By Philip Newman
The super express buses called Bus Rapid Transit originally were to debut on Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica, but that was nearly a decade ago and their Queens future has long been in question.
Now the New York City Transit Authority says it has a list of possibilities for Queens, although the rapid buses will roll on two Manhattan routes first. They have been in service for 18 months in the Bronx.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in a question-and-answer explanation in conjunction with its new 2010-14 budget said it has a list of possibilities in Queens.
The question was: How come there isn’t a BRT route in Queens?
The answer: “MTA and NYC DOT have been working cooperatively to advance Bus Rapid Transit in New York City. One corridor was selected in each borough, but the corridor chosen in Queens — Merrick Boulevard — was subsequently dropped at the request of Queens elected officials.”
Transit officials said seven public workshops — two in Queens — were held this past spring to present initial staff findings and solicit public input and comment.
At this time several candidate corridors are being evaluated. They include Flushing to Jamaica, LaGuardia Airport, Northern Boulevard, Queens Boulevard, Woodhaven Boulevard, Middle Village, the Long Island Expressway, Long Island City waterfront, southeast Queens, Hillside Avenue to Jamaica Avenue and Utopia Parkway to Fresh Meadows.
The MTA said it was also cooperating with the city Department of Transportation in a study to determine how to improve bus service in and out of downtown Jamaica.
BRT lines are in use in many parts of the world under different names. New York City’s first BRT service, locally known as Select service, began more than a year ago running from the northern tip of Manhattan along Fordham Road and Pelham Parkway in the Bronx.
BRTs run along dedicated roadways closed to other vehicles and are equipped with transponders that prolong a green traffic light until the bus passes. Passengers buy tickets from curbside machines prior to boarding through any door on the buses.
Passengers who cannot produce their tickets when challenged by an inspector can be fined up to $100.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority began BRT service in 2000 and now has 24 such routes.
Reach contributing writer Philip Newman by e-mail at timesledgernews@cnglocal.com or phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 136.
