Details of Proposed Bus Service Expansion

The other day I noted that one of the most destructive pieces of misinformation floating around the New York State Assembly is this line from Assembly Member Richard Brodsky’s congestion pricing report:

The City has no plan to improve mass transit prior to the implementation of congestion pricing. This is a serious if not fatal defect in the proposal in the opinion of both supporters and opponents of congestion pricing.

Brodsky’s claim is incorrect. New York City and the MTA plan to make extensive bus and ferry service improvements prior to the start of any congestion pricing system. The service expansion would be paid for by the $500 million federal grant that New York City has applied for.

Some of the details I reported in my story, however, were not entirely correct either. I reported that the City requested $306 million for 400 new buses in its grant application to the federal government. Actually, the City requested $258 million for 367 new buses on 36 routes in 22 neighborhoods as well as additional funds for the ferry and ferry improvements. The City also requested $98 million for the creation of a Bus Rapid Transit system, according to sources at the New York City Dept. of Transportation.

Below, and also for download, is a map and a list detailing exactly where all of these buses improvements would be made if the state legislature approves Mayor Bloomberg’s congestion pricing plan ahead of Monday’s US DOT grant application deadline.