What you should know
The MTA will begin a pilot program that will offer free service on some bus routes. There are five routes, one in each county, that will offer free service to 43,900 daily passengers starting at the end of September of this year for a term of six to 12 months, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday. The bus lines chosen to offer fare-free service were chosen taking into account factors such as ridership, fare evasion, adequacy of service, equity for low-income and economically disadvantaged communities, and access to employment and business activity.
NEW YORK — This is good news for public transportation users in New York City. This is because the MTA will begin a pilot program that will offer free service on some bus routes.
These are five routes, one in each county, that will offer the service free of charge to 43,900 daily passengers starting at the end of September of this year for a period of six to 12 months, Governor Kathy Hochul announced Monday.
The bus lines chosen to offer fare-free service were chosen taking into account factors such as ridership, fare evasion, adequacy of service, equity for low-income and economically disadvantaged communities, and access employment and business activity.
“The MTA is the lifeblood of New York City, and I am proud of the tremendous progress we have made in returning ridership to pre-pandemic levels,” said Governor Hochul. “By establishing these fare-free pilot bus routes, we are expanding access to public transportation throughout the city and improving transit equity to better serve all New Yorkers.”
Buses on routes included in the pilot program will be marked with the words “Fare Free“, or “Free Fare”, with green and black destination signage, digital signage on board the buses, decals inside the bus, and covers on the fare box and OMNY readers. The program will not include free transfers to other buses or lines subway.
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Later this year, we’re rolling out a fare-free pilot on five bus routes in all five boroughs.
Thanks to funding from @GovKathyHochulwe’ll begin offering fare-free trips on the Bx18A/B, B60, M116, Q4 (Local & Limited), and S46/S96 by late September. pic.twitter.com/UtzyIhbPEL
— MTA (@MTA) July 17, 2023
The bus routes included in the six to twelve month pilot program are:
Bx18 A/B: Operates daily during the day between Undercliff Avenue o Sedgwick Avenue y Grand Concourse/E 170 Street. The Bx18 A/B bus route travels along Macombs Road, Tremont Avenue, Undercliff Avenue/Sedgwick Avenue, 168 Street y 170 Street . It serves the Morris Heights, Highbridge and Mount Eden neighborhoods and is connected to the 4, B, D train lines and various other bus routes. Major employers and institutions covered on the route include Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center y Bronx Community College.
B60: The B60 bus route operates between Williams Avenue/Flatlands Avenue at Canarsie and Williamsburg Bridge Plaza. The route operates mainly along Rockaway Avenue y Wilson Avenue and serves the Canarsie, Brownsville, Ocean Hill, Bushwick, and Williamsburg neighborhoods. It makes connections with the 3, C, L, G, J, M, Z trains and various other bus routes. Major employers and institutions covered on the route include Brookdale University Hospital & Medical Center, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhul.
M116: this bus route operates every day during the day between W 106 Street/Broadway y E 120 Street/Pleasant Avenue. The route operates mainly along 116 Street, Manhattan Avenue y W 106 Street and serves the Harlem, East Harlem, and Morningside Heights neighborhoods. The route makes connections with the 1, 2, 3, 6, B, C trains and several bus routes. Major employers and institutions covered on the route include St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University, and East River Plaza Mall.
Q4 LCL/LTD: The Q4 LCL/LTD bus route operates between the metro station Jamaica Ctr-Parsons/Archer E, J, Z y Linden Boulevard/235 Street. Some buses operate with limited stops during the morning and afternoon rush hours on weekdays. The route operates mainly in Linden Boulevard, Merrick Boulevard y Archer Avenue and serves the Jamaica Center, South Jamaica, St. Albans, and Cambria Heights neighborhoods. It has connections to the E, J, Z trains, the St. Albans Long Island Rail Road station, and various bus routes. Major employers and institutions covered on the route include the Jamaica Center, York College, and St. Albans VA Hospital.
S46/96: The bus route operates between South Avenue, West Shore Plaza Shopping Center y St. George Ferry Terminal, the S46 local route operates at all times and the S96 Limited route operates on weekdays only in the peak period, peak direction. The route operates primarily along Castleton Avenue, Victory Boulevard, Walker Street/Brabant Street, and South Avenue. It serves the St. George, Tompkinsville, West New Brighton, Port Richmond, Elm Park, Arlington, Bloomfield, and Chelsea neighborhoods and makes connections with SIR and the Staten Island Ferry. Major employers and institutions covered on the route include the NY Empire Outlets, Richmond University Medical Center, West Shore Plaza, and Forest Promenade Shopping Plaza.
The announcement of this pilot plan comes weeks after the first phase of previously announced weekend service increases on the G, J and M lines. The multi-phase approach will increase service on several rail lines during midday weekdays , weeknights and weekends, with the second phase beginning in August, where additional midday and weekend service will be added. In addition to the increase in service, a second R211 train was put into service on line A in June.
2023-07-17 18:41:11
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