MTA Mulls Longer Waits For 40 Bus Lines

Flickr user Trish Mayo

Just as the M15's select bus service had us believing that the MTA and its budget finally had quality service at heart, the Post reports that a committee is voting on cutting service on 40 bus lines. In the proposal [pdf], 40 of 64 bus schedule changes would "represent reductions in service levels to more closely align service with customer demand," which would ideally save the agency $300,000 a year. The MTA says the silver lining is that the less-frequent buses would arrive on time more often. They'll accept your thanks any time now.

The Post reports that the B36 would have the biggest cut, with buses running an extra two or three minutes apart. The M22 would also see a 16% decrease in service, as would most of Manhattan's notoriously slow crosstown buses. However, if the proposal passes, another 24 bus lines would see increases in service or modifications in running time, and the J train would get another round trip before and after peak a.m. hours to reduce crowding. A committee will vote on the proposal today, and if it approves the measure would go before the full MTA board on Wednesday. If it passes, the new schedules would go into effect in April.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on January 24, 2011 1:48 PM

Comments [rss]

Brian

Here's why we don't pick up quotes from NY Post articles without fact-checking them first: the stat you quoted on M22 service getting slashed 16% only applies to the weekend schedule. Weekday schedule is unaffected. Which means the M22 is really only getting cut by 5%.

Same thing with their claim that the B36 is taking the greatest hit - based on a 17% reduction... on Saturdays. Service is unaltered on the other six days of the week. So, it's really only a 2% cut.

I'm not saying that everything is now all flower petals and honey bees, but I am saying the statistics that are quoted here are grossly exaggerated.

gothamguy

"which would ideally save the agency $300,000 a year."

The pdf says the changes will COST $.3 million annually, not save it.

rcltrh

By 2013 there will be no buses at all, all trains will run once an hour, and the unlimited cards will be $200. But they will still give out bonuses to MTA managers and increase the cost of living adjustments for all pensioners. Why exactly did they not privatize this sham again? Oh yea, part of our metro card fares went into the pockets of the politicians and lobbyists.

Sharon121

Why don't they just cut to the chase and stop running the buses altogether? Unbelieveable. And, wow this will save 300k a year?!?!? Woop-de-friggin'-do. That'll really solve their problems. Here are some other solutions that could save the same amount of money, if not more - fire 1 or 2 of the big honchos that are doing such a marvelous job of running everything into the ground; stop installing flat screen tvs all over the place, esp in places where nobody looks (you know like over your head when you're walking down the stairs); stop wasting money on useless technology like that crap on the L line where they installed LCDs (and the related technology) that show you exactly where every train is on the line. I don't give a shit where exactly the train is; all I want to know is how many minutes it'll be arriving in. And it doesn't really help me to know where exactly a train is if that same train is just going to skip my stop because you can't run the trains on time and now you're backed up. Okay, I'm done for now. Summary of this rant --- MTA = Incompetent douchbags

thePinkSuperhero

That PDF is almost completely illegible in spots- that's the best they can do?

Meanwhile, if they cut service on the M60, I will scream.