The Queens Bus Network redesign was resumed with the release of a new draft plan. Under this plan, the MTA will eliminate a net of 1,193 bus stops just “to improve speed and reliability.” Over 300 more will be removed and replaced, and many more will be removed for other reasons. As for transparency, nowhere in their plan do they state the actual number. I had to count them by hand. They use the euphemism, "Bus Stop Balancing." 

The MTA is operating under two fallacies, that bus speed is a real problem and that removing one-third of the stops will make buses move significantly faster. Neither is true as explained in the original petition and updates. Buses travel only slightly slower than cars on local streets and they make more stops.

The MTA also claims this draft was driven by customer feedback. They obviously haven’t listened to the over 2,100 people who have signed this petition thus far. First, I want to thank you all for signing, but now is not the time to quit.

We must double our efforts to share this petition on all social media platforms you use to get the word out that the MTA is not listening to us. If we can get enough people to sign, they won’t be able to ignore us any longer.

Even if you do not live in Queens, remember they will do the same in Brooklyn and in Manhattan and this will result in fewer numbers of people using the bus, and then they will reduce service to compensate. Of course, they will never admit that fewer bus stops were the reason ridership declined and will cite other reasons like fewer are working five days a week. They will always maintain they made the correct decision. That is the how the MTA works. I worked for them for nearly 25 years, so I know.

Please share this petition now while you are thinking about it. Thanks.