Next Bus Please: Improving the B61 Bus

Next Bus Please: Improving the B61 Bus: 

Next Bus Please: Improving the B61 Bus Council Member Brad Lander With Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez Council Member Sara M. González 12/5/11

B61 Background: 

B61 Background The B61 has been impacted by the cancellation of four neighboring bus lines The B61 is currently being affected by the closure of the Smith-9 th Street subway station The B61 has gone through several route changes in recent years 2

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Project Background 3 Study compiled by the Offices of Council Member Brad Lander with the assistance of Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez and Council Member Sara M. González Volunteer bus riders collected data on 700 bus runs in 64 shifts July–September 2011 Methodology in Appendix I

Summary of B61 Findings: Not Meeting Demand : 

Summary of B61 Findings: Not Meeting Demand Only 43% of B61 buses arrive inside their scheduled headway time* during peak hours 42% of northbound buses skip the Columbia/Union stop in the 8–9 AM period because of overcrowding Peak Buses are carrying more passengers than loading guidelines during peak hours *“ Arriving inside the scheduled headway time” means buses arrive within + /-3 minutes the intended timeframe between buses during peak hours of service. The scheduled headway for the B61 varies from 8 to 10 minutes during peak service. 4

Summary of Recommendations: 

Summary of Recommendations Increase bus service during peak hours Explore limited stop service during peak hours Add GPS tracking “ BusTime ” system to enable Countdown clocks Cell phone-delivered arrival information Holding traffic lights a few seconds for buses a/ k /a/“Transit signal priority” Extend B57 to Red Hook Work with DOT to provide a more direct crossing of the BQE Improve key bus stops like Smith-9 th St & 4 th -9 th St These improvements are possible within existing resources and policies of NYCT & DOT and through partnership with elected officials 5

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Problem: Transit Service with Reduced Resources: 

Problem: Transit Service with Reduced Resources Major reductions of state support, a revenue shortfall and debt repayment increases led to service cuts to transit riders since 2009 Among the cuts were multiple changes to the B61 and the elimination of connecting area bus lines 7

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Area Service (Approximately 2005) 8 Five bus lines served the surrounding community

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Area Service Today: Reduced 9 Four bus lines were lost Red Hook now only served directly by one bus

Problem: Buses Outside of Headway : 

Problem: Buses Outside of Headway 10 57% of all B61 buses arrive outside acceptable headway times (±3 min of scheduled headway)

B61 buses arrive late and experience “bunching” in both the morning and afternoon rush hours: 

B61 buses arrive late and experience “bunching” in both the morning and afternoon rush hours 11 Problem: Headways

Problem: Overcrowding: 

Problem: Overcrowding 12 B61 buses carry many more passengers than the loading guidelines prescribed by the MTA Average Passenger Counts Per Bus At or Near Maximum Load Point on Northbound buses Atlantic/Hicks Columbia/Union Time Observations Passenger Load @ Departure Observations Passenger Load @ Departure 7: 00 AM 2 27 15 31 7: 30 AM 4 39 24 47 8: 00 AM 2 58 14 54 8: 30 AM - n/a 6 58 4: 00 PM 3 42 - n/a 4: 30 PM 2 52 17 33 5: 00 PM 1 65 15 50 5: 30 PM 14 44 18 32 6: 00 PM - n/a 12 36 6: 30 PM - n/a 5 52

Problem: Bypassing Stops: 

13 Problem: Bypassing Stops “The B61 bus bypasses my stop (Columbia & Union) between approximately 8am and 8:45am. I either have to walk several blocks to a place where it does stop or to the F train at President and Smith (about 20 minutes away). With winter coming I wish to do neither. Leaving to catch an earlier bus is an option but not one that I want to take.” B61 rider email to Council Member Lander on October 27, 2011

42% of northbound B61 buses bypass Atlantic/Hicks and Columbia/Union 8–9 AM 23% of the northbound buses are the second consecutive bus too full to accept more passengers 5–6 PM: 

42% of northbound B61 buses bypass Atlantic/Hicks and Columbia/Union 8–9 AM 23% of the northbound buses are the second consecutive bus too full to accept more passengers 5–6 PM Bus drivers are instructed to not admit more passengers when it is unsafe to do so (typically because passengers cannot fit behind the “white line”) or when directed by supervision 14 Problem: Bypassing Stops and Overcrowding

