Let's Improve B61 Service!

A message from the office of our City Councilmember, Brad Lander:

Councilmember Brad Lander is looking for volunteers to help improve the service of the B61 bus. Our goal is to find easy ways to speed up the bus line and reduce travel time for those who depend on the B61, especially as the Smith-9th Street station closed for rehabilitation through March, 2012. As the MTA is advising riders to take the B61 bus to the 4th Ave-9th St station as an alternative, we are expecting heavier ridership on the route. By collecting data on B61 performance, Councilmember Lander’s office is seeking to determine what can be done to help improve the speed of the B61.

What We Are Doing We are collecting ridership data to assess:
· The number of riders that use the B61;
· Which bus stops have the highest and lowest ridership;
· Which buses are the most chronically delayed;
· How the closure of the F train is impacting B61 riders’ commute; and,
· Where “bunching” most frequently occurs among buses along the route.

This data will be used by the Councilmember’s office to identify issues with the bus line and recommend possible service changes to help improve the riding experience on the B61 bus.

How You Can Help!

We need volunteers to collect data about the B61, including rider count and bus arrival time, to help us know more about overcrowding and delays along the B61 route. Our office will provide volunteers with the necessary field sheets to record their data. Volunteers will collect data Monday-Thursday, starting July 11 and ending July 28. Morning shifts are 7-9am and evening shifts are 4:30-6:30pm. Thanks for letting me know if you, or other people you might know, would be interested in helping us collect data on the B61!

Feel free to write me an e-mail with the time and days you are available, or by calling me here in the office at 212-788-6969. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Many thanks,
Matt

Matt Green
Office of Councilmember Brad Lander
mgreen@council.nyc.gov
212-788-6969 / 718-499-1090