Take the survey in any of these languages!
A well-functioning mass transit system is the life-blood of New York City. Together, the subway and bus network provides access to goods, services, and cultural institutions for tens of millions of people across the region, and contributes billions of dollars to our economy every year. It is not an exaggeration to say that the future of our city depends on a healthy, robust mass transportation network.
A vital component of New York City’s transportation system is the bus network, which includes local, Select Bus Service (SBS), and Express Bus service. Today, this system is not always dependable, and bus speeds have significantly decreased because traffic congestion is increasing. These factors have led to a decrease in ridership over the last several years, which advocates warn could cause more people to rely on single occupancy vehicles and could ultimately lead to service cuts.
Recently, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released a plan to restore normal operating service to the subway and bus systems over the next ten years by updating signal and track infrastructure in the subways, purchasing new train cars and buses, and improving accessibility at several stations. The plan includes a goal of redesigning bus routes in every borough by 2021 and expanding certain measures like dedicated bus lanes, queue jumps to let buses pass one another at intersections, and traffic signal priority, which holds a green light at an intersection or shortens a red light to let buses move more quickly. The plan also includes working with the city to ensure that dedicated bus lanes are properly enforced so that vehicles don’t block them. Additionally, the MTA has just completed the Staten Island Express Bus Network redesign and is in the process of redesigning the Bronx bus network. The overall cost of this plan is estimated at $40 billion.
Improving the city’s transportation system is going to take a lot of hard work and careful planning over the next several years. It will also take coordination between the city and state, but our most important resource for creating those plans is you – the rider. If the system isn’t working for you, it isn’t working for New York City.
I am excited to hear from bus riders! As the acting Public Advocate, my staff and I will be conducting a survey at bus stops across the five boroughs from Monday, January 28, through Friday, February 1. I am excited to work with the Riders Alliance and other transit advocates during the collection of the survey.
Similar to the subway survey conducted during the week of January 7th, the purpose of the bus survey is to learn more about how the transportation system is working for commuters, so we can make informed decisions about which improvements to prioritize.
The survey will be available in English, Español, Kreyòl, Pу́сский, 한국어 and 中文. Thank you in advance for taking the time to let us know about your commute.