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Select Bus Service
NYCBRT Study

General Questions

What is Select Bus Service?

Select Bus Service is New York City Transit’s new, innovative bus service designed to reduce travel time and increase the level of comfort for customers. Select Bus Service introduces changes to the way buses operate by incorporating the following elements:

Why does New York City need Select Bus Service?

Since the introduction of the MetroCard, as well as with an increase in the city's population, NYC Transit has experienced a significant growth in bus ridership. Customer volumes are at their highest levels ever. However, bus speed and reliability has suffered as a result of high ridership and congested road conditions.

SBS is one of the options that New York City transportation officials (NYCT, NYCDOT and NYSDOT) are examining to improve transit's performance for existing and new customers as well as to foster economic development.

Why buses? The subway is faster and more reliable; why not build a subway instead?

Subways are indeed faster and more reliable than bus systems which must compete with general traffic and pedestrians for the same street space. Subway lines, however, require costly up-front infrastructure and equipment investments and take many years to construct. Select Bus Service, often referred to as “rubber-tired light rail,” uses a variety of techniques and technologies that will improve the quality and performance of transit much more quickly at a much lower cost. 

Where and when will the SBS routes be implemented?

What is the source of funding for this project?

Funding for Select Bus Service Implementation has been identified in the MTA's 5-year capital program. Approximately twenty (20) million dollars has been allocated for the implementation of the 5 demonstration corridors. The cost for each corridor will vary depending on the treatments being considered. NYCDOT is currently pursuing funding from the Federal Government to pay for new bus lanes, traffic signals and SBS stations.  

Will there be inter-borough Select Bus Service?

The Hylan Boulevard corridor in Staten Island and the Fordham Road/Pelham Parkway corridor in the Bronx will both provide inter-borough service. The Hylan Boulevard corridor terminates at the 86th Street and 4th Ave subway station in Brooklyn . The Fordham Road/Pelham Parkway corridor terminates at 207th Street and Broadway subway station in Manhattan . At public meetings we heard a number of other suggestions for inter-borough SBS corridors. If successful, the applications of SBS in New York City could lead to extended, inter-borough services in the future.  

What will happen to my local bus and local bus stop?

Select Bus Service will be an addition to current local bus routes. With its introduction, local bus service will continue to operate 24 hours a day.
Additionally, please keep in mind that NYCT routinely makes minor adjustments and improvements to local routes as part of the efforts to provide better service and that these efforts are independent of this project.  

What will happen to the limited-stop bus service?

On the corridors selected for the Select Bus Service Demonstration Program, Limited-Stop Service will be replaced by Select Bus Service.  In many ways Select Bus Service represents a highly-improved form of limited-stop bus transit. Select Bus Service will transform the limited-stop route into a more efficient and faster service.

Limited-stop bus routes that are not selected in the demonstration corridors will not be immediately affected. The lessons learned in the demonstration projects will allow the project partners to bring improvement measures to bus service throughout the city.

How will Select Bus Service be faster than the regular bus?

It will be faster due to several improvements.  The proof-of-payment fare collection system will speed boarding at every stop.  In addition, there will be a traffic signal priority system that permits Select Bus Service buses to get a green light at certain intersections. There will be somewhat fewer stops than current limited stop service.  Bus only lanes will reduce delays.  All of these features will make for a faster trip. 

What types of vehicles  will be used?

The system will initially utilize existing NYCT buses, 60-foot-long articulated buses. They will be easily identified by the customer-friendly graphics and blue LED signs on the front of the bus.

NYC Transit is moving forward on purchasing low-floored articulated buses, which would operate well in some SBS corridors. Any new buses must conform to the rigorous performance, safety and operating standards established by New York City Transit that is required to operate on the heavily-used streets of the city.  

How will I be able to identify Select Bus Service stations and vehicles?

A distinctive, consistent design program has been developed that unifies the various Select Bus Service elements, including bus lanes, stations, buses, and traveler information.

What kind of monitoring program will you employ once the program is in place?

It is anticipated that a formal report will be issued one year after implementation of each corridor.  The report will cover topics such as changes in bus ridership, travel speed and dependability and effects on general traffic, commercial districts and delivery of services such as sanitation and snow removal.  In addition, there will be ongoing monitoring of conditions from the onset of the service.  If adjustments need to be made to bus schedules or traffic signal timing, they will be made as soon as practicable.

