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| Re: Attention all B36 Bus riders (312557) | |||
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Re: Attention all B36 Bus riders |
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Posted by BrooklynBus on Mon Apr 18 21:51:17 2016, in response to Attention all B36 Bus riders, posted by BrooklynBus on Sun Apr 17 08:10:47 2016. Today at the NYCT Committee Meeting The public session was scheduled to begin at 10 AM but they kept the public waiting until 10:30. Not even an apology was offered. One member thought they actually were 7 minutes early, rather than 30 minutes late. Any wonder they can't run the trains and buses on time? They only allowed two minutes to each speaker although there only were eight of us, and they started ringing the warning bell after only one minute and the microphone barely worked. I was not able to get through my three minute speech and was constantly asked to wrap it up. (Two speakers came to oppose the Queens bus route changes.) Board Member Andrew Albert asked Operations Planning Director Peter Cafiero if the B36 change is contingent on DOT's proposed changes and if those changes do not happen would the MTA still make the route change to the B36? Cafiero responded that they still believe it is a good idea because it provides better more direct service for through passengers. Albert asked what about the extra distances people will have to walk that they don't walk now. Cafiero then responded that the extra distance is no greater than the distances that passengers currently have to be walk to other bus routes. Those distances are unavoidable, but this increase in walking distances and additional street crossings are unnecessary. So in other words, Cafiero sees no reason for one route to have better service to the subway than the other routes where people already have to walk a block to the subway. The MTA had the perfect out here. All they had to say was the route changes result from DOT's plan and therefore are unavoidable. Instead, the MTA took responsibility and stated they believe the changes are good ideas anyway, but did not answer Albert's question whether or not they would implement them without DOT's traffic changes. I don't believe they will (and if they do it will be reversed as it once was in 1978) if DOT does not implement its traffic change plan. So let us analyze why Cafiero believes the route change is beneficial to MTA riders. (I already showed in my testimony how it is detrimental to bus riders.) Cafiero stated the change simplifies the route. True, but in this case is route simplification is not warranted. Cafiero also stated that the change will save through riders some time. Also, a true statement. However, in typical MTA fashion, the statement is misleading because it only tells the part of the story the MTA wants you to hear. As I testified, half the B36 bus passengers get on or off at Sheepshead Bay Station. according to the MTA's own numbers, it is the sixth highest bus subway transfer point in Brooklyn. The number of minutes saved by through passengers by the route change would be no greater than one or two minutes depending on if the bus makes or misses the green signals. The number of minutes missed would be much greater, not to mention the possibility of increased accidents with vehicles and other pedestrians as passengers will now run to catch a bus or train when that was not necessary when the walk was much shorter or non-existent. The additional minutes needed by transferring passengers will more than offset the minute or two saved by the same number of through passengers. Not to mention if the extra walk requires you to miss a bus or train, your trip time could increase by as much as 20 minutes. Therefore, Cafiero's conclusion is erroneous that this change is beneficial to the passengers. Also, this isn't the first time his department, Operations Planning has rendered erroneous conclusions. At the time of the 2010 service cutbacks, the Department measured walking distances as the crow flies assuming bus passengers could walk through buildings and highways and presented unrealistic alternatives to the bus services being eliminated. We were successful in getting the B4 restored through reasoned arguments. Let us hope that strategy will work again. However, as long as Cafiero is taking responsibility for this ludicrous change which everyone opposes, except perhaps taxi drivers who are the only ones to benefit from it, now is the time for Cafiero's reign as Director of Operations Planning to end. The MTA and DOT need to become responsive and responsible. Postponing this DOT change until there is adequate discussion would be a first step. |
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