“For years, customers on Staten Island have endured express bus rides that were not at all express, and we heard them loud and clear,” said President Byford. “With their help and the support of Borough President James Oddo and our labor partner, ATU Local 726, we are now able to give those customers what they deserve — faster, shorter routes and more service at all hours of the week. We are extremely grateful to the Borough President and Local 726 for helping us make this redesign possible.”
From the first day of the new service through Labor Day week, NYC Transit will be keeping a close eye on the service region by dispatching a specialized team of senior operations and customer service managers to a Situation Room at the Bus Command Center that will also include representatives from NYPD to ensure a smooth and successful implementation, particularly after Labor Day when traffic and ridership return to fall levels. The Situation Room will also be in close contact with NYC Department of Transportation and New Jersey Department of Transportation officials.
Customer ambassadors have been out at key locations on Staten Island and in Manhattan since Aug. 6. Dispatchers will be closely monitoring bus movement via GPS tracking, and bus operators have been instructed to be extra vigilant in reporting any issues such as crowding or traffic congestion, particularly on the express bus routes that use the Lincoln Tunnel and may be affected by NJDOT construction in the area.
