Planning the Next Phase of Select Bus Service

Ready for some positive transit news? Flush with the success of the inaugural route on Fordham Road in the Bronx, DOT and New York City Transit are looking ahead to the expansion of Select Bus Service.

A new report, “Introduction to Bus Rapid Transit Phase II” [PDF], lays out the basics of New York-style BRT, and announces plans to conduct seven “Phase II” workshops throughout the boroughs. The workshops are designed to educate the public on Select Bus Service and glean feedback on neighborhood transit needs. Underserved areas and overburdened transit routes are identified in the report, as are potential next-phase SBS routes, mapped for each borough. This summer eight to 10 routes will be selected for “further development,” with additional input gathering scheduled for the fall. The above video and an SBS web page are also part of the outreach effort.

The report describes potential changes and improvements to SBS, including “smart card” payment, low-floor buses, offset lanes (with parking to the right), and center-lane boarding. Physically separated bus lanes are also a possibility, according to the report, which would ease reliance on NYPD, “soft barriers” like Botts’ dots, and Albany-dependent camera technology.

As for SBS Phase I, the next route is planned for Manhattan’s First and Second Avenues, with service to begin next year.