Bronx, NY – Express bus riders in the Bronx were spitting mad after the MTA proposed severe reductions in afternoon service as well as route changes that eliminated their service between Riverdale-Upper East Side and in Norwood altogether. Upon learning of these changes, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and Council Member Andrew Cohen organized a spontaneous emergency town hall that attracted over 500 angry bus riders on a cold, rainy night with under a week’s notice. Now, express bus riders can breathe a little easier for the rest of the year with news from the MTA that there will be no changes to express bus service for the time being. The MTA has said they will monitor ridership levels and revisit the proposed changes for 2021.

The proposed cuts were part of the Bronx Bus Network Redesign, a two-year effort from the MTA to improve bus service throughout the Bronx, but the proposed cuts to express buses were not introduced until the final plan was released in late October of 2019. Local elected officials began raising alarms, and as complaints from local residents began to pour in, they quickly organized a town hall with the MTA to explain their rationale and to hear directly from impacted riders. Complaints largely focused on a desire to travel into Manhattan during afternoons and evenings, access to Mount Sinai and cultural institutions on the east side that are not easily accessible by subway, and an overall lack of accessible alternatives for regular commuters. These complaints were reiterated in a joint letter from the elected officials on November 22, 2019.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said: “Hard work and community organizing pays off. It is wonderful news to hear that the MTA has postponed their plans to cut express bus service. Our community is disproportionately reliant on express buses to access Manhattan – especially those along the northern and western borders of the Bronx who do not have nearby subways. I am glad that President Byford and the MTA listened to riders’ concerns, and I look forward to a continued dialogue on how we can efficiently continue to provide essential mass transit service for the people of the Bronx.”

Council Member Andrew Cohen said: “I’m thrilled that the MTA has granted a reprieve of the drastic cuts to express bus service which would have disrupted commutes and exacerbated the transportation difficulties faced by senior citizens, people with disabilities, and individuals in low service areas. Bronx commuters throughout the district have expressed their frustration and dissatisfaction with the proposed service cuts and there is no doubt that the MTA and President Andy Byford have heard our voices. I’m proud of the hard work from the community and Assemblyman Dinowitz’s leadership in combatting these changes. I look forward to working with the MTA to put forward a plan that meets the needs of Bronx commuters and ensures access to reliable and efficient transportation.”

Congressman Eliot Engel said: “I am very pleased to hear the MTA has decided to reverse course and keep the existing express bus service for the Bronx. The express bus is a pivotal lifeline for many outer borough residents, especially those living in the North Bronx who have limited access to subways. This is a terrific win for our neighborhood and I thank my colleagues, and the members of the community, who all worked together to preserve this service through 2021.”

Congressman Adriano Espaillat said: “Thank you to President Byford and the MTA for granting our community a reprieve from the proposed cuts to express bus service. Along with my colleagues in government, we will continue fighting to improve bus service in the Bronx on behalf of all riders.”