Third Avenue bus poised to return

This week, we learned that the MTA board will be meeting next week to discuss this restoration of the B37 bus route. This is great news for riders, residents and businesses, and for our community as a whole. While this news is not official until the board votes, I believe, due to our efforts, that the B37 will return. Rest assured I will continue to press the MTA until this is a done deal.

Since the service disruptions that cut bus service throughout our city in June 2010, I have been fighting for restorations throughout our communities. I sponsored a lawsuit that played a pivotal role in restoring the X27 and X37. Shortly after, by working with my colleagues in government, we were able to restore midtown express bus service along Shore Road and 86th Street. Along with the express bus route, we were also successful in bringing back the B4, the B64, and weekend express bus service.

The final two major services that we continued to fight for were the B37 and full weekend express bus service along 86th Street. It looks like we are about to win the fight for the B37.

I believe we will be victorious next week, and we will get this much-needed service back for our residents.

The B37 is a vital route through our community. It provides much needed access to Lutheran Medical Center for our sick and elderly, improves foot traffic along Third Avenue, increasing sales for our local merchants, and provides residents who live below Third Avenue with an easier mode of transportation throughout the neighborhood, other than the R Train or the Fifth Avenue bus.

I look forward to the day when we have this vital service back, and want to thank all those who signed our petition to restore the B37.

By working together, we have made our community a better place to live, to work and to raise a family.