Bronx, NY – The specific funding mechanisms still need to be worked out, but Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz has made one thing clear: if residents of the Northwest Bronx are going to be asked to pay more for transit, then they deserve to see tangible investments in their own communities as a result. With the legislative session slated to begin on January 9, Assemblyman Dinowitz released a list of 19 transit needs for his constituents living in the Northwest Bronx. Dinowitz also is inviting all constituents to share their ideas on what should be included on his list of transit priorities.

The current list can be seen below:

1. Bring Northwest Bronx subway stations into full ADA compliance, including elevators and platform accessibility, with particular focus on key stations especially at Mosholu Parkway (4 Train – currently in design phase).
2. Prioritize signal system upgrades along 1 and 4 train lines.
3. Improve local bus service, including more frequent buses during rush hour periods with a particular focus on 6am-10am and 4pm-8pm when Northwest Bronx commuters are most impacted by overcrowding.
4. Accelerate installation of Transit Signal Priority at intersections along all bus routes throughout the Northwest Bronx.
5. Accelerate implementation of all-door boarding on all local bus routes, in particular those that serve the Northwest Bronx.
6. Implement a second free MetroCard transfer to address transit deserts, new commuting patterns, and lack of ADA-compliant subway stations throughout New York City.
7. Improve multi-modal transit accommodations, such as the addition of bicycle parking at Metro-North and subway stations – with particular focus on terminal subway stations such as Van Cortlandt Park 242^nd Street (1 Train), Wakefield 241 Street (2 Train), and Nereid Avenue (5 Train) and regional rail stations such as Riverdale (MNR Hudson Line), Spuyten Duyvil (MNR Hudson Line), Wakefield (MNR Harlem Line), and Woodlawn (MNR Harlem Line).
8. Re-implement express subway service (“skipped stops”) along the 1 Train to reduce commute times into Manhattan for Northwest Bronx residents.
9. More frequent local Metro-North Railroad service along Hudson and Harlem Lines throughout the day and night.
10. Relocate Henry Hudson Bridge toll to Yonkers-NYC line.
11. Work towards West Side Access for the MetroNorth Hudson Line to Penn Station.
12. Improve consistency and efficiency of express bus service to/from Northwest Bronx.
13. Implement a half-price MetroCard for veterans.
14. Fully study where bus lanes can be installed to improve service throughout Northwest Bronx.
15. Significantly increase the number of bus shelters throughout Northwest Bronx.
16. Increase parking at Metro-North Railroad stations, where feasible.
17. Complete pedestrian bridge project through Van Cortlandt Park.
18. Complete engineering study for Hudson River Greenway through Northwest Bronx.
19. Expand bike share programs into Northwest Bronx.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D - Northwest Bronx) said: “There is a clear need to raise a significant amount of revenue for mass transit in New York, however residents of the Northwest Bronx are understandably hesitant to fork over more of their hard-earned money. Often we have watched taxpayer’s money spent on projects that cost huge amounts of money but benefit the few when we should have been spending those billions of dollars in ways that will tangibly improve commutes for millions of people throughout New York. This list contains 19 of my ideas on what changes would have the biggest impact for commuters in the Northwest Bronx, and I believe it is a good starting point for decision-makers before we agree to pay for any new taxes or fees.”