Transport News: The B61 service Splits into Two Shorter Routes

The MTA NYC Transit proposes to divide the current B61 route into two shorter routes, the B61 and the new B62 route. This will provide more efficient and convenient bus services for our customers and constituents.

The current B61 route is a long 9.7- mile route which operates between Red Hook in Brooklyn and Queens Plaza in Queens. The route experiences severe delays due to traffic congestion, especially in Downtown Brooklyn, resulting in unreliability and frequent complaints.

Splitting the B61 route in Downtown Brooklyn will create two routes, the B61 and B62. Both of these routes would operate with the same total level of service as the current B61 route, but their reliability would increase because of their shorter operating distances.

The new southern route, the B61, will travel from the IKEA Terminal in Red Hook to Downtown Brooklyn. The northern route, the B62, will travel from Downtown Brooklyn to Queens Plaza, and will be rerouted through the Williamsburg Bridge Plaza Bus Terminal. This reroute will also provide transfers to the bus routes at the bus terminal and a connection with the J, M, Z line in the Marcy Avenue Station.

NYC Transit is proposing to implement these changes in January 2010. This proposal will be presented for information to the NYC Transit Committee of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board at its 2009 meeting. Members of the public are invited to offer their opinion during the public commencement period at the beginning of each NYC Transit Committee meeting.

The meeting will be held at 347 Madison Avenue, Manhattan, 5^th Floor Conference Room, on Monday July 27^th at 9:30 a.m. All those wishing to present comments at this meeting must register to speak between 9: 15 a.m. and the start of the meeting.