New York Observer, May 3, 2004
Life in the Fast Lane: Board Tells M.T.A. to ‘Step On It’
Rhonda Kaysen

Anyone who has ever ridden the bus in Manhattan, forlornly watching pedestrians overtake the vehicle, knows that “rapid transit” is an oxymoron. But a speedy bus ride – one where a crowded bus stop ahead does not necessarily translate into a 20-minute delay of bleeping Metrocards – may soon arrive in New York City.

The M.T.A. and the New York City Department of Transportation recently joined forces to study the possibility of implementing Bus Rapid Transit (or B.R.T.) into the New York City bus system. Already integrated into several U.S. cities with far smaller bus fleets (New York has the largest municipal bus fleet in the country), B.R.T. could ultimately improve bus service in a variety of ways. “We’re always looking for ways to improve not only speed, but the reliability of our buses,” said John McCarthy, a spokesman for the M.T.A.

The M.T.A. and the D.O.T. are considering, among other possibilities, creating “bus only” lane, implementing a pre-pay system for riders and using satellite technology to track buses so the M.T.A. can inform riders of the length of their wait and avoid “bus bunching”, the phenomenon of an overly long bus wait followed by several buses arriving in close succession. We believe that the city can provide better bus service [similar to service] in other cities like London,” said Gene Russianoff, staff attorney for the Straphangers Campaign, told The Observer. “We’re very happy that this is happening.”

One of the buses considered for the feasibility study – which could start as early as this fall – is the M15 line, which runs along the First and Second Avenues, through Community Board 8’s district. According to the Straphangers Campaign, the scheduled time for the M15 to travel the length of its route, from East Harlem to south Ferry, is one hour and 17 minutes – the same amount of time it takes to ride from New York City to Philadelphia by Amtrak.

At its April 21 meeting, the board endorsed the study, passing a resolution in support of the plan. “It will serve the community,” said President of the East 60’s Neighborhood Association, Barry Schneider. “It will not replace the Second Avenue subway,” he added. Board 8 estimates that implementing the B.R.T. system would cost $10 million per mile – far less costly and complicated than the Second Avenue subway, which the M.T.A. estimates will cost a total of $17 billion, or $2 billion per mile, when completed in 2020.

B.R.T. first came under discussion several months ago, when New York State Senator Liz Krueger organized a meeting between the M.T.A., the D.O.T., the Straphangers Campaign, Transportation Alternatives, and several elected officials. “In the four years that I have been an elected official on the East Side, the only discussions about transportation have been hollering at the M.T.A. about decreasing in bus service,” Ms. Krueger told The Observer. “This is the first time we’ve had the Department of Transportation, the M.T.A. and various elected officials in the community talking all about what we can do to improve bus service on the East Side.”

Following the findings of the feasibility study (for which an exact date has yet to be determined), riders can expect to begin seeing changes to various bus routes. Although optimistic about potential improvements in service, any changes to the bus system will be gradual, at best. “I don’t expect that we’re going to see some depressed, grade-separated, sparkling-asphalt, B.R.T. with bus shelters that are like glass tombs,” said Mr. Russianoff. “Just painting the pavement and putting up signs overhead that say ‘bus lane only’ will make a difference.”