June 11, 2008

Residents and bus riders can learn more about Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and its possibilities for the Central Avenue corridor by coming to an open house from 5:30 to 8 pm on Monday, June 16 at the Will Library in Yonkers.

The Westchester County Department of Transportation is conducting a study to determine whether a high capacity rapid transit system could run along one of the county’s major commercial strips extending from White Plains at the north end to Yonkers and the New York City subway in the Bronx.  BRT would offer many of the advantages of rail transit but at a lower cost.

“With gas well over $4 a gallon, improving transit service is critical to giving people more feasible travel options,” said County Executive Andy Spano. 

The public open house will consist of informal discussions and viewing of project presentation boards from 5:30 to 8 pm, and a formal project presentation at 6 pm.  It is intended to show residents how BRT components can speed up bus service on Central Avenue.  Some features of BRT that could be effective are a dedicated bus lane between Sadore Lane in Yonkers and the Yonkers/Greenburgh border, transit signal priority that would give buses an early green light or extended green light, fewer stops, more service and enhanced station amenities.  An earlier public meeting to introduce the project was held in June last year to obtain initial feedback from the public.

 “Enhancing the Bee-Line system to encourage more people to ride the bus will reduce the number of cars on the road and cut down on greenhouse gases – an important piece of the county’s Global Warming Action Plan,” said Transportation Commissioner Lawrence C. Salley.

From 2003 to 2007, the number of local bus riders on Central Avenue increased by more than 20 percent, mainly due to the introduction of MetroCard, opening of Empire City at Yonkers Raceway and the development of downtown White Plains.  With over 10 percent of all Bee-Line customers riding buses on Central Avenue -- on the local Route 20, limited stop Route 21 and the Westchester-Manhattan Express Route BxM4C -- the corridor shows the potential for BRT.  

The open house will be conducted at the Will Library, which is located at 1500 Central Park Avenue in Yonkers, at the corner of Tuckahoe Road.  For more information, contact Naomi Klein, Principal Planner, nkk3@westchestergov.com or (914) 813-7758.