Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, State Senator Jeff
Klein, and New York City Council Member Oliver Koppell are pleased to announce restoration of weekend services to the Bx34
bus line, which services parts of Norwood, Woodlawn and Van Cortlandt Village.
The MTA is restoring weekend service for the Bx34 from East
242nd Street to Fordham Road via Bainbridge Avenue as part of a $29
million service investment throughout New York City. These services were
originally reduced as part of the MTA’s 2009-2010 budget-balancing
cuts. The implementation of the service investments will begin in October
and continue into the spring of 2013.
"I am extremely pleased that the MTA has listened to
the community and its elected officials by restoring Bx34 bus service,”
said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “The Bx34 bus is extremely important for the
Woodlawn community, and the previous service cutbacks caused extreme
inconvenience for many people in that neighborhood. Woodlawn, like other communities
in the North Bronx, deserves top notch public transportation services, and this
restoration will go a long way towards that goal. I thank the MTA and Board
Member Charles Moerdler for this important restoration, and I praise the many
Woodlawn residents who spoke loudly and clearly in favor of restoring Bx34 bus
services."
“This is a great day for Woodlawn. When the MTA
cut Bx34 service two years ago it was a real blow to the community,”
Senator Klein said. “This restoration of service is a true testament to
the power of both community organizing and legislative teamwork.”
Senator Klein also noted the positive impact of the Woodlawn
Group Ride Vehicle, a transportation alternative launched earlier this year by
Senator Klein and Assemblyman Dinowitz, in conjunction with the Taxi and
Limousine Commissioner David Yassky and the van’s operator, Carl Gomes.
“The group ride vehicle was a great success, not only
in transporting residents, but in showing the MTA that there was a real need
for Bx34 service,” Senator Klein said. “We applaud the MTA’s
decision to restore service and look forward to a swift implementation. In the
meantime, Assemblyman Dinowitz and I will ensure that the group ride vehicle
continues to serve the residents of Woodlawn.”
“I am pleased that the MTA has heard our concerns and
the pleas of the community, who were left stranded by the loss of overnight and
weekend Bx34 bus service,” said Council Member Koppell.
Borough President Diaz also thanked MTA
Chairman and CEO Joseph Lhota as well as the borough’s two
representatives on the MTA Board of Directors—Fernando Ferrer and
Charles Moerdler—for their work to make these service expansions
possible. He also thanked those elected officials and community
organizations that worked together with his office and each other to
advocate for these new and restored services, including City Council
Transportation Committee Chairman James Vacca, State Senator Jeff Klein,
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and City Council Member G. Oliver
Koppell.
The MTA announced the creation of new bus service for western
Hunts Point and Barretto Point Park, a project that has been a high
priority for Borough President Diaz for several years. The MTA also
announced that they would extend the Bx13 bus line to the Gateway Center
Mall, the restoration of weekend service on the Bx34 that serves
Woodlawn, Norwood, Bedford Park and Fordham, and expanded service on the
three Metro North lines that serve the Bronx.
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