IMPACT OF ACADEMY BUS TOURS CANCELLATION OF
SERVICE ON STATEN ISLAND
June 19, 2001
First, I want to applaud Councilman O’Donovan for
taking a leadership role on this important transportation issue and for hosting
this public meeting tonight.
Second, I want to extend my appreciation and
thoughts to the most important people and those most impacted by the decision
by Academy Bus Tours to discontinue service – the riders on Staten
Island.
I do not and will not go into the reasons
that find us all gathered here this evening. As you have heard and will hear, a
private bus company with a franchise agreement with the City of New York to
provide service on Staten Island has decided to discontinue that service. I
hope that we are here to develop possible solutions and alternatives to provide
these much needed transportation services to Staten Island.
This situation makes one thing that makes
clear – Staten Island has insufficient public transportation options and
public transit providers have treated Staten Island as a stepchild. But instead
of simply arguing about the Island’s "fair share", which we should do, I
offer several short-term and long-term recommendations:
- The MTA and City must immediately fill the void created
by the discontinuation of service by Academy Bus Tours on Friday on both the
North and South Shores;
- I would urge the City to seek to enforce the provisions
of the franchise agreement, including litigation against Academy, until this
alternative service can be provided;
- The MTA and City must provide adequate bus service to
Manhattan, both through Brooklyn and New Jersey. The city must also increase
the number and frequency of bus service on Staten Island;
- The North Shore railroad must be brought back as a
passenger line to provide public transportation along Staten Island’s
oldest and growing communities – from Mariner’s Harbor/Arlington into
St. George;
- Alternatively a light rail service should be developed.
This could tie into the newly created light rail in New Jersey and provide an
alternate route for Staten Islanders to Manhattan;
- Lastly, I believe that the City should help fully
implement the "Ferry Loop" proposal by the regional waterborne coalition. This
ferry service in the lower New York harbor would connect Manhattan, Brooklyn,
Staten Island and New Jersey by linking residential areas to key work areas is
an important part of improving public transportation. The City currently
subsidizes operation of the Staten Island Ferry so I would support possible
public subsidy for additional waterborne transportation alternatives so long as
it did not reduce other services.
I believe that Staten Islander know what the public
transportation system needs here. It is up to them to support and elected
public officials who will listen to their concerns and provide the leadership
to get what we deserve from our government. My support of other City
transportation projects (such as 2nd Avenue Subway) would be
contingent on linked improvements on Staten Island’s public transportation
system.
So tonight I implore our elected officials to start to look
beyond this immediate important problem and to initiate the development of
viable public transportation alternatives that will safeguard Staten Islanders
from being held hostage to operators who have little or no regard for the
Staten Island ridership. |
