By Bill Parry
The first of 75 new state-of-the-art buses rolled out on the borough’s streets Tuesday, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The fleet of new city buses are equipped with Wi-Fi and USB charging ports.
The remaining buses will be delivered at a rate of four to five per day, with all 75 arriving by this summer and operating in Richmond Hill, South Jamaica, South Ozone Park, Springfield Gardens, Rosedale and Far Rockaway.
“Today, we are reimagining the MTA for the 21st century and creating a transit system that will meet the needs of the next generation of New Yorkers,” Cuomo said. “With our unprecedented MTA capital plan, we are building for the future with major initiatives that will improve the commute of millions of New Yorkers, reduce overcrowding and bring new technology to our subways, buses and railroads. New York is investing in the MTA like never before, and together we are capturing the boldness and ambition that made this the Empire State in the first place.”
This year the state dedicated $8.3 billion in funding for the MTA’s $27 billion capital plan, the largest and most ambitious spending plan in state history, according to officials. Cuomo also announced the success of a field test for MTA eTix, a free app that will allow Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North riders to purchase train tickets anytime, anywhere on their mobile devices instead of using paper tickets. “We see the debut of these new buses and the rollout of the MTA eTix field test as important steps forward as we continue to renew, expand the transit system and create an enhanced experience for our customers,” MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas Prendergast said.
Meanwhile, the city’s Department of Transportation will launch faster bus service from Jackson Heights to LaGuardia Airport this fall. The new “LaGuardia Limited,” a select bus service route, will use a dedicated lane, promising a faster ride for the Q70.
“Right now, a trip on the E or F from Midtown with a transfer to the existing Q70 can get riders from Midtown to LaGuardia Airport in over half an hour, one of the best-kept secrets in New York travel,” a DOT spokesman said. “Working with the MTA, we are going to make the Q70 a Select Bus Route, which will speed service even further with off-board fare collection. At the same time, DOT and MTA will make Q70 buses more visible, with a new brand and more signage. With SBS in place on the Q70, we are confident that even more NewYorkers — air travelers and airport employees alike — will get to know and start to use this fast, affordable and high-quality transit option.”
The city also showed off new prototypes of safer and sustainable vehicles for the city’s fleet in Flushing Meadows Corona Park last week. Cutting-edge measures include installing life-saving truck side guards, which protect pedestrians from falling under rear wheels, on 370 city trucks and 185 new electric cars that will reduce municipal fleet emissions 50 percent by 2025.
The city will also bar the use of hands-free phone devices by city fleet operators, except for emergency responders. The NYPD will double its use of biodiesel from 5 to 10 percent biodoesel blends.
“The new electric cars set to be used in our city’s fleet will help make the municipality with the largest electric vehicle fleet in the nation and will make our city more sustainable,” City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria) said. “Expanding our use of biodiesel in NYPD vehicles will also reduce pollution and improve our air quality. These sustainable habits will bring us closer toward our goal of reducing carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050 and continue to make our city a leader in green energy.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
