A radically improved form of bus service is scheduled for the notoriously slow M15 route (down Second Avenue and up First Avenue) as soon as Fall 2010. For CIVITAS, a strong advocate of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) for a decade, it has been a long time coming. The M15 is the city’s busiest route with 57,000 riders every weekday and also one of the slowest, averaging below 10 miles per hour.
The goal of BRT is to cut travel time for long distance riders by a combination of four techniques.
1) Distinct branding: MTA has designated its BRT routes as Select Bus Service (SBS). Buses – the standard articulated model – will be painted in a distinctive pattern with flashing lights that are easy to spot at a distance. They will replace the LIMITED bus.
2) Wide spacing of bus stops: This will result in slightly fewer than the LIMITED now makes.
3) Pre-boarding fare collection: Passengers will swipe metrocards at outdoor ticketing machines that issue time-stamped receipts. When the SBS bus arrives, passengers debark and board through all doors without involving the driver. MTA agents will conduct random inspections for bus passes and issue summonses with a heavy penalty.
4) Improvements to street design: Using the success of the West Side Highway as a model for bicycle, bus, and pedestrian coexistence, MTA has presented design scenarios including offset or curbside bus lanes and bicycle lane upgrades depending on the traffic needs in the corridor. Using an interior lane and pulling up to the “bus bulb”, the SBS avoids the necessity of pulling in and out from the curb to accommodate passengers. Experience shows that police presence and enforcement are required during the inaugural phase of a dedicated bus lane. MTA hopes to use bus-mounted cameras to record lane violations.
As with any transit reform there are good news and bad news. The good news is that an SBS route has already been launched in the Bronx on Fordham Road with instant success. Travel times have been reduced by more than 20% and customer satisfaction with the improved service is an astonishing 89%. Thanks to pre-boarding ticketing, Bronx SBS buses rarely take more than 30 seconds to discharge and pick up riders.
The bad news for some uptown portions of the M15 SBS route is that there will be disruption for several years due to Second Ave. Subway construction. However, the SBS route on First Ave. should show an immediate drop in travel time.
MTA has expressed its desire to engage the public as it proceeds to bring BRT to Manhattan’s East Side. It has scheduled open houses as well as regular meetings of a community advisory committee. Make plans to attend.
By Gorman Reilly
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