STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With the MTA's newly redesigned Staten Island express bus network set to launch Sunday, Aug. 19, New York City Transit is dispatching customer ambassadors at several locations on Staten Island and Manhattan.
Additional bus dispatchers and customer service ambassadors will staff various express bus stops on Staten Island and Manhattan, answer questions, and take feedback from Sunday until the week after Labor Day -- and possibly longer, if necessary.
"For years, customers on Staten Island have endured express bus rides that were not at all express, and we heard them loud and clear," said Andy Byford, president of the MTA Bus Company
"With their help and the support of Borough President James Oddo and our labor partner, ATU Local 726, we are now able to give those customers what they deserve -- faster, shorter routes and more service at all hours of the week. We are extremely grateful to the Borough President and Local 726 for helping us make this redesign possible," he added.
The ambassadors will be at the following locations from Sunday, Aug. 19 through Labor Day week:
Eltingville Transit Center
- Monday, August 20
- Wednesday, August 22
- Tuesday, August 28
- Thursday, August 30
College of Staten Island Campus:
- Thursday, August 23
- Monday, August 27
Staten Island Mall, on Marsh Avenue at Richmond Hill Road:
- Tuesday, August 21
- Wednesday, August 29
New York City Transit is also manning a "situation room" at the Bus Command Center with senior operations, customer service managers, and representatives from NYPD who'll be in contact with New York City Department of Transportation and New Jersey Department of Transportation officials.
Customer ambassadors have been out at these locations on Staten Island and in Manhattan since Aug. 6. Dispatchers will be closely monitoring bus movement via GPS tracking, and bus operators have been instructed to be extra vigilant in reporting any issues, such as crowding or traffic congestion, particularly on the express bus routes that use the Lincoln Tunnel and may be affected by construction in the area.
Express bus riders can sign up for email or text alerts here for updates about possible detours or service advisories. New York City Transit's Twitter account, @NYCTBus, will also have updates.
Byford and Darryl Irick, senior vice president of the NYC Transit's Department of Buses, will also be out at express bus locations locations on Staten Island and in Manhattan on Sunday and Monday to monitor the service in person and get feedback from customers and personnel.
"We're excited to get on the ground and get our buses on these new routes, because we have worked hard to make sure we get this first bus network redesign done right," said Irick. "Now that this moment is here, all of us are committed to its success, and will be all hands on deck for as long as needed."