Queens commuters call for equity and frequency in bus network overhaul
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Assemblymember David Weprin (left), Councilmember Donovan Richards (second from left) and Stephanie Burgos-Veras (at podium) stand alongside transportation advocates at Thursday’s rally in Jamaica. Photo courtesy of Riders Alliance
By Rachel Vick
A coalition of transit advocacy groups and local lawmakers gathered in Jamaica on Thursday to describe a list of recommendations from Queens commuters to improve the MTA’s transformational boroughwide bus redesign plan.
Frustration with the initial redesign plan, which cuts off service in many areas, has boiled over at community forums and prompted Queens residents to list their recommendations for better service. The Riders Alliance, Straphangers Campaign, and Tri-State Transportation Campaign released a collection of rider feedback focused on equity and efficiency.
Riders Alliance Campaign Manager Stephanie Burgos-Veras called the plan a “once-in-a-generation” project the demanded additional funding and input.
"Queens riders need a bus network that puts equity and frequency first," said Stephanie Burgos-Veras. "The MTA should prioritize low-income neighborhoods as it enhances riders' ability to reach work, educational, and other opportunities.”
The coalition said the current bus system is “totally unacceptable,” and that their “‘Riders' Rules for Queens Bus Redesign” lays out solutions to improve service for all Queens residents.
Requests include more frequent service and more routes in low-income neighborhoods “where the bus is a critical lifeline to opportunity, even where the routes do not have high ridership,” according to Riders’ Rules.
“While the Queens Bus Network has been neglected for the past century, the redesign plan released by the MTA undoubtedly hurts our neighbors in East Elmhurst, Corona and Jackson Heights through extensive cuts and reroutes which will worsen their access to public transportation,” said State Sen. Jessica Ramos. “We’ve relayed many of our neighbors’ concerns to the MTA, and we must ensure that we continue to educate our neighbors about the project.”
The coalition also calls for more buses on the busiest routes, better transfer policies and optimized routes that allow for easier access to schools, hospitals and Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible subway stations.
“Because people of color and people with low-incomes are more likely to depend on the bus, improving the bus network means making the city more equitable,” said Riders Alliance member Jeanne Majors from Jamaica. “Queens has waited too long for reliable buses.”
Since buses spend roughly 20 percent of their time at stops, reducing the number of stops while creating more straightforward routes could increase the system’s speed, according to the coalition report. They also encouraged the MTA to improve overnight service.
The MTA’s initial proposal was more than 400 pages long and promised better service and less congestion. The agency has hosted a series of community forums to discuss the plan.
The MTA did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday, but the agency has said it welcomes community input on the initial proposal.
“The Queens Bus Network Redesign will improve service by rebuilding the entire system from a blank canvas using public feedback and data-driven study about today’s ridership needs, putting service where it’s needed and modernizing an outdated map,” MTA spokesperson Amanda Kwon told the Eagle in January. “This is still a draft proposal that will change following feedback, and while there are always fiscal constraints in an organization with finite funds, budget is not a factor at this stage as we solicit feedback on a preliminary proposal.”
