The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released a landmark strategic action plan, Extending Transit’s Reach, that provides a framework to improve integration between the transit system and bicyclists, pedestrians and users of micromobility devices.
Front-of-bus bike racks will be installed on three Select Bus Service routes, the M60 SBS, S79 SBS and the Q44 SBS, spanning four boroughs. Building on the partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) announced in October to install bike racks near the entrances of the 37 subway stations that do not currently have bike parking, the MTA will install bike racks at 18 suburban commuter rail stations. The plan also outlines enhancements that will be made to pathways at facilities operated by MTA Bridges and Tunnels.
“It's time for the MTA to fully embrace bicycle, pedestrian and micromobility access as we plan and expand New York’s transit system,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “Extending Transit’s Reach provides a framework to better integrate MTA subway, bus and commuter rail service with the ways that New Yorkers are increasingly using to get around. It will enable the MTA to attract new riders to the system and to harness increasingly popular modes of transportation to essentially expand the transit system.”
“The MTA is ready to hit the ground running, increasing bike and pedestrian access at stations and on bridges,” said MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “This plan will make sure connection to transit for cyclists and pedestrians is a priority both now and into the future as a core value of future capital projects.”
Building on initial actions proposed in October, the authority detailed several additional actions recommended by the plan, including:
- Installation of bike racks on three key Select Bus Service routes that cross bridges operated by MTA Bridges and Tunnels:
- The Q44 SBS, which operates between West Farms Square in the Bronx and Jamaica, Queens, via the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
- S79 SBS, which operates between New Springfield, Staten Island and Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, via Hylan Boulevard and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
- M60 SBS, which operates between the Upper West Side of Manhattan and LaGuardia Airport via 125th St. and the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge.
- Installation of bike racks at five Long Island Rail Road and 13 Metro-North Railroad stations, filling gaps in bike access across seven suburban counties and bringing the percentage of suburban commuter rail stations in New York with bike parking to 85 percent.
- Construction approved by the MTA board in November of three ramps at the RFK Bridge that will provide end-to-end connectivity between Randall’s Island, Manhattan and the Bronx in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and details of the plan for the shared use path on the Henry Hudson Bridge. The Authority will replace the north side path of the Queens span with a new ADA-compliant shared-use path that eliminates stairs at the Queens landing at 27th St. in Astoria.
“This report is a positive step toward improving transit access for the growing number of New Yorkers who ride bicycles and other micromobility devices,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “NYC DOT has been closely collaborating with the MTA to identify subway stations with a high need for bike parking, particularly at outer-borough, end-of-line stations. We look forward to our continued partnership to support safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation options.”
“I'm thrilled to see my MTA Bike Access Bill passed last session has been incorporated into the MTA's new strategic plan. The bill was intended to promote cycling and pedestrian access on MTA bridges and stations in New York City, and the MTA’s strategic plan will do just that. Extending Transit’s Reach shows the MTA’s commitment to integrating bike and pedestrian access into its new capital projects and making New York a more sustainable, livable city for all,” said Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas.
"We applaud the MTA for expanding access to bikes and micromobility devices on public transit and at bridges” said Danny Harris, executive director of transportation alternatives. By better combining public transit and bikes, the MTA can expand access to opportunity for more New Yorkers while reducing reliance on cars. We look forward to working with the MTA on implementing this strategic action plan.”
Extending Transit’s Reach is a 92-page report that outlines MTA’s strategic action plan to make it easier for riders to access transit and other MTA facilities, coordinate with NYC DOT and other regional stakeholders to achieve more seamless, multimodal integration and connectivity for cyclists, pedestrians and micromobility users. The pan is organized into five main action strategies:
- Safe routes to transit
- Station access and mobility
- Multimodal integration
- Demand management
- Policy, program administration and performance management
The full report can be found here.
