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Transportation & Environment
Application by New York City Transit to alter the M4 and Q32 bus services
WHEREAS, New York City Transit (NYCT) proposes to alter the current routes of the M4 and Q32 bus services in order to improve efficiency, reliability, and to relocate their termini; and
WHEREAS, The M4 bus carries an average of 16,000 passengers/day and the Q32 bus carries an average of 9,500 passengers/day; and
WHEREAS, The M4 and Q32 currently lay over on 32nd St, between 6th and 7th Aves.; and
WHEREAS, Recent studies show an average of 6,000 pedestrians/hour use the sidewalk on 32nd St between 6th and 7th Avenues; and
WHEREAS, CB5 has previously approved a project to expand the sidewalk on the block of 32nd St. between 6th and 7th Avenues in order to accommodate the growing pedestrian congestion; and
WHEREAS, Currently buses on the M4 and Q32 routes travel southbound on 5th Avenue to 37th Street, then turn west and travel along 7th Avenue to 32nd Street, at which point buses turn east and travel to Madison Avenue before continuing north to serve community districts beyond CB5's borders; and
WHEREAS, Studies conducted by NYCT show that the existing M4 route is inefficient relative to the city's bus system as a whole, with multiple out-of-service buses laying over on 32nd St between 6th and 7th Aves, causing congestion for motor vehicles and obstacles for pedestrians; and
WHEREAS, Studies conducted by NYCT show that both the M4 and Q32 routes produce longer wait times than average bus routes throughout the city; and
WHEREAS, The 32nd street sidewalk extension and pedestrian safety improvements previously reviewed and approved by CB5 have provided NYCT the opportunity to address the inefficiencies in the current M4 and Q32 routes; and
WHEREAS, NYCT has studied the issue and proposes a new route that should increase route efficiency, speed, and reliability by eliminating the western sections of the M4 and Q32 routes, thereby eliminating two turns on each route; and
WHEREAS, NYCT asserts that this alteration will shorten the average bus trip on both routes (by approximately 40 minutes on the M4 route) and provide more efficient service; and
WHEREAS, NYCT asserts that these modifications will inconvenience only a relatively small number of passengers, to wit:
- Less than 14% of M4 passengers rely on this portion of the route and only an average of 158 passengers/day ride the M4 for its entire route; and
- Less than 3% of Q32 passengers rely on this portion of the route and only an average of 261 passengers/day ride the Q32 for its entire route; and
WHEREAS, Other existing NYCT bus routes currently serve the majority of both the M4 and Q32 routes, providing passengers with alternative options; and
WHEREAS, The small number of passengers currently relying on this western portion of the M4 can access Penn Station via a transfer to the M34 SBS; and
WHEREAS, The small number of passengers currently relying on this western portion of the Q32 can access Penn Station by walking 1,600 feet from the closest stop; and
WHEREAS, Although the alternative options available to those passengers currently relying on the western portion of the existing Q32 bus would not be ideal under the proposed plan, CB5 recognizes this plan as a thoughtful adjustment designed to maximize the current circumstances; and
WHEREAS, The current proposal for the Q32 route alteration is the result of careful study and consultation with affected community boards in Queens; and
WHEREAS, This plan only affects an especially small number of people and allows NYCT to meet the performance goals for improved bus service along these routes and allows for the potential implementation of significant pedestrian improvements in the current termini area; therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of the application by New York City Transit to alter the M4 and Q32 bus services.