Planned Service Cuts To Q44 and Q46 Averted

[Via Garibaldi 8]

MTA changes course on service cutbacks for two major bus lines serving eastern Queens areas

Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Tdorante10

A Q46 bus on Union Turnpike in Glen Oaks

By Carlotta Mohamed/cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com / Monday, April 29, 2019/1:30 PM

 

Assemblywoman Nily Rozic announced on Monday that service will be restored to the Q46 and Q44 bus routes after reaching an agreement with the MTA and New York City Transit (NYCT).

“I am thankful that the MTA and NYCT listened to the concerns of the eastern Queens bus riders and restored Q46 and Q44 service — outer borough transit riders must not be neglected,” said Rozic. “These service investments will give riders more options to get where they need to go, more options during rush hour, and more reason to use subways and commuter trains instead.

The changes, first of which are to begin in the coming season, will help alleviate some of the recent budget cuts that were felt in all five boroughs. The funding for the changes will come from the outer borough transit funds secured by legislators and will have no impact on the MTA budget.

There will be increased bus service on the Q46 and Q44 lines after Rozic had expressed her opposition to service adjustments in January to the Q46 bus route, which primarily runs along Union Turnpike from Forest Hills to New Hyde Park. The NYCT decreased Q46 service by reallocating a number of trips to the local AM peak hours from the limited service.

According to Rozic, following the cuts, constituents had complained of lengthy delays and wait times along the Q46, which runs primarily along Union Turnpike through Kew Gardens, Kew Gardens Hills, Hillcrest, Fresh Meadows, Jamaica, Oakland Gardens, Glen Oaks and Floral Park.

“The New York City Transit Authority needs to improve service and accountability across the system, and it must develop a plan for both improving and increasing bus service,” said Rozic, whose district has no subway or train service. “Outer borough transit riders must be a priority and sadly at NYCT, that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

There were also planned cuts for the Q44 bus line that had not yet been implemented, but have been canceled and service will continue as is, according to Rozic’s office. The Q44 is a Select Bus Service line between Jamaica and the Bronx and serves the heart of Downtown Flushing along Main Street.

With an agreement in place to revert the cuts and service changes, Darryl Irick, president of the MTA bus company, said they’re pleased to be able to provide additional bus service along Main Street and Union Turnpike, allowing riders to get where they’re going efficiently, in a way that doesn’t add costs to the MTA.

“Improving bus service is a huge priority to the MTA,” said Irick. “Which is why we’ve launched a comprehensive, borough by borough, bus route redesign effort so we can provide better service to all New Yorkers.”

Riders Alliance Senior Organizer Stephanie Burgos-Veras said that restoration of bus service on the Q44 and Q46 represents a “giant leap” for riders.

“As part of state leaders’ comprehensive transit funding package, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic delivered better bus service for thousands of Queens riders, many with punishing commutes far from any subway station,” said Burgos-Veras. “As advocates for better transit and congestion pricing, we argued that it wasn’t just about Manhattan nor just about the train. Today, the proof is in better bus service for eastern Queens.”

Nick Sifuentes, executive director of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign said, “With the recently passed congestion pricing plan, we can finally restore services that were cut due to lack of funding for our subways and buses. If we are to encourage fewer people to commute by car, we must make sure that transit is a viable and efficient alternative, especially in parts of the city that lack subway service and tend to be more auto-dependent.”

Source: https://qns.com/story/2019/04/29/mta-changes-course-on-service-cutbacks-for-two-major-bus-lines-serving-eastern-queens-areas/?fbclid=IwAR2G9RoNJSS9KAHAH15yS04fZ47xluGVnhOutZ8rDB0Js3D3mUHTPB9EMZ4

 

https://qns.com/story/2019/04/29/mta-changes-course-on-service-cutbacks-for-two-major-bus-lines-serving-eastern-queens-areas/?fbclid=IwAR2G9RoNJSS9KAHAH15yS04fZ47xluGVnhOutZ8rDB0Js3D3mUHTPB9EMZ4

[Via Garibaldi 8]

@QM1to6Ave

[BM5 via Woodhaven]

So there were proposed reductions in Q44 service too huh? That says a lot...

In any case, let's hope that the restoration of Q46 can occur before the fall (although ideally, it should never have happened).

