Big Bucks for Nostrand Ave. Rapid Bus Route
This is a couple of days old but seemed worth highlighting…The feds have just approved $28 million for the creation of a Select Bus Service route (a program for bus rapid transit) on the heavily-traveled but painfully slow B44 Limited line that runs down Nostrand Avenue. A pilot program on Fordham Road reduced travel times…
This is a couple of days old but seemed worth highlighting…The feds have just approved $28 million for the creation of a Select Bus Service route (a program for bus rapid transit) on the heavily-traveled but painfully slow B44 Limited line that runs down Nostrand Avenue. A pilot program on Fordham Road reduced travel times by 20 percent and booseted ridership by 7 percent. (See a slideshow presentation on the topic here.) What do Crown Heights residents think of this idea?
Feds Green Light Funding for Nostrand Avenue Bus Service [StreetsBlog]
For these kind of dedicated lanes to work (whether bike or bus) they have to install barriers to prevent cars from accessing the lane. I think the orange plastic poles would work.
They probably won’t do it right. Bus Rapid Transit requires:
1- dedicated (separated) bus lane
2- no on-board fare check.
What are the chances?
For that matter, I don’t see why monthly MTA passes cannot be easily visually identified so you could board a bus just by showing it (as in SanFran eg). Yes, you have the problem of the pass getting handed to another but the loss in revenue would be slim.
From the “Junction” – where Nostrand and Flatbush Avenues cross – south, the B44 in my usage was ok. Going north to downtown, forget it.
I am not sure I understand how they will keep traffic out of the lanes but assuming successful 2 points
1. 28M is hundreds of millions less than any trolly would be AND the effect would be exactly the same
2. Another example of how great Bloomberg is….always trying new things – we will never have a Mayor as innovative as Bloomberg again.
A lot of the problems on Nostrand could be solved by enforcement of existing laws by the police. As Adam pointed out, this will be nothing but a big double parking lane for the chronic double-parking offenders. Police enforcement of other bus lanes in the city have been sporadic and ineffective. And if David Gant keeps having his way, nothing will change. This will only upset everyone.
This is actually progressive and an extremely valuable asset for crossing through mid Brooklyn limiting traffic, exhaust, car horns and hit and runs. I’ll bet Marty Markowitz will try to kill it.
I know, Joe, was just thinking about the northern folks going to the hospitals, as that’s what I see from up here, lots of people in scrubs, etc.
Where’s the hate? This is like a big ass bike lane!!!
“Many people, from Bed Stuy to Crown Heights to Flatbush take this bus daily”
Don’t forget Midwood, Marine Park and Sheepshead Bay. South BK represent!