de Blasio, claimed they hadn’t been properly briefed and accused MTA executives of a lack of transparency. ‘We rely on staff to flag these issue of importance, and the omission perpetuates a sentiment shared by many regarding the opacity of some of the information we do receive,’ fumed Veronica Vanterpool in an email obtained by CBS2…” Mayor de Blasio said in a statement, “Delaying the expansion of SBS … is astounding and will hurt New Yorkers who desperately need faster and more reliable bus service.” Ny.curbed.com: “The financial plan was built with three ironclad requirements—maintenance of service levels, absolutely no layoffs, and avoidance of any unplanned fare/toll hike—all of which were accomplished,” said MTA spokesperson Jon Weinstein. “In fact, the headcount at NYC Transit is increasing– while hitting savings targets – which is allowing us to accomplish significant amounts of badly needed repairs and maintenance work.” -SI Advance reports on more reactions to the Staten Island Express Bus redesign: “Less than one week from the launch of Staten Island's newly redesigned express bus network, some out-of-borough commuters are concerned about the new service to and from the College of Staten Island (CSI) campus. ‘The new SIM4C serving the college is a major downgrade of service and an ill-considered attack on Staten Island's only public third level college serving over 14,000 students, professional and academic staff,’ said CSI faculty member Mary Murphy. ‘Those of us who commute to the College of Staten Island from Manhattan have been affected by drastic cuts to the express bus service, rendering it impossible to come directly to CSI before 9:40 a.m. or to leave after 7:20 p.m.,’ said Dr. Winnie Eng, a professor at the school…’How can they justify this unfair treatment of the reverse commute customers who depend on you [the MTA] to get us to CSI in a timely manner?,’ asked Murphy. Riders have requested that the MTA provide direct SIM4c service to CSI earlier in the morning to cover 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. arrivals, as well as additional SIM4c service leaving CSI after 7:20 p.m. ‘All of these buses are crucial to getting us to CSI for work and classes and for a safe and timely homebound trip,’ said Murphy. The MTA says that they will continue to monitor the new express bus network once it's put in place and will make adjustments when needed. ‘This new network was designed after taking feedback from our customers and we continue to welcome and encourage their feedback as the plan goes into effect,’ said MTA spokesperson Shams Tarek…” -Media outlets report that NYC Ferry’s expansion continues with yesterday’s launch of its latest route: the connection between Soundview in the South Bronx and several stops in Manhattan. The new stop is located in Clason Point Park and promises to provide Bronx residents with more convenient access to parts of the Manhattan waterfront. Curbed.com: “…Its connection to other transit options within the Bronx, however, is somewhat limited; buses takes riders to other parts of the borough, but the nearest subway station…is a solid two miles away. To help make those connections easier, the MTA and NYC’s EDC…have expanded Bx27 service nearby to better coordinate with the ferry schedule…” Streetsblog.com: “While Bus Riders Keep Stewing in Traffic, de Blasio Keeps Cutting Ribbons for Ferries.” -News 12 Brooklyn reports that seniors in Brownsville are concerned for their lives every time they try to reach the B60 stop on Prospect Place and Rockaway Avenue and they say a change by the MTA is to blame. The stop used to be at a different location on Eastern Parkway. Now, seniors have to walk up a steep hill and cross Eastern Parkway. MTA officials say the stop was moved to accommodate a new left turn lane for all vehicles. -Media outlets report that local elected officials and transit advocates are demanding ADA-compliance at more Bronx subway stations (Mosholu Parkway No 4 station). The surrounding neighborhood houses two major hospitals, three nursing homes, two senior centers and residential towers. They plan to deliver a petition at the MTA board meeting in September. -Media outlets report that an African American conductor called colleagues “slaves” for backing Governor Cuomo's MTA initiatives. From the internet: -nydailynews.com reports that three teens are accused of brutally beating a retired police officer and U.S. Marines veteran after he scolded them for pushing him down the steps of a Queens bus. Darren Warren was returning to his Jamaica home when a group of five teens barreled into him as he was stepping off the bus near Brewer Blvd. and Sayres Ave., just before 7 p.m. Friday, according to the NYPD. He walked home, and they followed. One of the teens either tackled Warren or hit him with a lock, then the group started kicking him while he was down. Warren got to his feet and walked home, and his family called 911. Police said the victim needed surgery for a broken right elbow and stitches for cuts on his face, and suffered bruises