By Michael Morton
“We still have very few details about what's happening during the takeover,” said Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing), chairman of the Council's Transportation Committee.
Councilmen Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) and James Sanders Jr. (D-Laurelton) joined Liu at a news conference the three held at Cross Bay Boulevard and Liberty Avenue in Ozone Park, an intersection currently served by three of the city's seven private bus lines.
The private lines provide service to much of Queens, but they have a reputation for frequent breakdowns and slow service. After much discussion, the MTA announced on April 19 that it would take over the lines, a move Mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsed.
Although the transfer was scheduled to take place by July 1, final details of the deal were still being worked out, and Liu characterized the negotiations as “thorny.” He said the MTA still had some time left for the discussions, but “the clock is ticking.”
Liu and his colleagues on the Council said they expected the MTA to participate in transportation committee hearings Thursday and on June 3 related to the takeover, a cooperation they said had been lacking in the past.
“We have a lot of questions for the MTA,” Addabbo said. At the May 13 hearing, the committee will discuss the cost of the takeover and what will happen to the government subsidies the lines currently receive. At the June session, the committee hopes to review specific details of the transfer of the lines.
Liu told the news conference “there cannot be any kind of disruption or reduction in bus service” after the takeover. “The MTA needs to be on top of things to make sure service continues without a hitch,” he said.
Among the issues the councilmen raised were the need for the MTA to secure the private lines' bus depots for its own use and the responsibility to treat the lines' employees fairly. The councilmen also want to know what will happen to the lines' buses, which are generally older than the MTA's fleet.
“Do we just slap a blue stripe on this green bus and call it MTA?” Addabbo asked, pointing to a private Green Line bus behind him.
The councilmen said the takeover should be viewed as an opportunity to improve bus service in the borough, particularly for the expanded population of southern Queens.
“We also need the MTA to study the routes and study the lines,” Sanders said. “It is easier to get from one part of Queens to Manhattan than from one part of Queens to another part.”
Referring to the endorsement by Gov. George Pataki on May 5 for a new $6 billion rail tunnel under the East River from Jamaica to Lower Manhattan, Liu said bus service in Queens could be improved for a fraction of the price. He also said ferry service to Howard Beach, Broad Channel and Far Rockaway could be started.
Said Liu: “We clearly need more mass transit in south Queens.”
Reach reporter Michael Morton by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by calling 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
