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No Free Ride

LARRY PENNER
Posted 3/12/18

There are solutions to those who complain about New York City Transit bus service. Reduction in speed overlooks its relationship to the corresponding loss in street capacity. Since 2002, hundreds of miles of traffic lanes have been eliminated. This was due to the dramatic increase in bike lanes and street-calming projects. Forcing buses to share less street space with cars, taxis, Uber, UPS, Fed Ex along with other delivery and commercial vehicles has contributed to a decline in the speed of buses in all five boroughs. Don’t forget police, fire, ambulance, sanitation and utility vehicles. Reduction in spacing between stops has been dealt with by the introduction of Limited Stop service on many routes.

MTA NYC Transit is awarding contracts for $200 million to purchase and install a new bus-radio system along with $150 million for purchase and installation of a new East New York Brooklyn Bus Command Center. Although both projects are already several years behind schedule (what else is new!), riders will eventually see benefits from completion of both. They will support operations of over 6,000 NYC Transit and 1,300 MTA Buses providing service in all five boroughs. Once in use, they will help in proper dispatching and monitoring of service, which will avoid bus bunching.

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