by Larry Penner
There are ongoing and future efforts to deal with complaints by various transit advocacy groups concerning problems with MTA NYCT and MTA Bus services and ridership loss. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit has already awarded contracts for $200 million to purchase and install a new bus radio system, along with $150 million for purchase and installation of a new East New York Brooklyn Bus Command Center.
Both the bus radio system and bus command center support operations of over 6,000 buses, providing service in all five boroughs. MTA NYCT are also in the process of spending $1 billion for purchasing over 1,000 new buses. MTA Bus has programmed $300 million to buy over 400 new buses. There are other projects and plans outlined in both the 2015 – 2019 Five Year Capital Plan and 2014 – 2034 Twenty Year Capital Needs Assessment Plan for even more investments to support both the NYCT and MTA bus systems.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
(Larry Penner is a transportation historian and advocate who previously worked 31 years for the US Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration Region 2 NY Office.)
