New York City bus service will expand on 16 borough lines starting Sunday due to congestion pricing implementation.
Bus service across 16 local routes in New York City is poised for enhancement next week, reflecting a broader initiative aimed at improving public transportation following the implementation of congestion pricing. According to information released by Governor Hochul’s office, these changes are designed to facilitate increased bus speeds and enhance accessibility for riders.
As Governor Hochul noted, nearly six months after the introduction of congestion pricing, New York City has witnessed a decline in traffic congestion, enabling faster bus movement and a revival of business activity. The positive impact on public transit is evident, with a resurgence in both subway and bus ridership recorded this year.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has already seen service expansions on eight essential express routes leading into Midtown Manhattan. The imminent improvements target local bus lines that experience high rider volumes and relatively high demand, thus aiming to streamline travel between boroughs.
NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow emphasized the significance of these enhancements, stating that augmenting service on the specified local routes will provide New Yorkers with more efficient, reliable, and frequent bus options. This service upgrade is particularly crucial for residents who live far from subway stations and rely heavily on bus transportation.
An internal MTA summary, which has come to light, reveals that the agency plans to increase its bus fleet by 29 refurbished vehicles to support the expanded service schedules. This increase is directed toward 16 local bus routes that have been identified for adjustments, either in frequency or running time, based on usage levels and reliability challenges.
In Brooklyn, service enhancements will be implemented on the B17, B26, B74, and B103 routes. Meanwhile, residents of the Bronx will see frequency boosts on the Bx10, Bx17, Bx23, and Bx28/38 routes. Queens, noted for its heavy reliance on bus transportation, will benefit from improvements on six routes: the Q13, Q28, Q35, Q43, Q66, and Q69. Additionally, Staten Island will also receive service increases on the S46/96 and the S79 SBS lines.
The MTA anticipates that the service upgrades will incur an annual cost of approximately .6 million, in addition to million previously allocated for the refurbishment of the 29 buses initially taken out of service. This initiative underscores a commitment to enhance public transportation, ensuring better connectivity and service quality throughout the city.
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