■TRANSPORTATION EASY ACCESS Community feedback leads to permanent bus service expansion along Vernon Boulevard BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO As they say, ask and you shall receive. Due to an immense amount of support from community members, it will now be easier to access the western Queens waterfront. The MTA announced on March 20 that weekend and increased weeknight service on the Q103 route, which runs down Vernon Boulevard between Astoria and Long Island City, will be permanently added after a successful pilot program started last June. The service additions made during the experimental program include extending weeknight hours from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and adding service on Saturdays and Sundays from about 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. During a public hearing in December on the increased service, community support was unanimous, according to the MTA. Local leaders and business owners saw the need to expand the Q103’s service as crucial to the growing neighborhoods, which have seen a rise in new residential developments and expanded cultural attractions. Some of the cultural spots that the bus serves include the Noguchi Museum and Socrates Sculpture Park. “I am thrilled the MTA heeded my call to make Q103 service expansion permanent. Western Queens has long needed better bus service, so it is gratifying that the MTA responded to our concerns,” state Senator Michael Gianaris said. “There is so much happening throughout western Queens that our need for better methods of traveling between our neighborhoods has never been more pressing. This service expansion represents a hard-fought victory, but I will never stop fighting for improved transit service in our community.” The Q103 bus line also serves as the public’s only option to connect areas to subway stations such as the F line at 21 St–Queensbridge and the 7 line at Vernon Blvd–Jackson Av. During the pilot program, ridership levels increased by 6.8 percent on weekdays compared to the five-month period before the trial, and by 30 percent compared to average weekday use in 2012, the MTA said. Currently weekday ridership is 1,100 customers, the average Saturday ridership is about 300, and on Sundays it is about 250. “Enhancing alternative transportation services for riders here in Western Queens has always been a priority for me,” Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer said. “With the permanent addition of the Q103 even more New Yorkers will gain access to Western Queens’ cultural scene and some of the hottest neighborhoods in our City.” The MTA has announced that it will be making permanent service additions to the Q103 bus line, which runs down Vernon Boulevard between Astoria and LIC. Photo by Angy Altamirano
LIC042015
To see the actual publication please follow the link above