to his body. Warren, who served in the U.S. Marines, joined the NYPD and responded to the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Police arrested one of the suspects, a 16-year-old boy; two others, both 15-year-old boys, surrendered Tuesday night. Two others are still being sought. -brooklyneagle.com reports “Following two ceiling collapses at Borough Hall Station’s 4 and 5 subway platform, the station continues to deteriorate. The entrance stairway on the south side of Joralemon Street is the latest section to literally fall apart…” Reader comments: “How did Andrew Cuomo ever think it was a good idea to put a millionaire former GOP Mayoral candidate with multiple conflicts of interest in charge of MTA? Also why hasn’t Joe Lhota resigned yet?” “Are you sure that this subway belongs to ‘the best city on earth?” “It’s a testament to the incompetence of a generation of baby boomer politicians who have grossly mismanaged the gift their parents gave them. It is disgraceful.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Via Garibaldi 8 Posted August 17, 2018 Share #2 Posted August 17, 2018 This is going to be a heated next few months. Our transportation in this City is falling apart. People are angry and rightfully so. A mess all around... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mtatransit Posted August 17, 2018 Share #3 Posted August 17, 2018 1 hour ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said: This is going to be a heated next few months. Our transportation in this City is falling apart. People are angry and rightfully so. A mess all around... The only thing you will continue to see is DeBlasio and Cuomo hating on trump, and fighting each other. I don't think these two clowns will ever get anything done but they keep getting reelected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Via Garibaldi 8 Posted August 17, 2018 Share #4 Posted August 17, 2018 33 minutes ago, Mtatransit said: The only thing you will continue to see is DeBlasio and Cuomo hating on trump, and fighting each other. I don't think these two clowns will ever get anything done but they keep getting reelected. Unfortunately most New Yorkers vote Democrat no matter what which means that the elected officials don’t feel the need to work for them. Take de Blasio for example. People voted for him en masse with the hope that he would fight for affordable housing and keep people from being essentially pushed out of their neighborhood. Rents have skyrocketed under his watch. More and more New Yorkers can’t afford to live here and his “affordable housing” plan has actually exacerbated the housing crisis, pushing rents ever higher. He’s been rezoning the poorest neighborhoods on the guise of keeping the area affordable which in fact is helping to accelerate gentrification. The people that are aware of his game are too few to stop him at this point. He rides an SUV everywhere while the average New Yorker that voted for him struggles to get around on the . Oh the irony... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLX9304 Posted August 17, 2018 Share #5 Posted August 17, 2018 11 minutes ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said: Unfortunately most New Yorkers vote Democrat no matter what which means that the elected officials don’t feel the need to work for them. Take de Blasio for example. People voted for him en masse with the hope that he would fight for affordable housing and keep people from being essentially pushed out of their neighborhood. Rents have skyrocketed under his watch. More and more New Yorkers can’t afford to live here and his “affordable housing” plan has actually exacerbated the housing crisis, pushing rents ever higher. He’s been rezoning the poorest neighborhoods on the guise of keeping the area affordable which in fact is helping to accelerate gentrification. The people that are aware of his game are too few to stop him at this point. He rides an SUV everywhere while the average New Yorker that voted for him struggles to get around on the . Oh the irony... What does housing have to do with transit issues? Can’t we stick to one subject instead of politics and bullshit? Many people take one thing and blame another for the job that he’s not doing. Things can’t be done overnight like magic. If that’s the case, get a magic wand and make things happen in one shot. And if you want “Slavery” work 4 1/2 half straight hours and a packaging job under very serious pressure, then come back to me with that. Other than that, screw you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Via Garibaldi 8 Posted August 17, 2018 Share #6 Posted August 17, 2018 13 minutes ago, FLX9304 said: What does housing have to do with transit issues? Can’t we stick to one subject instead of politics and bullshit? Many people take one thing and blame another for the job that he’s not doing. Things can’t be done overnight like magic. If that’s the case, get a magic wand and make things happen in one shot. And if you want “Slavery” work 4 1/2 half straight hours and a packaging job under very serious pressure, then come back to me with that. Other than that, screw you! Housing and transit go hand and hand. It should be pretty obvious why... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
