The MTA Board is finally talking seriously about improving bus service. During Monday’s meeting of the New York City Transit & Bus Committee, MTA bus operations staff gave a presentation on New York City bus ridership, which has fallen 10 percent since 2004.
What ensued was a spirited discussion which ended with a commitment to turn the ridership decline around. Here’s a recap, courtesy of TransitCenter Program Analyst Zak Accuardi who provided a thorough play-by-play on Twitter:
This morning's @MTA @NYCTBus/@NYCTSubway committee meeting features a special report on bus ridership trends. Looking forward…
— Zak Accuardi (@zaccuardi) March 20, 2017
Major factors in @NYCTBus declines: subway mode shift & bus speeds. Slow speeds make LITERALLY EVERYTHING WORSE ALL THE TIME (paraphrasing)
— Zak Accuardi (@zaccuardi) March 20, 2017
So what's @MTA @NYCTBus doing? SBS (up to 30% faster, ridership increases). But need to apply SBS strategies to other routes. Starting w/…
— Zak Accuardi (@zaccuardi) March 20, 2017
Next is transit signal priority (TSP). Adding this on two routes this year. No comment on impact, but research shows same ~10% speed benefit
— Zak Accuardi (@zaccuardi) March 20, 2017
Now discussing "right-sizing" @NYCTBus network. This could mean changing routes (big) but mostly means enforcing existing service guidelines
— Zak Accuardi (@zaccuardi) March 20, 2017
@Veevanterpool asks about TSP: @MTA says "it's complicated; ask Polly Trottenberg; we're procuring for *2018*; but yes, we can move faster"
— Zak Accuardi (@zaccuardi) March 20, 2017
Moerdler asks about problems of truck double-parking, and proposes exploring smaller vehicles. No one cares to respond, shockingly
— Zak Accuardi (@zaccuardi) March 20, 2017
This would *never* have happened but for @Metrophile @TransitCenter @RidersNY @Straphangers @Tri_State, others. See: https://t.co/iOy3hLwl1r
— Zak Accuardi (@zaccuardi) March 20, 2017
(Thanks for the mention, Zak.)
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Vision Zero/Street Redesign is not good for buses either. The congestion CREATED affects everyone–not good, or particularly safer either. I would know, I was born and raised in this city.