SENATOR HOYLMAN REQUESTS AUDIT OF MTA BUS SERVICE IN NEW YORK CITY

NEW YORK – Following a report showing dismal bus service in his district, State Senator Brad Hoylman (D, WF-Manhattan) sent a letter to New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli requesting an audit of Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit bus wait times across New York City.

In his letter, Senator Hoylman notes that since 2002 bus ridership has fallen 16 percent, even as subway ridership has grown by nearly a quarter. Moreover, a recent report by the Bus Turnaround Coalition found that bus service in Hoylman’s 27th Senate District – which includes parts of midtown and downtown Manhattan – is the slowest in the city, with average speeds of just 4.7 miles per hour compared to 7 miles per hour across the city.

Pointing to an audit of subway wait times that Comptroller DiNapoli conducted in April 2016, Hoylman writes that an immediate and comprehensive review of MTA bus wait times and efficiency of service is necessary to “bring attention to this enormous problem and ensure the MTA serves its customers better.”

State Senator Hoylman said: “Slow and inconsistent buses are a plague on our city streets. Here in my own district, we’ve nicknamed some of the buses across town: The Turtle, The Sloth, and The Slug. An unreliable public transit system can wreak havoc on businesses and commuters alike, especially for senior citizens who rely disproportionately on this service. As a result, straphangers, including those here in my district, have abandoned buses in droves. I’m hopeful that a comprehensive audit will shine a light on what’s ailing the MTA’s bus service and begin to restore faith in our beleaguered transit system.”

A copy of Senator Hoylman’s letter to Comptroller DiNapoli is below and attached:

June 26, 2017

Hon. Thomas P. DiNapoli

Comptroller

State of New York

110 State Street

Albany, NY 12236

Dear Comptroller DiNapoli:

I am writing to request your office conduct an audit of Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit bus service in New York City, specifically focusing on MTA bus wait times and efficiency of service.

New Yorkers know that bus service is slow (with an average speed of about 7 miles per hour), unreliable, and appears to be getting worse. Ridership dropped by 16% from 2002 to 2015, while at the same time the city’s population grew by 5.7% and subway ridership grew by 24.7%.[1] According to the Bus Turnaround campaign,[2]which recently reviewed bus wait times, my State Senate district has the slowest buses in the city. The average speed of buses in my district is only 4.7 miles per hour with the slowest bus route averaging only 3.6 miles per hour.

As you did so successfully with subway wait times in April 2016, a comprehensive audit of MTA bus wait times would help bring attention to this enormous problem and ensure the MTA serves its customers better.

Thank you for your consideration of this request. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 212-633- 8052.

Sincerely,

Brad Hoylman

State Senator

27th District