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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                                  APRIL 29, 2022  |   The Indian Eye 21


         MTA Invites Riders to Provide Input on Queens




               Bus Network Redesign at Public Workshops





                     Public Workshops in 14 Community Districts To be Held Virtually




        OUR BUREAU
        New York, NY
              he Metropolitan Transporta-
              tion Authority (MTA) is re-
        Tminding Queens riders of up-
        coming opportunities to participate
        in public workshops to provide input
        on the Queens Bus Redesign New
        Draft Plan. The Queens Bus Net-
        work Redesign is one of the largest
        bus network redesigns in the country,
        with over 100 routes, serving almost
        800,000 average weekday riders in
        2019, and is now the third project of
        the MTA’s ambitious initiative to re-
        work and enhance bus networks in
        every borough.


        The New Draft Plan is a for-
        ward-thinking redesign focused
        on routing, bus stop locations,
        and frequency proposals that

        aim to address the evolving
        needs of local communities,
        considering factors such as       learn more about our ambitious plan   spaced bus stops along routes re-  • Bus Priority. The MTA will contin-
                                          to speed up bus service and deliver a
                                                                              sults in fewer route turns and faster
                                                                                                                ue working with the New York City
        population growth, travel pat-    better bus network for the borough,”   service. The seconds saved per trip   Department of Transportation
        terns, commute times, and off-    said MTA Bus Company President      by having fewer bus stops have a   (DOT) to build upon existing efforts
                                          Acting President and New York City   positive cascading effect on overall   of expanding bus priority improve-
        peak ridership for current and  Transit Department of Buses Senior    travel times.                     ments on corridors throughout
        future Queens riders.             Vice President Frank Annicaro. “We   • Bus stop placement is also key in   the city, implementing measures
                                          are excited to reach this critical next   filling  gaps  in  the  bus  network;   such as dedicated bus lanes, queue
                                          step in the bus redesign process and   proximity  to  key  destinations  and   jumps, and transit signal priority.
            There will be 14 virtual public   encourage New Yorkers to attend   transfer points are important com-  Additionally, the MTA this week
        workshops held through June – one   these workshops and share their in-  ponents in deciding bus stop loca-  published  in-depth  route  profiles  for
        workshop for each community dis-  put with the MTA.”                  tions. In the proposed redesigned   the New Draft Plan of the Queens Bus
        trict in Queens. At these workshops,   Components of the New Draft    draft plan, placement of bus stops   Redesign.
        attendees will be provided informa-  Plan include:                    expands  the reach  of  accessible   Customers are encouraged to
        tion about all the changes proposed   • More direct routes. Implementing   public transportation.     learn more about the Queens Bus
        in the New Draft Plan and will  be   more direct routes allows for faster   • Enhanced Connectivity. The pro-  Network Redesign at any one of the
        able to share their questions, com-  service. Downtown Flushing and   posed redesign presents new con-  MTA’s outreach events listed or via
        ments, and concerns. Workshops will   Jamaica are areas where effects of   nections, enhancing connectivity at   any of the online resources avail-
        be held virtually via Zoom and con-  congestion hinder bus service. A   key transfer locations necessary to   able and submit feedback through
        ducted in English with captioning in   contributing factor to this conges-  ensure customers have a smooth   the online comment portal. The list
        other languages per the list below.   tion are bus routes that terminate   transition between buses and oth-  of all workshop dates is also avail-
        Additional language interpreters will   in these areas. A series of proposed   er modes of public transportation.   able on the project’s main webpage,
        be  available upon advance  registra-  routes that serve downtown Flush-  The plan focuses on expanding   along with a detailed presentation
        tion form no later than five business   ing and Jamaica will travel through   connectivity to ADA accessible   of the proposed redesign, full report
        days before the workshop you want   these congested areas, instead of   subway stations, including stations   of the New Draft Plan, and an inter-
        to attend.                          terminating there.                that have been identified to receive   active map that allows users to post
            “These public workshops are   • Balanced Bus Stop Spacing. Re-    accessibility upgrades in the near   comments directly on proposed bus
        a chance for Queens bus riders to   moving and adjusting closely      future.                         routes and stops.


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