Rep. Maloney, East Side Leaders Applaud MTA's Restoration of Midtown Bus Service

New York, NY - Today, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Senator Liz Krueger, Assembly Member Jonathan Bing, representatives of Manhattan Community Board 6 and the Turtle Bay Association, and members of the east Midtown community celebrated the MTA's decision to restore weekend bus service on the M50 bus line in Midtown. Last year, the MTA announced a series of cutbacks in bus service throughout the city, resulting in the elimination of M50 bus service on nights and weekends.

The MTA agreed to restore weekend service in response to a petition drive organized by Congresswoman Maloney that, with the help of government and community leaders, yielded more than 4,000 signatures from neighborhood residents who were deeply concerned about the impact of the cuts on their community. The MTA's new plan will shorten the M50's route, allowing weekend service to resume without any additional cost to taxpayers. More details on the new route can be found below. Please click here for a map of the new route.

"It's great news that the M50 bus will no longer be taking long weekend naps here in the city that never sleeps," said Rep. Maloney. "Resuming weekend service without costing taxpayers a dime is a solution everyone can celebrate. The MTA's decision means that east Midtown residents will no longer be isolated from mass transit on the weekends and facing a long walk to the subway. I thank my colleagues in government for helping organize the community to express their support for the M50 bus, and I thank Chairman Walder and his team at the MTA for coming up with a mutually-agreeable solution that will benefit thousands of commuters in Midtown."

"The MTA is continually looking at ways to improve service even as we reduce costs across our organization. By working with Rep. Maloney and the community we were able to find a solution in this case that improved service within the available funding, and that's a win-win for the MTA and our customers," said Tom Prendergast, President of MTA NYC Transit.

"I commend the MTA on its willingness to reexamine off-peak service along this important crosstown bus route. Through the leadership of Congresswoman Maloney, other elected officials, and community advocates, Turtle Bay and East Midtown residents will once again have access to vital West Side destinations on weekends. It is encouraging that even in times of financial constraint, we can work together to find ways to restore critical transportation services and be responsive to the needs of our communities," said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.

"I am very proud of the effective advocacy of this community. The residents stood strong and united with their elected officials, and spoke out against the real harm to midtown Manhattan that was caused by limiting the M-50 bus line to week days only. Now, because of their advocacy, we are able to once again have the service of the M-50 bus on the weekends. This is a great example of how organized civic action can have such positive results," said Senator Krueger.

"I am proud to stand with Congresswoman Maloney to announce the restoration of weekend service on the M50 bus line. As a resident of Turtle Bay who lives just one block away from the M50 bus line route, I know firsthand how this service route is a critical lifeline for the East Midtown residential community. This is certainly a welcome development in the ongoing effort to ensure that New Yorkers have access to efficient and affordable public transportation," said Assembly Member Bing.

"I applaud the MTA for working with community leaders to find a creative solution that saves an essential service like the M-50 bus," said Assembly Member Micah Kellner. "This is a great example to set for the rest of the city, that despite the current economic climate, it is possible to make tough budget decisions, while still providing vital services to the communities that need them the most."