[Brillant93]

Does this relate in a way to the B44 losing runs? 

[Future ENY OP]

14 minutes ago, Brillant93 said:

Does this relate in a way to the B44 losing runs? 

NO! 

Too bad the Brooklyn delegation of Sheepshead Bay and Flatbush dont pay attention to cuts like Queens does (don’t debate me) and this is fact. 

Edited April 29, 2019 by Future ENY OP

[Brillant93]

1 hour ago, Future ENY OP said:

NO! 

Too bad the Brooklyn delegation of Sheepshead Bay and Flatbush dont pay attention to cuts like Queens does (don’t debate me) and this is fact. 

I figured and looked up the schedule for the B44 sbs and looks like its now every 10 minutes off peak and every 5-6 during rush hours. 

[Mtatransit]

MTA “Improving bus service is a huge priority to the MTA” after being called out for cutting bus service...

Wow...

[QM1to6Ave]

I was one of the people who called Rozic's office about this issue. It's still unclear to me, because the issue originally was that the MTA was removing a bus from the Q46 and putting it on a different line (Q79 or something like that). The switching limited runs to local runs seemed to be a separate issue/cut that also was put into effect. Have both cuts been restored? 

[BM5 via Woodhaven]

2 hours ago, Mtatransit said:

MTA “Improving bus service is a huge priority to the MTA*”

*- "in a way that doesn’t add costs to the MTA"

Not only is it a lie, but a catch-22 at the same time.

[Bay Ridge Express]

Doesn't even matter, since the buses will just not show up anyway...

[Via Garibaldi 8]

3 hours ago, Bay Ridge Express said:

Doesn't even matter, since the buses will just not show up anyway...

I think with so many eyes on the  now it may get better. Some people think it’s stupid to have groups like mine do it, but it has been quite effective over time because we have so many people Citywide looking at their service now. Not exactly the type of press that the  wants when they claim that they are trying to arrest ridership.

[B35 via Church]

So now we're (opting to) making cuts to two routes that carry well over 20k people a day... Incredible...

...and yet there are still kool aid drinkers in this city that believe the MTA wants to make things right for its riding public....

I don't want to hear or read anybody telling me how progressive & for the people this agency is, because it's a straight up crock of shit.... Improvements should never only have to be made under pressure or to the point where things fester to where you end up in dire straits... You should always be looking to improve.... Instead, cuts, cuts, cuts everytime you look (overtly or covertly) & then on top of it, conveys this public feigning of ignorance as to why ridership is down system-wide in these articles & shit, like the riding public is stupid... Like the riding public doesn't know you, as an agency, don't know why ridership is on a steady decline....

It's insulting.

[QM1to6Ave]

19 minutes ago, B35 via Church said:

So now we're (opting to) making cuts to two routes that carry well over 20k people a day... Incredible...

...and yet there are still kool aid drinkers in this city that believe the MTA wants to make things right for its riding public....

I don't want to hear or read anybody telling me how progressive & for the people this agency is, because it's a straight up crock of shit.... Improvements should never only have to be made under pressure or to the point where things fester to where you end up in dire straits... You should always be looking to improve.... Instead, cuts, cuts, cuts everytime you look (overtly or covertly) & then on top of it, conveys this public feigning of ignorance as to why ridership is down system-wide in these articles & shit, like the riding public is stupid... Like the riding public doesn't know you, as an agency, don't know why ridership is on a steady decline....

It's insulting.

100% correct. And there seems to be such a mix of incompetence, poor communication, and outright lying by the various departments within the MTA that it makes it incredibly difficult to even push back against these cuts. Everything gets announced after it is already a done deal so no one can effectively complain.

[Future ENY OP]

1 hour ago, QM1to6Ave said:

100% correct. And there seems to be such a mix of incompetence, poor communication, and outright lying by the various departments within the MTA that it makes it incredibly difficult to even push back against these cuts. Everything gets announced after it is already a done deal so no one can effectively complain.

Correct. 

[Via Garibaldi 8]

4 hours ago, QM1to6Ave said:

100% correct. And there seems to be such a mix of incompetence, poor communication, and outright lying by the various departments within the MTA that it makes it incredibly difficult to even push back against these cuts. Everything gets announced after it is already a done deal so no one can effectively complain.

