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| New York City Select Bus Service | |
|---|---|
| Name | Select Bus Service |
| Caption | SBS bus on 34th Street |
| Locale | New York City, New York |
| Operator | MTA Bus Company; New York City Transit Authority |
| Service area | Manhattan; Bronx; Brooklyn; Queens; Staten Island |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Website | Metropolitan Transportation Authority |
New York City Select Bus Service is a network of limited-stop, bus rapid transit–style routes in New York City, designed to increase speed and reliability on high-ridership corridors by combining off-board fare payment, bus-priority treatments, and specialized vehicle features. The program, implemented by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and New York City Department of Transportation, builds on international precedents such as TransMilenio, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and Guangzhou Bus Rapid Transit to address congestion, travel-time variability, and accessibility on routes like the Bx12 (New York City bus), M15 (New York City bus), and QM1 (New York City bus). Supporters cite improved headways and reduced dwell time, while debates invoke institutions such as the New York City Council, advocacy groups like the Regional Plan Association, and commuter organizations including the Transport Workers Union of America.
Select Bus Service mixes elements of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) with New York–specific infrastructure and regulatory frameworks, offering stepped improvements over local routes such as the M14A/D (New York City bus), Bx41 (New York City bus), and B44 (New York City bus). Core features include off-board fare payment modeled after systems like TransMilenio and London Buses, bus-priority lanes similar to projects by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Transport for London, and branding strategies informed by agencies including the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Operations coordinate with transit entities including MTA Bus Company and New York City Transit Authority.
Planning drew on studies by the Regional Plan Association, pilot programs from the New York City Department of Transportation, and federal guidance such as reports by the Federal Transit Administration. The first corridor, the Bx12 (New York City bus), was upgraded in 2008 after community outreach conducted with stakeholders like the Manhattan Community Board 4 and Bronx Community Board 2; subsequent expansions referenced international models including Bogotá’s TransMilenio and Curitiba’s bus system. Key milestones involved collaboration among the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York City Department of Transportation, and elected officials from the New York City Council, with funding streams influenced by programs tied to the U.S. Department of Transportation and federal discretionary grants. Implementation phases often intersected with infrastructure projects led by the New York State Department of Transportation and neighborhood planning processes in corridors such as Fordham Road, Queens Boulevard, and 34th Street (Manhattan).
SBS employs limited-stop patterns akin to express services like the QM10 (New York City bus) but maintains local-stop connections comparable to the MTA Local network; scheduling and headway management reference techniques used by Transport for London and the Chicago Transit Authority. Operational control uses centralized dispatching at MTA facilities and integrates real-time arrival technology tied to architectures like GTFS and AVL implementations similar to systems used by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. Service planning coordinates with traffic-signal priority tools resembling deployments from the Los Angeles Department of Transportation and automated enforcement models used in cities such as Bogotá.
Routes include legacy corridors such as the Bx12 (New York City bus), M15 (New York City bus), B44 (New York City bus), and newer corridors on 34th Street (Manhattan), Queens Boulevard, and Hylan Boulevard (Staten Island). The network connects to rapid transit hubs like Grand Central–42nd Street (IRT), Penn Station (New York City) multimodal interchanges including Port Authority Bus Terminal and commuter rail services like Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad. Route selection often responded to ridership studies from agencies such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and commuter analyses by the Regional Plan Association.
Fare policy centers on off-board payment using machines similar to those deployed by TransMilenio and ticketing concepts from London Buses, with enforcement through random inspections by NYPD and MTA fare enforcement agents reflecting practices of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department. Fare integration links to the OMNY and prior programs like the MetroCard; enforcement mechanisms raised legal and political questions involving the New York Civil Liberties Union, Legal Aid Society, and elected officials on the New York City Council regarding civil liberties and equitable application.
Infrastructure investments include bus lanes on corridors such as Fordham Road, fare payment kiosks inspired by Transport for London designs, and station-like stops with passenger amenities resembling curbside treatments used by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Vehicles used range from wrapped MTA buses to articulated fleet models analogous to deployments by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and agencies like King County Metro. Accessibility upgrades adhere to standards promulgated by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and coordinate with MTA accessibility initiatives.
SBS corridors reported ridership growth patterns compared against local parallels such as M14A/D (New York City bus) and Bx6 (New York City bus), with performance metrics tracked by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and independent reviewers including the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority’s reporting structures and studies from the Regional Plan Association. Time-savings and reliability impacts were evaluated relative to baseline conditions studied by the Federal Transit Administration and peer-reviewed urban transportation research published through institutions like Columbia University and New York University.
Critiques emerged from advocates and officials such as the New York Civil Liberties Union, Local Law 97 critics, and various community boards over issues including enforcement practices, curbside allocations near landmarks like Columbus Circle, and impacts on parking and loading zones associated with businesses represented by organizations such as the New York Chamber of Commerce. Legal challenges and political disputes involved stakeholders including the New York City Council, Manhattan Borough President, and transit unions such as the Transport Workers Union of America.
Category:Bus rapid transit in the United States Category:Transportation in New York City