STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Big improvements on two local and two express bus lines will start taking effect Sunday, Jan. 20, the MTA announced.
Among the improvements are the addition of overnight express bus service on the X1 line, which connects Eltingville with midtown Manhattan via Hylan Boulevard, and an extension of Victory Boulevard's S93 bus route onto the College of Staten Island campus. The latter service will operate on weekdays only and starts Jan. 22.
Other improvements involve the restoration of weekend service on the S76 line, which connects the Staten Island Ferry terminal with New Dorp and Oakwood Beach via Bay Street, Richmond Road and New Dorp Lane. Lastly, the X17 express bus will now be extended to Tottenville during middays.
Funding was approved and announced in July; at the time, the MTA said it would take months before the service starts.
Allen P. Cappelli, Staten Island's representative to the MTA board, said the service changes represent a victory for Staten Island commuters.
View full size A commuter waits for an express bus at the Eltingville Transit Center.
"These are not frills -- these are vital services for the community," said Cappelli, citing the overnight X1 service as an example. Manhattan workers who work very late in the night or start very early in the morning will be the big beneficiaries, freed from having to time their commutes with hourly Staten Island Ferry runs.
"The convenience of this is enormous," Cappelli said. "It gives you a normalized commute."
He credited the MTA chairman former MTA CEO Joseph Lhota with recognizing the need for the services and helping to make them a reality.
The MTA said it was able to arrange the funding because of increased ridership and savings from the cost-cutting measures in recent years.
Note: An earlier version of this report gave an incorrect date for the first day of class at the College of Staten Island. The first day of class is Monday, Jan. 28.