Comments on: Connecting Transportation and Politics in Southern Queens http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/01/30/connecting-transportation-and-politics-in-southern-queens/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:32:54 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Charley http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/01/30/connecting-transportation-and-politics-in-southern-queens/comment-page-1/#comment-62403 Charley Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:33:56 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5330#comment-62403 BRT buses are just regular reticulated city buses. Express buses now are currently different, with seating comparable to a commuter train like the LIRR or Metro North. This leads to express buses being thought of as the "premium" option to the bus/subway combination in the outer boroughs: quicker and comfier. The BRT lines that the MTA has planned already are awesome (I'm a regular rider of the Bx 12), but my one peeve about them is that they're redone improvements to existing bus lines. Existing bus lines are meant to be supplements to subways and other rapid transit. There are a few bus lines that are major connections in their own right (the M60 bus, crosstown buses linking the Upper West Side to the Upper East Side), but most are simply the secondary "local" network that are meant to feed into the "express" subway lines. I just don't think that the strength of BRT is the fact that someone can take it to a subway to get to the city. I think the strength of the BRT would be that someone can take it directly to the city. It's a direct alternative to a subway, rather than a supplement or a "premium" alternative. BRT buses are just regular reticulated city buses. Express buses now are currently different, with seating comparable to a commuter train like the LIRR or Metro North. This leads to express buses being thought of as the "premium" option to the bus/subway combination in the outer boroughs: quicker and comfier.

The BRT lines that the MTA has planned already are awesome (I'm a regular rider of the Bx 12), but my one peeve about them is that they're redone improvements to existing bus lines. Existing bus lines are meant to be supplements to subways and other rapid transit. There are a few bus lines that are major connections in their own right (the M60 bus, crosstown buses linking the Upper West Side to the Upper East Side), but most are simply the secondary "local" network that are meant to feed into the "express" subway lines.

I just don't think that the strength of BRT is the fact that someone can take it to a subway to get to the city. I think the strength of the BRT would be that someone can take it directly to the city. It's a direct alternative to a subway, rather than a supplement or a "premium" alternative.

]]> By: Jennifer Lindner http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/01/30/connecting-transportation-and-politics-in-southern-queens/comment-page-1/#comment-62364 Jennifer Lindner Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:49:53 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5330#comment-62364 What are BRT buses, just the regular city buses? And when you say change the express buses to them, do you mean adding stops or just changing routes? What are BRT buses, just the regular city buses? And when you say change the express buses to them, do you mean adding stops or just changing routes?

]]> By: Charley http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/01/30/connecting-transportation-and-politics-in-southern-queens/comment-page-1/#comment-62361 Charley Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:09:49 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5330#comment-62361 @Paco Growing up in the equally motor-mecca East Bronx, I'd love to see BRT. But I'd love to see them go directly into Manhattan. I know that when a BRT route is copying a subway the subway is always faster, but I think that's trumped by the option to have a one seat ride. This is why the express busses in these neighborhoods are a good idea. I'm surprised I've never heard it mentioned before, but why don't we just change all MTA express busses to BRT? Combine an express bus map with a subway map in your head... That's a ridiculous amount of coverage! @Paco

Growing up in the equally motor-mecca East Bronx, I'd love to see BRT. But I'd love to see them go directly into Manhattan. I know that when a BRT route is copying a subway the subway is always faster, but I think that's trumped by the option to have a one seat ride. This is why the express busses in these neighborhoods are a good idea.

I'm surprised I've never heard it mentioned before, but why don't we just change all MTA express busses to BRT? Combine an express bus map with a subway map in your head... That's a ridiculous amount of coverage!

]]> By: paco http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/01/30/connecting-transportation-and-politics-in-southern-queens/comment-page-1/#comment-62354 paco Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:46:46 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5330#comment-62354 I grew up in this motor mecca of queens and know overwhelming people drive there, because that's all the area has ever known. When the buses were operated by the Green Bus Lines it was a complete joke, only consistent at being awful. It got slightly better after MTA absorbed the bus line, but still is a weak alternative. Resident of southern queens have hour plus commutes to the city, so taking an unreliable express bus won't cut it. Bus Rapid Transit lines would be ideal from the Rockaways up Cross Bay Blvd to Woodhaven Blvd, connecting riders to a wider range of subway lines. Those extra minutes BRT's shave off a commute are the diffence between someone opting to be a straphanger on a bus, or driver stuck in traffic behind the bus. I grew up in this motor mecca of queens and know overwhelming people drive there, because that's all the area has ever known. When the buses were operated by the Green Bus Lines it was a complete joke, only consistent at being awful. It got slightly better after MTA absorbed the bus line, but still is a weak alternative. Resident of southern queens have hour plus commutes to the city, so taking an unreliable express bus won't cut it. Bus Rapid Transit lines would be ideal from the Rockaways up Cross Bay Blvd to Woodhaven Blvd, connecting riders to a wider range of subway lines. Those extra minutes BRT's shave off a commute are the diffence between someone opting to be a straphanger on a bus, or driver stuck in traffic behind the bus.

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