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| Stranded straphangers begin drive to bring back bus service to Queens (Q79) (236249) | |||
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Stranded straphangers begin drive to bring back bus service to Queens (Q79) |
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Posted by Gold_12th on Tue Jun 14 10:13:51 2011 A group of eastern Queens community leaders are hoping a little creative rerouting can restore some bus service along a defunct MTA route.The Queens Civic Congress is pitching a proposal to alter bus routes adjacent to the former Q79 line to revive at least some public transit options to the area. "This story didn't end when the bus line ended. We're going to prepare something that makes sense and we're cautiously optimistic," said Bob Friedrich, president of Glen Oaks Village. Since the Q79 bus line was axed last summer, attempted alternatives in the area have flopped. The Taxi and Limousine Commission launched a pilot program that used commuter vans along Little Neck Parkway but the operator quickly pulled out, citing low ridership. At a city Department of Transportation meeting last month, City Councilman Jimmy Vacca (D-East Bronx) promised the frustrated civic group that he would review a proposal to alter other routes in the area to fill in service gaps. If the plan is feasible, Vacca said he'd press the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to implement it. "I do think the MTA realizes that what they did in many cases ended up stranding many of the customers," said Vacca, chairman of the council's Transportation Committee. Jim Trent, 65, founder and president of the Queens County Farm Museum, used to hop on the Q79 to get to the museum. But now it requires an arduous 2-mile walk or a pricy car service since he doesn't own a car. Meanwhile, the museum is paying payroll taxes to the MTA to sustain service, he said. "We lose the service and we're paying for the service - it's a double whammy," Trent said. While getting the MTA to accept the proposal may be difficult, Vacca said there is a precedent of the MTA restoring some of its cuts. A portion of the Bx14 route was recently revived following a similar grass-roots proposal. MTA officials said they would entertain a plan as long as it fits certain criteria. "We are willing to look at any proposal to reallocate resources as long as it's at no net cost and does not exceed loading or service guidelines," said MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz. But officials noted that before the agency cut the Q79, it had the second-lowest ridership in the city, with only 650 straphangers daily compared to the 12,000 person average on other routes. ---: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2011/06/14/2011-06-14_drive_to_bring_back_bus_service_civic_leaders_plan_a_reroute.html#ixzz1PGAAUDAR |
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