checkmatechamp13 Posted August 17, 2018 Share #7 Posted August 17, 2018 As I mentioned numerous times, that SIM4C is ridiculous. And what reverse-peak ridership generators are on Watchogue Road for the SIM3C since they're so concerned about "low ridership" (and ridership on those first X10 trips isn't low at all). The S93 is also very overcrowded and service enhancements won't take effect until January 2019 (and will mostly affect off-peak service) For Soundview, they should've just extended all Bx27/39 trips and called it a day. Not this cheap nonsense of extending alternate weekday Bx27s for one measley stop (especially when there's houses near the park anyway) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RR503 Posted August 17, 2018 Share #8 Posted August 17, 2018 1 hour ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said: Unfortunately most New Yorkers vote Democrat no matter what which means that the elected officials don’t feel the need to work for them. Take de Blasio for example. People voted for him en masse with the hope that he would fight for affordable housing and keep people from being essentially pushed out of their neighborhood. Rents have skyrocketed under his watch. More and more New Yorkers can’t afford to live here and his “affordable housing” plan has actually exacerbated the housing crisis, pushing rents ever higher. He’s been rezoning the poorest neighborhoods on the guise of keeping the area affordable which in fact is helping to accelerate gentrification. The people that are aware of his game are too few to stop him at this point. He rides an SUV everywhere while the average New Yorker that voted for him struggles to get around on the . Oh the irony... Not to stray too off topic, but New York's housing crisis has been a long time coming, and I largely blame transit for that. While we can argue over the details/implications of rent regulation and public housing, the reality is that the area of NYC that can be truly considered viable for residential development hasn't expanded since the Queens Boulevard line was opened. Since that era, New York's planning (granted, through a combination of choice and financial fiat) has adopted a highly core-centric focus, all but abdicating responsibility to shape the futures of transportationally 'locked' areas. This has manifested itself in the fetishization of SAS and ESA above all else, the ignorance of transit deserts, and even the way we structure service and determine its frequency. In turn, this means that while we've developed a strong core, we have given it very little room to grow -- causing massive upwards pressure on real estate prices as New York's economy has soared. Yes, there are accessible areas that haven't reached full potential yet, but to expect hundreds of thousands of housing units to spring out of such pockets is both politically unlikely and economically inadvisable, given that it just reinforces the current trend. So while subways and buses need more core trunk capacity, they equally need better reach -- the core-serving SAS must be paired with an equivalent greenfield-capturing expansion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolusoji Posted August 17, 2018 Share #9 Posted August 17, 2018 1 hour ago, checkmatechamp13 said: As I mentioned numerous times, that SIM4C is ridiculous. And what reverse-peak ridership generators are on Watchogue Road for the SIM3C since they're so concerned about "low ridership" (and ridership on those first X10 trips isn't low at all). The S93 is also very overcrowded and service enhancements won't take effect until January 2019 (and will mostly affect off-peak service) For Soundview, they should've just extended all Bx27/39 trips and called it a day. Not this cheap nonsense of extending alternate weekday Bx27s for one measley stop (especially when there's houses near the park anyway) it would not make sense to extend all of the 27/39.I agree on the 27 bus,I was there yesterday and on the 15th.People was packed when coming off the ferry on it first day.There were one 27 bus waiting.But on the second day no bus upon arrival on ferry on i the afternoon.This is just one visit.They are still figuring out the service.I would extend 27 bus from the ferry service begins and end.As for the 39 bus how will the buses turn in the small roundabout or the bus relay.maybe special 39 trips using 40ft buses there.I just hope service from the ferry improves to warrant more bus service on the 27 and 39. