Council Member Sandra Ung passed legislation that will revisit an old plan to deal with bus congestion in downtown Flushing.
Photo courtesy of Ung’s office
The City Council has given the green light to resuscitate a decades old plan to finally tackle the chronic bus congestion that has plagued Flushing streets for years.
Legislation sponsored by Council Member Sandra Ung was passed on Oct. 19 requiring the creation of a task force to identify potential locations for a bus transit center close enough to downtown Flushing to eliminate the need for buses to park on public streets. In addition to alleviating congestion, a bus transit center will provide a designated and secure place for riders to enter and exit buses and protect them from inclement weather. It will also offer a comfortable space for drivers to take breaks during their routes.
“Flushing is not just a bustling transit hub for northeast Queens residents, it is the busiest bus-to-train transfer location in the mass transit system, making it a crucial connection point for our city,” Ung said. “But the current situation in Flushing, with out-of-service buses parked on city streets, creates crippling congestion and potential public safety hazards. The need for a bus transit center in Flushing has been acknowledged since the idea was first proposed in the 1960s, but it never materialized. I am proud to pass legislation that will finally set in motion a process to make this common-sense idea a reality.”
The DOT commissioner or a designee will serve as chair of the task force. Membership will include the commissioner of the Department of City Planning or a designee, and five members appointed by the mayor. The mayor may also invite any relevant stakeholders, such as the MTA or other agencies at the city, state or federal level, to take part. Flushing is the busiest bus-to-train transfer hub in the New York City Transit system. Approximately 20 MTA bus routes pass through or begin and end in…
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