You can see this over and over. Even the simplest thing like moving a bus stop is a problem. I have people in my group and another group constantly complaining about being bypassed when supposedly the information is put out for bus drivers to stop there.

[QM1to6Ave]

2 minutes ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

You can see this over and over. Even the simplest thing like moving a bus stop is a problem. I have people in my group and another group constantly complaining about being bypassed when supposedly the information is put out for bus drivers to stop there.

The  could use some institution-wide family therapy to improve communication patterns LOL

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Just now, QM1to6Ave said:

The  could use some institution-wide family therapy to improve communication patterns LOL

They actually stationed a dispatcher at one bus stop just to make sure that the drivers don't skip it.  

[QM1to6Ave]

1 minute ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

They actually stationed a dispatcher at one bus stop just to make sure that the drivers don't skip it.  

If he was like most dispatchers I've seen, he was probably too busy yakking it up with randos on the street to see a bus go by 

[Bay Ridge Express]

6 hours ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

They actually stationed a dispatcher at one bus stop just to make sure that the drivers don't skip it.  

They could use that at Surf Av & W 35 St, because I've already had two B36 bus ops (in a row!) that just seemed to not know there was a stop there and only cared about the terminal on 37. 

12 hours ago, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

I think with so many eyes on the  now it may get better. Some people think it’s stupid to have groups like mine do it, but it has been quite effective over time because we have so many people Citywide looking at their service now. Not exactly the type of press that the  wants when they claim that they are trying to arrest ridership.

Your group definitely has an impact. I've already complained to the  about buses not showing up but whether they will actually continuously do something about that... I don't know.

[MassTransitHonchkrow]

On 4/29/2019 at 6:06 PM, Future ENY OP said:

NO! 

Too bad the Brooklyn delegation of Sheepshead Bay and Flatbush dont pay attention to cuts like Queens does (don’t debate me) and this is fact. 

I'm shocked. They're practically dominant in the Assembly and every committee head in the State Senate is from Brooklyn.

[Future ENY OP]

20 minutes ago, MassTransitHonchkrow said:

I'm shocked. They're practically dominant in the Assembly and every committee head in the State Senate is from Brooklyn.

Well, I’m not and I’m from Brooklyn and understand Brooklyn politics. They act like they care but really don’t. Those B44 service cuts are right along those senate districts and city council districts. 

[MassTransitHonchkrow]

13 minutes ago, Future ENY OP said:

Well, I’m not and I’m from Brooklyn and understand Brooklyn politics. They act like they care but really don’t. Those B44 service cuts are right along those senate districts and city council districts. 

Oh, I know they're ignorant, but I'm shocked as to WHY they are. Upstate frequently refers to the oversaturation of Kings County in the legislature.

That's not by accident. It's the largest of the 67 counties. Absent the Greater New York Merger of the late 19th century, it'd be the third largest city in America.

 

if they're that incompetent as you say, well -

 

Edited May 2, 2019 by MassTransitHonchkrow
added a relevant meme

[B35 via Church]

On ‎5‎/‎1‎/‎2019 at 8:23 PM, MassTransitHonchkrow said:

I'm shocked. They're practically dominant in the Assembly and every committee head in the State Senate is from Brooklyn.

Don't be (shocked) - Strength in numbers isn't always a good thing.

On ‎5‎/‎1‎/‎2019 at 8:45 PM, Future ENY OP said:

Well, I’m not and I’m from Brooklyn and understand Brooklyn politics. They act like they care but really don’t. Those B44 service cuts are right along those senate districts and city council districts. 

I'd go as far as to say they're ignorant of it..... But you're right, it's a façade - they don't care about how these service cuts in general affect the citizens of this city.... I hate to say it, but public transit tends to be used as not much more than a mere talking point from those types.....

On ‎5‎/‎1‎/‎2019 at 8:56 PM, MassTransitHonchkrow said:

Oh, I know they're ignorant, but I'm shocked as to WHY they are. Upstate frequently refers to the oversaturation of Kings County in the legislature.

Well unfortunately, public transit isn't all that high up on the totem pole.

Public corruption, OTOH....

[Gotham Bus Co.]

 

I understand that the Q44 and Q46 cuts were small and included increases in running time. If they put back the trips, will they also take back the additional running time?