MTA Bus Plan Fight Rallies

An MTA bus plan fight rallied quickly on Roosevelt Island in the last several days. Efforts rose from multiple directions as news about killing Q102 service spread.

Reporting by David Stone

A few years back, the MTA severely limited Q102 bus service on Roosevelt Island by cutting all runs from the subway and Tram north to Coler Hospital.

The change forced new loads on RIOC’s free Red Buses intended mainly to carry residents. With no reasonable purpose in mind, the MTA increased overcrowding here.

Now, they want to do more of the same.

The Fight Against MTA Plans Takes Shape

At a RIOC-organized transportation meeting in the Senior Center on Thursday, Suad Hassan, community affairs director for State Senator José Serrano, jumped in.

Based on her work fighting similar plans in the Bronx, Hassan huddled with RIOC to assist their efforts.

In short, if approved, the MTA’s plans will gut bus service on Roosevelt Island, ending all buses north of Motorgate and south of the subway.

That was also enough to draw historian Judith Berdy into the fray. A longtime volunteer at Coler Hospital, she highlighted the drastic impact on visitors and staff there.

Bring the MTA Bus Planners Here

February 4th, a public meeting at Jacob Riis Settlement, 1025 41 Ave
Long Island City, NY 11101, is set. Ironically, easiest access to that location is via… the Q102.

But Hassan wants action more specific and faster for Roosevelt Island. She believes Serrano’s office can assist RIOC by arranging a meeting on Roosevelt Island.

As RIOC public information officer Terrence McCauley, a 15-year MTA veteran explained, the State agency listens more responsively to citizen input than to elected representatives.

So, while RIOC and Senator Serrano’s office reach out to the MTA, your voice is more important. Here’s where you can register your thoughts.

We’ll stay in touch with RIOC and Serrano and alert you to all future developments.

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