It looks like you are doing this to serve people in other neighborhoods, what is in it for us?

SBS service will benefit all the travelers in each corridor.  Current bus riders who travel longer distances will benefit directly from the faster Select Bus Service option.  Bus riders who travel a short distance between local stops will benefit from the provision of bus lanes.  Automobile drivers should benefit from the traffic signal optimization measures.  Finally, by increasing the number of people who travel by transit, everyone benefits by reduced traffic, pollution and demand for parking.

Late at night, do we really need Select Bus Service?  I would rather have more buses at every stop so that the wait will be shorter.

Late in the evening, when ridership drops noticeably, only local service will be provided.  Generally speaking, when ridership levels drop to where one bus every 10 minutes is warranted, Select Bus Service will be curtailed in favor of 100% local service.

Why can’t you have the Select Bus Service and the local bus stop at the same place?

The Fordham Road-Pelham Parkway corridor has a very high volume of bus service.  Under current conditions, we sometimes find that two or more buses arrive at busy stops at the same time.  This causes buses to get in each other’s way, and sometimes buses cannot pull to the curb, which forces customers to board in the street.  By having separate stops for Select Bus Service and local services, neither service will interfere with the other.  Although some customers will be indifferent as to which service they ride, the preliminary ridership models indicate that at the Select Bus Service stops—all of which will be at principal intersections—most customers will choose to ride the SBS service.   

Fare Collection

What will be the fare for Select Bus Service?  How will fares be collected?

The fare will be same as for subway and local bus service, $2.
On the Fordham Road-Pelham Parkway Select Bus Service, fares will be collected in a new manner.  Customers will pay their fare prior to boarding at machines which will be at every Select Bus Service stop.  One can pay by MetroCard or coin.  Customers will be issued a proof-of-payment receipt which they must hold during their trip to show to an inspector who may be riding the bus or at a bus stop.  All transfers will work the same way they do today.  Only customers who pay with coins and need a transfer will need to enter through the front door to ask the bus operator for a transfer.  Otherwise, customers may board the bus through both doors.  There is no need to show anything to the bus driver.  Just keep the receipt that was issued by the machine. 

Will Select Bus Service honor the free transfers that I get from my current bus?

Yes. The transfer policy will remain the same for Select Bus Service as the one currently in place for buses and the subway.  You will need to insert your MetroCard or bus transfer at the MetroCard Fare Collector machine and obtain a proof-of-payment receipt.

What if I am on the Select Bus Service but I don’t have my receipt?

Anyone who does not have a valid receipt will be issued a summons by the fare inspector.  Anyone who cannot produce a valid receipt could be subject to a substantial fine or even imprisonment.

What if I purchase a Select Bus Service from the MetroCard Fare Machine and board the Select Bus Service bus?  Now I want to transfer to another bus . How do I do this?

It will be the same procedure as now. Your connecting transfer data is encoded on your MetroCard.  Just dip your MetroCard on the connecting bus and the transfer will be accepted.

A customer purchases a Select Bus Service receipt at the Coin Fare Collection machine and then boards the Select Bus Service bus.  If they want to transfer to a connecting local bus, what should the customer do?

This customer must enter the front door and show their receipt to the Bus Operator and request a transfer. The Bus Operator will issue a transfer ticket from the farebox. 

A customer boards a bus route (not the Select Bus Service bus) and tells the Bus Operator that he just transferred from the Select Bus Service but forgot to ask for a Bus Transfer and shows the coin payment receipt.  Can the customer be allowed to ride?

No. The Bus Operator must ensure that all customers make payment via the MetroCard, bus transfer or coin. If the customer refuses to pay, the Bus Operator will follow standard procedures regarding fare payment.

A customer boards a local Bx12 but has intentions to disembark at either West 207th Street or Bay Plaza both of which both are Select Bus Service terminals. How will customers be allowed to board the Select Bus Service bus?

