At a late afternoon gathering on Wednesday, June 18, a large crowd of bus riders came to Queens Borough Hall to participate in the 12th Bus Forum sponsored by the New York City Transit Riders Council.  Joe Smith, NYC Transit Senior Vice-President, Department of Buses, accompanied by many of his senior staff, spoke to the audience about the recent re-organization of the three bus entities — Transit, MTA Bus (the former private bus companies) and Long Island Bus — into Regional Bus Operations.  He explained that this consolidation will streamline management, eliminate redundancies, improve efficiency and service, and save money. 

Queens Borough President Helen Marshall presented opening remarks and emphasized how important bus
transportation is to Queens residents, particularly those living in Southeast Queens who have no subway service.   

Moderated by NYCTRC Chair Andrew Albert, the panel of Transit Bus officials, NYPD Captain Patrick Carney, and Joe Barr of NYC DOT, responded to a wide-range of topics: customer service relations and communications, driver performance, frequency and headway enhancements, bus bunching, route improvements, passenger safety, and station conditions.  A summary of the proceedings is being prepared and will be posted on the website when completed.

At its June meeting the NYCTRC heard Theodore (Ted) Kheel explain how he believes there can be free public transportation for New York City.  Mr. Kheel, who has a long and distinguished career in labor relations mediation and conflict resolution, recounted his experience in fare policy since the end of WW II.  His key revelation was that the Port Authority (PA) — after acquiring the bankrupt Hudson and Manhattan Railroad which became PATH — was prohibited from funding any other deficit rail operation until the last of 30-year bonds issued through 1977 were retired.  Therefore, since 2007, the PA is free of this proscription and may use funds to support financial needs of subways and commuter rail, a condition which is critical to Kheel’s plan. 

Essentially a form of congestion pricing, his funding scheme consists of three components: 1) a 24-hour $16 toll on autos and $32 on trucks crossing into Manhattan’s Central Business District (CBD); 2) a surcharge on medallion taxi fares; and 3) higher curbside parking fees within and north of the CBD.  A full description and financial analysis of this proposal can be found at http://www.nnyn.org/kheelplan/

This year’s Bus Forum will be held in Queens.  Bus riders will have the opportunity to ask senior management questions on Wednesday, June 18th, from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM, at Queens Borough Hall.  The Forum is particularly timely due to the recent MTA announcement for plans to begin integrating the operations of its three bus companies to create a more seamless and efficient regional bus operation. New York City Transit Bus, MTA Bus and Long Island Bus will each maintain its individual identity and funding, but Joseph Smith, Senior Vice President for Buses, NYC Transit, will oversee the new operation, maintaining his current title and assuming the presidency of both MTA Bus and Long Island Bus.  Mr. Smith and representatives of MTA Bus and Long Island Bus will be guests of NYCTRC at the Forum. 

April 2008
NYCTRC Holds President’s Forum on Subways

Due to transition in NYC Transit leadership, it has been several years since the Transit Riders Council sponsored a President’s Forum. However, on April 16th, at MTA’s 2 Broadway Conference Center, President Howard Roberts graciously joined NYCTRC Chair Andrew Albert (at far left) to answer questions and take comments from the public. President Roberts brought with him key staff members (L to R) Cosema Crawford of Capital Construction, VP of Subways Steven Feil, Executive Vice President Michael Chubak and Peter Cafiero, Chief of Operations Planning. Also present to explain security policy, was NYPD Transit Bureau Chief James Hall (at far right).

Public speakers cited a variety of service problems, mostly on lines with track work or limited track capacity. There were also station and platform concerns about cleanliness, signage, public address systems, escalators and elevators. Chief Hall responded to questions related to graffiti, vandalism and loud music. Other people offered suggestions for changes in schedules and future stations. A summary of all comments will be prepared and posted on the website in the near future.

The NYCTRC will hold its annual President’s Forum on Wednesday, April 16th, at 2 Broadway, 20th Floor, from 5 – 7 p.m.  President Howard Roberts and other senior staff will be on hand to answer questions and take comments from the public.  Attendees must register in person to speak, but there is no advance registration.  Also, a photo ID is required for entrance to building.

January 2008
NYCTRC Hosts Transportation Reporters

Five reporters joined the NYCTRC January meeting to discuss how they cover transportation issues. Present were Bobby Cuza from New York 1, Pete Donahue from the New York Daily News, Patrick Gallahue at the New York Post, Marlene Naanes with AM New York, and William Newman of the New York Times.

Vice Chair Mike Sinansky posed four questions to the panelists: 1) How have changes in the last year at the MTA affected reporters? 2) What feedback do you receive on stories that you write? 3) How do you determine what stories are news worthy? 4) What could the New York City Transit Riders Council do better as an advocacy organization?

Reporters enjoying a lively panel discussion are (L-R): Bobby Cuza, Patrick Gallahue, Marlene Naanes, Pete Donahue and William Newman.

In response to the last question, Pete Donahue said the Council should identify and focus on simple things that riders experience every day.  In that vein, Mr. Neuman commented that a story about lost and found operations at the MTA agencies was very attractive because it has wide appeal and interest to many groups.  Ms. Naanes offered that it is important to talk to the public as much as possible.  Mr. Gallahue and Mr. Cuza agreed that it is helpful if the Council stays in touch with the reporters and inform them about what they are hearing and alert them to emerging issues.  Mr. Donahue concluded by challenging the Council to be more aggressive and forceful about putting out positions on specific issues and spending more time talking to the press and getting the Council’s name out.

December 2007
NYCTRC Loses Dedicated Member, Jon Schachter

Jon Schachter listening in a NYCTRC meeting

On December 22, 2007, Jon Schachter, member of the NYCTRC since February 2006, passed away after being hospitalized for several weeks.  Mr. Schachter was an active Council member focusing on subway and bus operations.  He brought a wide knowledge of equipment and procedures to Council discussions and continually pressed for improved customer service.  He was for many years a member of the Committee for Better Transit, serving as chair of the New York Task Force and leading a number of the Committee’s efforts to improve the NYC Transit system.  He served as a member of the Bellevue Hospital Community Advisory Board, the Manhattan South Vice President of the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, the Vice President of the 13th Precinct Community Council and a member of the 17th Precinct Community Council, a public member of Community Boards 5 and 6, and a Board Member of the Stuyvesant Park Neighborhood Association.  Mr. Schachter was a graduate of the New York Institute of Technology and pursued graduate studies at St. John’s University. 

November 2007
NYCTRC Launches Station Condition Survey

Fifty stations have been randomly selected through a quota sampling system.  Survey questions are the same as those used in the 2004 study with a few added criteria suggested by the Council at the September 2007 meeting.  Council members are assigned four stations to survey.  Inspections will be conducted on these stations in non-peak hours between now and the end of November, avoiding holidays. There are three distinct areas within each station that are being rated: The first is four entranceways, spread out as widely as possible throughout the station.  The second is the non-paid portion of the control area (the area between the entranceway and the turnstiles).  The third is the platform area of the station, which includes only the platform adjacent to the tracks, and not other areas on the platform level.

A report on the results will be issued in early 2008.

NYC Transit Riders Council Chair, Andrew Albert, discusses the station survey with members of the Council.