New York's 'Bus Forward' Plan to Add 21 Select Service Bus Routes

Critics of the Bus Forward plan say the it does not reflect the urgency of the need for better buses in New York City.

1 minute read

October 24, 2017, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


New York Bus

Donald Bowers Photography / Shutterstock

The city of New York recently released a plan to add 21 new Select Bus Service routes over the next ten years, according to an article by David Meyer.

The "Bus Forward" plan [pdf], "would more than double the reach of the city’s enhanced bus network," according to Meyer. After launching an initial Select Bus Service (SBS) route in 2008, which featured off-board fare collection, the city now has 14 SBS routes, each with "a combination of pre-paid boarding, bus lanes, bus bulbs, signal preemption at intersections, and other transit priority measures to speed transit trips."

In addition to reporting details of the existing SBS system and the details of the proposed Bus Forward plan, Meyer also provides criticisms of the Bus Forward plan, citing a lack of "urgency and ambition" in the ten-year timeline.

Friday, October 20, 2017 in StreetsBlog NYC

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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