County Executive Robert P. Astorino today announced a compromise plan to save the county's BxM4C express bus to Manhattan but still save county taxpayers about $1.1 million this year and $2.5 million annually beginning in 2011.
"Many of the express route riders have asked us to find some way to save this route," said Astorino. "I am sympathetic to their concerns and have been searching for a way to do this. But the county faces a projected deficit of $166 million next year, so we cannot continue to operate this route with county tax dollars. My proposal strikes the balance between our taxpayers and our riders."
Astorino's plan provides the following:
- Beginning June 28, the frequency of the route will change. Peak service and limited non-peak service will continue on weekdays. Weekend service will be eliminated. The fare would increase in September to about $8.50, from $5.50; all discount fares would be ended.
- The Astorino administration and Liberty Lines Transit, the operators of the route, will study the feasibility of the line being "spun off" to Liberty Lines in 2011 and operated without any county subsidy. This would give Liberty the control over fares and schedules.
- There is no guarantee of the route's survival past Dec. 31. Therefore, Astorino will continue his talks with the MTA and state and county officials about regional transportation issues that affect bus operations and funding.
"This plan adopts suggestions from the express route's riders – some of whom said they would be willing to pay higher fares to keep the service – and suggestions from county legislators, while eliminating the $2.5 million taxpayer subsidy," Astorino said. "Ultimately, much will depend on whether there are enough riders to keep the route viable."
The proposal was praised by various members of the Board of Legislators.
Chairman Ken Jenkins said, "Today's news is truly a victory for Westchester's commuters. Over the past few weeks, my legislative colleagues and I have received countless emails and phone calls from residents who were concerned about bus service cuts in their neighborhoods. In this bipartisan effort, the legislature was able to work with the administration to find a funding solution to continue with this popular service and I am confident that we have reached an outcome that will be extremely satisfactory to those who travel on the route. I'm glad that the administration was able to propose a suitable alternative to the overall elimination of the BxM4C line."
County Legislators Gordon Burrows and Bernice Spreckman, both of Yonkers, who have championed the fight to maintain the service, also praised Astorino's proposal.
"Bernice Spreckman and I have been making a case to find some way to keep this route going without burdening taxpayers," said Burrows. "This is the right balance."
Added Spreckman, "I am gratified at this plan for the short term and I am ready, willing and able to continue working with my colleagues on a long-term solution."