Problem: Smith-9th Station : 

Problem: Smith-9 th Station 15 The Smith-9 th Street subway station is closed for reconstruction until spring 2012

75% of passengers surveyed at 4th Ave/9th St Ave say that the closure of the Smith-9th has negatively impacted their commute : 

75% of passengers surveyed at 4 th Ave/9 th St Ave say that the closure of the Smith-9 th has negatively impacted their commute “Buses are totally crowded. More buses need to be added during morning and evening rush hours.” - Rider at 4th/9 th bus stop, traveling to Downtown Brooklyn “Smith and 9th is the hub and now it is shut down for god only knows how long. When will life will get better for the people of Red Hook? Get more buses out there!” - Rider at 4th/9 th , traveling to Red Hook “It's a big inconvenience because more work and traveling time you have to do.” - Rider at Lorraine/Columbia, traveling to East New York , Brooklyn “It used to take me 45 minutes to get to work, but now it takes an hour and a half!” - Rider at 4th/9 th , traveling into Red Hook 16 Rider Survey: Smith-9 th Closure Negative

B61 Improvements: Increase Service: 

B61 Improvements: Increase Service Implement additional peak hour service on the B61 to accommodate the higher ridership that has been observed by this study Implement supplemental limited stop B61 service during peak hours to help riders get to subway transfer points quicker 17

The B61 should be a priority to receive: 

The B61 should be a priority to receive This system will allow : Riders to know when buses are actually arriving via cell phones and countdown clocks Implementation of “transit signal priority” (holding lights green for a few seconds for buses) at key intersections where the B61 is chronically delayed 18 B61 Improvements (piloted on the nearby B63 line)

PowerPoint Presentation: 

19 Potential Stop Improvements: 4 th -9 th New bus shelter Bus countdown clock

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20 Potential Stop Improvements: Smith-9 th New bus shelter Benches Improved lighting Bus countdown clock Street trees & planters Bike share

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21 Potential Stop Improvements: Smith-9 th New bus shelter Benches Improved lighting Bus countdown clock Street trees & planters Bike share

PowerPoint Presentation: 

22 Route Improvements Extend B57 into Red Hook B61/B103 Transfer Improve B61 route across BQE

Minimize the impact of the operation of the 9th Street lift-bridge that slows down the B61 route: 

Minimize the impact of the operation of the 9 th Street lift-bridge that slows down the B61 route NYCT should put in place a standard operational procedure, including an alternate route to take, when notified that the bridge is going to open. DOT should also revisit its procedures to make sure that both the 9 th Street and Hamilton Ave bridges are not open simultaneously. 23 Other B61 Operational Improvements The Park Slope-bound B61 should be altered for a more direct route across the BQE, as recommended in the follow up work from the Red Hook Trolley Study Stops should be eliminated where excessively close together

Improvements Summary: 

Improvements Summary B61 Operation Changes Additional peak service Limited stop service during peak Improve Park Slope-bound route across BQE Minimize 9 th Street bridge delays Optimize bus stop placements 24 B61 Rider Experience Equip B61 with MTA Bus Time Upgrade 4 th -9 th and Smith-9 th bus stops Change Nearby Lines Extend the B57 into Red Hook B61 to B103 Transfer Point

Thanks are due to the following individuals and organizations: 

Thanks are due to the following individuals and organizations Data Collection The Red Hook Initiative Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association Robert Barrios Jared Carrano Brad Kerr Kim Lee Arun Abraham-Singh Megan Dahlgren Elizabeth Demetriou Report Layout & Visual Design Hanna Persson & Seth Ullman Thanks To Anthony Alexis & Michael Schwiensburg , Office of Council Member Sara M. González Chris Hrones , NYC DOT MTA NYC Transit for providing background on bus operations 25

Appendix I: Research Methodology: 

Appendix I: Research Methodology Volunteers collected data on 701 individual bus runs from July 5 to September 15, 2011 Covered 64 shifts of passenger counts Surveyed 134 passengers Each volunteer collected data for approximately two hours per shift during rush hours. Volunteers recorded bus arrival times and counts of riders boarding, de-boarding and remaining on the bus Additional data was collected with volunteer surveying of bus passengers about their origin, destination and purpose of the trip 26

Appendix II: Rider Survey: 

Appendix II: Rider Survey 27