The local Bx12 Bus Operator will issue a bus transfer eastbound at Pelham Bay Station or westbound at University Avenue.  This bus transfer must be dipped into the MetroCard Fare Collection Machine and the customer must have a Select Bus Service receipt to board. 

Bus Lanes

How will the City assure that bus lanes are enforced?

Improving the enforcement of bus lanes is a critical element to ensuring the success of Select Bus Service, and we are working closely with the New York City Police Department on enforcement strategies that are both aggressive and sustainable.  We are researching best practices around the country and outside the United States for bus lane enforcement strategies.

In the long-term, we are also working towards the implementation of bus lane enforcement cameras, which would automate the enforcement process by issuing violation notices to vehicles that illegally drive or park in the bus lane.  Bus lane cameras require approval from New York State, and draft legislation enabling enforcement through cameras was recently introduced in Albany.

Can you drive in a bus lane?

The only time it is legal for a vehicle other than a bus (or an emergency vehicle responding to an emergency) to drive in the bus lane is to make a right turn at the next available opportunity.

Will emergency vehicles be using the bus lanes?

Emergency vehicles will be allowed to travel in the bus lane when they are responding to an emergency situation.

Can taxis drop off/pick up in a bus lane?   Can taxis drive in a bus lane with a passenger?

As with other vehicles, the only situation in which a taxi can enter the bus lane is to make a right turn at the next available opportunity.  As a result, a taxi could pick up or drop off a passenger in the bus lane only if the taxi does not occupy the lane for any significant length of time, and the driver turns right at the next opportunity. 

Can non-transit buses use a bus lane?  Can school buses use a bus lane?

Currently, all buses (as defined in the New York City Traffic Rules) are allowed to drive in bus lane.  If bus lanes become congested at some point in the future, consideration may be given to limiting the use of bus lanes to Transit buses only. 

How will deliveries be handled to my store?

Each of the corridors have different strategies with regards to running ways, and consequently the approach to allow for reliable deliveries to stores will be based on the type and duration of bus lane operation.  The team will consult with local business to identify solutions.  On all corridors, deliveries can be made before or after peak travel hours, and on weekends.  Where blocks are short, deliveries can be made from side streets.

In the case of the Fordham Road-Pelham Parkway corridor, all day bus lanes are proposed in both directions so “windows” in the operation of the bus lanes will be provided midday to facilitate deliveries to the stores. Between 10:00am and noon, deliveries will be permitted on the south side of Fordham Road.  Between noon and 2:00pm, deliveries will be permitted on the north side of Fordham Road.  In addition, before 7AM and after 7PM curb space will be available for deliveries. In addition, delivery zones will be established on side streets.

Where will people park who want to go to stores on a block with a bus lane?

As each of the corridors have different running way concepts; parking will be handled slightly differently for each of the corridors.  Overnight parking will continue to be permitted at the curb.  Where appropriate, a small amount of parking will be established on side streets adjacent to commercial areas.
In the case of the Fordham Road Corridor, given that all day bus lanes are proposed in both directions, for most of the day, parking will not be permitted on Fordham Road.  There are some municipal parking facilities in this area. Outside of the hours of operation of the bus lanes, i.e. before 7AM and after 7PM, curb space will be available for parking.

How do you know that all traffic will not come to gridlock if you do this?

The plans for the SBS demonstration corridors have been designed in such a way as to result in minimal traffic impacts. In the majority of cases, the proposals involve the removal of an existing parking lane. Traffic analysis shows that in most cases creating a separate lane for buses and right turning vehicles results in an improvement in traffic conditions.

Where current travel lanes have been converted to bus lanes it is not expected that a significant worsening of traffic conditions will arise. To evaluate these impacts, the project team is completing a detailed evaluation of the traffic conditions on each of the proposed Select Bus Service corridors. At major intersections, the team is completing analysis to quantify the impacts of the proposed Select Bus Service priority measures. Where impacts are identified, mitigation measures will be included to minimize the impacts

What about the seniors who have to go to the senior center / church / hospital?

We expect Select Bus Service to be of benefit to seniors, by providing improved public transit service.  All buses will be fully accessible, and we hope to deploy low-floor buses on all Select Bus Service routes in the future.  Although the service will make fewer stops than the current Limited services, local buses will continue to provide direct access to all destinations.

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