MTA express bus changes: New SIM9, South Shore extension and more

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Express bus riders can expect some major changes to the newly redesigned system coming in the first half of October.

During a Thursday meeting with the Staten Island Advance Editorial Board, the MTA, joined by Borough President James Oddo and representatives from ATU Local 726, discussed the ongoing process of optimizing the new network.

"A lot of this is anchored around moving to a truly customer-led organization, not 'the MTA knows best and will just impose something on you,' but designing the network from the customer's perspective," said MTA NYCT president Andy Byford.

All involved parties acknowledged the issues that have come with overhauling a decades-old system, but remain optimistic that the end result will be a net positive for Staten Island commuters.

"Clearly there is a level of dissatisfaction. We wanted to have this because we wanted to be upfront and own the fact that right now, in week four, there is a level of dissatisfaction," said Oddo.

"I'm cautiously optimistic that we will get where we need to be for a number of reasons," Oddo continued. "One is I have never seen this level of attentiveness and responsiveness from the MTA... The level of cooperation between management and labor has also been unprecedented."

In response to customer feedback, collected data and observed fieldwork, the MTA has announced major additional changes to a network that received over 40 alterations prior to even launching.

"We think the vast majority of the issues that we're hearing will be fixed during that scheduling change," said Darryl Irick, senior vice president NYCT buses. "We know that they'll be some remaining issues and we'll have the chance to make those changes on the first of the year."

While the exact date the changes will be implemented has not yet been announced, the MTA is currently aiming for the first half of October.

SIM9

The MTA will implement a new route -- the SIM9 -- that will begin at Hylan Boulevard and Richmond Avenue, traveling down Hylan Boulevard and then turning right onto Midland Avenue. It will then travel along Father Capodanno Boulevard, stopping at the South Beach Park-and-Ride, before heading to the West Side of Manhattan.

This route will complement the existing SIM7 route, which runs exclusively along Hylan Boulevard before traveling to the West Side.

"Early in the process we had it (the SIM7) on Father Capodanno," said planner Jonathan Hawkins. "After public outreach we modified it to move it back to Hylan, and now I think that what's become clear is that we got that a little wrong and it really needs both Hylan and Father Capodanno service."

LATE-NIGHT SOUTH SHORE SERVICE

After previously announcing a late-night shuttle from the Eltingville Transit Center for South Shore commuters, the MTA has announced it will extend the SIM4c route farther south and later into the night.

Once the changes are implemented, the SIM4c route will be extended to Huguenot Avenue and Woodrow Road, running until 2:15 a.m.

SERVICE INCREASES

In addition, numerous routes will be receiving net increases in service, resulting in more total trips on their daily schedules.

The SIM1, SIM2, SIM22, SIM31, SIM32 and SIM34 will receive increased service on Manhattan-bound trips.

The SIM1, SIM2, SIM3, SIM4, SIM22, SIM31, SIM33 and SIM34 will receive increased service on Staten Island-bound trips.

REALIGNMENTS

Routes that won't be receiving increased service will have their schedules realigned to optimize their existing resources.

For example, the SIM10 has experienced overcrowding during the early morning rush between 4 and 5 a.m. However, some SIM10 trips later in the day have been underutilized. As a result, the schedule will be reconfigured to address existing conditions.

Contrary to popular belief that the redesigned network represented a service cut for Staten Island commuters, significantly more trips are available now than under the previous configuration, with 68 additional weekday trips, 62 additional Saturday trips and 60 additional Sunday trips.

"For some people the perception is that there is less service because for their particular route, on the particular time when they want to travel, a bus may not be there that previously was. We're not deaf to that, but I reiterate, you cannot please everyone," said Byford.

With 60,000 seats available on a daily basis for approximately 33,000 Staten Island express bus riders, changes like the ones outlined above will allow the MTA to better allocate its resources to alleviate the overcrowding still occurring on a regular basis.

"We've got to get these buses in the right places at the right time, so that will mean some shifting of resources," said Irick.