STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has unveiled the redesigned Staten Island express bus network that is set to take effect in August 2018.
The new network will offer riders more direct routes, less frequent stopping and expanded off-peak and weekend service to Manhattan. An experimental single-stop Park-and-Ride express route will be launched from two Island locations.
To make room for those efficiencies, however, some riders will have to catch the bus at a new stop that's farther away than their current one.
"Not only will this redesign make commutes faster, more reliable and more convenient for Staten Islanders, but the approach we've taken with Staten Islanders is a model for the entire city," said NYC Transit President Andy Byford.
Staten Island's 21 express bus routes will operate primarily to Downtown and Midtown Manhattan.
>> See changes, and all Staten Island stops proposed for the 21 routes outlined in the MTA's plan. <<
The majority of the buses will offer service to 42nd Street/34th Street, Madison Avenue/Fifth Avenue, 23rd Street and Church Street/Broadway.
PUBLIC FEEDBACK
However, based on public feedback from the MTA's first round of open houses in October, the agency has adjusted the plan to also include service along the West Side and to the areas between Downtown and Midtown Manhattan.
"At the last series of public forums, commuters raised several issues that had to be corrected," said Borough President James Oddo. "I am pleased to report that the process worked exactly as it was supposed to, and suggestions from commuters were incorporated into this current plan."
In response to community input, the MTA has added direct service to the following locations:
Two new routes will travel directly from the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel to Battery Park City and West Street, one from the North Shore and one from the South Shore and Mid-Island.
The two new routes that serve Battery Park City and West Street will continue north, serving SoHo and Greenwich Village.
Three routes will travel directly from the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel to Water Street in the Financial District, with options from the North Shore, South Shore, and Mid-Island.
Two routes will travel northbound on Sixth Avenue to Central Park South, one from the North Shore and one from the South Shore and Mid-Island.
Also in response to rider feedback, the MTA has expanded off-peak and weekend service for Staten Islanders traveling to Manhattan.
Three off-peak and weekend routes will offer both Downtown and Midtown service, making limited stops in Soho, Greenwich Village and Chelsea.
There will also be one new off-peak and weekend route that will provide service from the South Shore to Downtown.
In addition to the open houses, the MTA also received feedback from nearly 4,000 riders, Community Boards, local community groups, elected officials, public workshops and customer surveys.
FEWER STOPS ON STATEN ISLAND
The newly designed network has reduced the number of total stops on Staten Island in order to improve travel time.
Under the previous plan, stops were spaced approximately 0.25 miles apart.
Under the new plan, stops would be spaced approximately .40 miles apart.
According to the MTA, nearly 70 percent of riders will continue to use the same bus stop they use today, while the remainder will have to walk a short distance that will ultimately reduce their total travel time.
Only 1 percent of riders will have to walk more than five minutes from their existing stop, according to the MTA.
The MTA determined which stops would be eliminated based on daily ridership.
PARK-AND-RIDE
The MTA will also begin operating an experimental express bus service from two of Staten Island's Park-and-Ride locations.
The buses will pick up passengers at the Staten Island Mall and South Beach (Father Capodanno Boulevard) Park-and-Rides and will offer them direct, non-stop service from the Park-and-Ride location to Manhattan.
"We are particularly excited about the MTA embracing the Park-and-Ride and trying out these routes. We think they're going to be big successes," said Oddo.
$1M BUDGET INCREASE
The MTA has received a budget increase of $1 million allocated to the overhaul of the Staten Island express bus system.
According to the agency, the money will be used to increase the frequency of service.
"We have some increased funding to play with to get some more trips when we're able to... so there will be a net increase in trips," said Jonathan Hawkins, bus planner for NYC Transit.
OPEN HOUSES
The MTA will now seek additional feedback from its riders in order to adjust and finalize the proposed changes.
Riders will have the opportunity to voice their opinions on the proposed changes at the following meetings:
Monday, March 12 (6 to 9 p.m.)
Regina McGinn Education Center, Staten Island University Hospital, 475 Seaview Ave. Ocean Breeze
Wednesday, March 14 (6 to 9 p.m.)
Elks Lodge, 3250 Richmond Ave., Greenridge
Thursday, March 22 (6 to 9 p.m.)
All Saints' Episcopal Church, 2329 Victory Blvd., Willowbrook
WHAT'S NEXT?
After March's open houses, the proposed plan will be presented to the MTA Board in April, followed by a public hearing in May, an MTA board vote in June and implementation in August, pending the approval of the MTA board.
For more information on the proposed express bus plan and the new routes, please visit www.mta.info/SIExpressBus.