ENGEL VOWS TO FIGHT WEEKEND EXPRESS BUS SERVICE CUTS; December 06, 2002

Friday December 06, 2002

ENGEL VOWS TO FIGHT WEEKEND EXPRESS BUS SERVICE CUTS

Congressman Eliot Engel called the proposed halt in weekend express bus service on the Liberty Lines an outrageous act and lambasted the City for not holding public hearings so residents could have their say.

Rep. Engel said, "The weekend bus service is not just for people wanting to go to Manhattan for entertainment. A significant number of the riders are people who work weekends and for whom the bus service is the only reasonable way to get to work. Also, it is the only reasonable transportation for the elderly and disabled. The subway stairs on the elevated line are too steep for many people, leaving the express bus as their only alternative.

"It was also highhanded of the City to make these service cuts without letting the people affected make their argument for keeping the buses on weekends. If the bus company wanted to change its schedule, the City would demand public hearings. The least it can do is hold itself to the same standard."

Liberty Lines services the Riverdale area with express buses seven days a week with the weekend routes scheduled to be cut on January 1st as a budget cutting measure.

Rep. Engel said that the cessation of weekend service would adversely affect the City as a whole. "The people who use these buses are going to midtown primarily to enjoy Manhattan where they spend money, some of which goes to the City in the form of taxes. The cuts would also affect people going to the Zoo and the Botanical Gardens. This is a case where the City may be saving with Peter only to lose from Paul. It is not a simple matter of stopping the bus service and saving money. We stand to lose money at the other end of the line."

The Congressman said that he was co-hosting a community rally at P.S. 24 with Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz, Council Member Oliver Koppell and State Senator Eric Schneiderman on Thursday (12/12) at 7 p.m. in an effort to save the service. "I ask all who want to save these buses to come and show their support. The more people we have, the better chance we have to influence the City to save these bus routes."

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