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Via Garibaldi 8 Posted August 17, 2018 Share #10 Posted August 17, 2018 3 hours ago, RR503 said: Not to stray too off topic, but New York's housing crisis has been a long time coming, and I largely blame transit for that. While we can argue over the details/implications of rent regulation and public housing, the reality is that the area of NYC that can be truly considered viable for residential development hasn't expanded since the Queens Boulevard line was opened. Since that era, New York's planning (granted, through a combination of choice and financial fiat) has adopted a highly core-centric focus, all but abdicating responsibility to shape the futures of transportationally 'locked' areas. This has manifested itself in the fetishization of SAS and ESA above all else, the ignorance of transit deserts, and even the way we structure service and determine its frequency. In turn, this means that while we've developed a strong core, we have given it very little room to grow -- causing massive upwards pressure on real estate prices as New York's economy has soared. Yes, there are accessible areas that haven't reached full potential yet, but to expect hundreds of thousands of housing units to spring out of such pockets is both politically unlikely and economically inadvisable, given that it just reinforces the current trend. So while subways and buses need more core trunk capacity, they equally need better reach -- the core-serving SAS must be paired with an equivalent greenfield-capturing expansion. What's really happening with transportation in this City and why it's connected to housing costs soaring is any neighborhood with decent commute times particularly via subway are being gentrified so that the truly poor are pushed to transit deserts far out with limited options. People need to learn to make such connections and stop being so ignorant about such things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B35 via Church Posted August 17, 2018 Share #11 Posted August 17, 2018 9 hours ago, checkmatechamp13 said: For Soundview, they should've just extended all Bx27/39 trips and called it a day. Not this cheap nonsense of extending alternate weekday Bx27s for one measley stop (especially when there's houses near the park anyway).... I agree that having every other Bx27 run down to the park is f***in' cheap, but at the same time, you can't terminate every single bus between the two routes down there either..... Lack of space & as was said, the Bx39 is an artic route, which doesn't help matters... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrooklynBus Posted August 17, 2018 Author Share #12 Posted August 17, 2018 10 hours ago, FLX9304 said: What does housing have to do with transit issues? Can’t we stick to one subject instead of politics and bullshit? Many people take one thing and blame another for the job that he’s not doing. Things can’t be done overnight like magic. If that’s the case, get a magic wand and make things happen in one shot. And if you want “Slavery” work 4 1/2 half straight hours and a packaging job under very serious pressure, then come back to me with that. Other than that, screw you! Housing has plenty to do with transit issues. Why do you think we have traffic congestion and crowded buses and trains? It's because of overdevelopment. Just look at all the six story condos that have gone up in the last five years along the portion of Queens Blvd without a subway, between Roosevelt and Broadway. There must be at least a dozen of them. Those people will use cars, buses, Uber or bikes. Since you rarely see a bike on the Queens Blvd bike lane's, and the MTA hasn't added any buses or improved routing, that leaves cars and Uber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RR503 Posted August 17, 2018 Share #13 Posted August 17, 2018 20 minutes ago, BrooklynBus said: Housing has plenty to do with transit issues. Why do you think we have traffic congestion and crowded buses and trains? It's because of overdevelopment. Just look at all the six story condos that have gone up in the last five years along the portion of Queens Blvd without a subway, between Roosevelt and Broadway. There must be at least a dozen of them. Those people will use cars, buses, Uber or bikes. Since you rarely see a bike on the Queens Blvd bike lane's, and the MTA hasn't added any buses or improved routing, that leaves cars and Uber. This is the thing, though -- an optimized version of our transit system could actually handle a lot more development within its current service area -- it's just housing politics won't let it. In 1954, before we had Chrystie and 63rd (excluding the 3rd ave el), we ran nearly 500 trains per hour into the core. Today, that's more like 373 (including the new infrastructure). The issue here is thus one of us emphasizing development/ridership along a few corridors (Lex, QB, IRT West Side) while letting the rest of the system lie fallow. We've stopped seeing the system as a network, and more as a collection of lines. There is no thought given to the potential of parallel corridors to relieve each other, and no thought given to increasing capacity even if it inconveniences people. That, along with the sorry state of our operating environment, is what is killing this city -- not ridership. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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