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MTA’s bus takeover deadline in question again

By Philip Newman

City Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing), chairman of the Council Transportation Committee, said the delay “raises concerns” and he expressed hope the missed deadline would not spread to the final four bus lines slated to be taken over by the end of next month.The agreement was a step in the incremental takeover of the seven private bus lines serving riders in Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan. The New York Bus takeover was scheduled for March 26.But Jordan Barowitz, a spokesman in the mayor's office, said the MTA would assume control of New York Bus Service routes “upon the closing of the transactions, which is expected to occur in late summer.”The time before the transfer to the MTA will allow for the resolution of issues arising out of the use of New York Bus' Depot for commercial and school bus operations.”Liu noted it was “the fourth deadline to be missed with the previous deadlines being Dec.4, 2004, June 30, 2003 and Dec. 31, 2003″ for the MTA takeover of all seven private lines.”It's fine that Liberty Lines and Queens Surface bus service were finally transitioned to the MTA earlier this year,” Liu said. “However, the delay again in the takeover of New York Bus Service raises concerns. Hopefully, this delay will not spread to the takeover of Triboro, Jamaica, Green and Command bus companies since the service on these lines has fallen apart due to many previous missed deadlines and the mayor's failure to purchase much needed buses.””I am very pleased we have reached an agreement with New York Bus Services,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg Tuesday. “This is another important step toward completion of the transfer to the MTA of the franchise bus lines. I look forward to working with New York Bus and the MTA over the coming months in the transition to the MTA operation of the bus lines.”James O'Reilly, New York Bus Service president, thanked “our employees who have worked so hard in providing an excellent commuter service for our riders between the Bronx and Manhattan.”New York Bus operates 143 buses on six express routes between Manhattan and the Bronx.The agreement is the third reached with private bus lines, with a takeover by the MTA of Liberty Lines Jan.4 and Queens Surface Corp. on Feb.26.The remaining companies were scheduled to come under MTA operation by April 30.The seven private bus lines carry 400,000 riders – 350,000 of them in Queens – daily. Commuters have complained for years about deteriorating services on the lines with longer and longer waits, particularly in eastern Queens, which has little subway service.Liu presided at a series of public hearings on the long-delayed takeover of the private lines after several self-imposed deadlines were missed.Among the many people who testified at the hearings were some who told of hardships riders of the private lines endured, including long waits, struggles to board already jam-packed buses and an incident in which a bus operator was beaten by a passenger.Reach contributing writer Philip Newman by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 136.