Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and Councilmember G. Oliver Koppell spoke out against the deterioration of express bus service since the MTA took over Liberty Lines. The two local officials held a press conference on the steps of City Hall to express their concerns regarding the express bus service.

"I have indicated in three recent letters to the MTA that express bus service has become substandard since the MTA took it over. My office has received one complaint after another. Just as I had feared, the MTA is now reducing its services to my constituents. Many buses are late; some never show up at all. The buses no longer accept dollar bills, creating hardship, especially for students. Many buses are dirty. The latest problem is the reduction in the hours for half-fare for seniors. That is unconscionable. Most of us believe ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!’ The MTA seems to think ‘if it ain’t broke, brake it,’ and riders have to pay an extra dollar for the privilege of poorer service," said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.

"When the Mayor announced that the city would negotiate the takeover of Liberty Lines by the MTA we were assured that service would be unimpaired and indeed that a fare increase was not contemplated. We now have had a 25% fare increase and seriously deteriorated service. The shortening of half fare hours is a violation of the Mayor’s pledge and a hardship for thousands of seniors. The MTA’s refusal to allow bus passengers to use dollar bills to pay the fare has created a major problem for students in the Riverdale-Kingsbridge area who need to commute to schools in Manhattan," said Councilmember G. Oliver Koppell.

Also in attendance were Councilmember John Liu, Chairperson of the City Council Transportation Committee and Gifford Miller, Speaker of the City Council.