A Queens 16-year-old teamed up with a Brooklyn entrepreneur to save the route after turned down by state legislators. The route was among three dozen others eliminated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority as austerity measures on June 26.
Overlooked by some in NYC's massive transit cuts that included the elimination of the V and W subway lines, was the elimination ofdozens of bus lines. Fortunately, one good story arose from the crisis that also shows how private transit is stepping into some of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's huge shoes.
"The long-running QM22 bus route to Manhattan has been saved by a private bus company - thanks to the efforts of one teenage rider."
"I've been taking this route off and on for the last 10 years, since I was very little," said (16-year-old) Ali (of Little Neck, Queens), who just completed his junior year at the Academy of American Studies in Long Island City, Queens. "This whole situation really got me going. I felt like it would be a good opportunity for me to serve the community."
"After writing to local and state legislators with no success, he turned to Joel Azumah, the owner of TransportAzumah," who resumed the route, along with three others.
However, the results on those other routes are not off to a great start, as the Daily News and Village Voice noted.
Thanks to Streetsblog New York City
FULL STORY: QM22 route saved by private bus company - and teen rider
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