CITIZENS MEETING TUESDAY APRIL 6 7 PM TO SAVE WESTCHESTER-NY BUS
Release Date: March 28, 2010
The first meeting of a citizens committee to save the Westchester-NY express bus service will be held on Tuesday, April 6th at 7 PM at the Will Library in Yonkers (near Tuckahoe Road). We will hold future meetings in Greenburgh.
The task force will discuss strategies to persuade the County Executive and Board of Legislators to save the route.
Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner, who first proposed the initiation of the Westchester-NYC express bus said that many commuters and citizens have pointed out that the route is necessary for a number of reasons:
***The elimination of this route will have a very NEGATIVE IMPACT ON PROPERTY VALUES ON CENTRAL AVE. Many people purchase apartments/homes on Central Ave because of the bus --and the ability to get to NYC from their home without a car.
***The elimination of the route will hurt businesses on Central Ave. Some employees depend on the bus to get to work. The elimination of this route will also discourage some shoppers from shopping on the avenue.
***Some disabled residents have indicated that the bus is easier to use than some train stations--steps at the train stations (some stations have no elevators) are disabled unfriendly.
***THe elimination of this route is penny wise and pound foolish---more parking spaces and garages will have to be built to accomodate the commuters who currently take the bus to the train. When the economy was good there was a parking shortage at many train stations.
*** The elimination of the route is bad for the environment and will result in more congestion. We need to promote public transportation, not eliminate it.
***The elimination of the route means less competition for the railroad. Metro NOrth will have even less of an incentive to be responsive to commuters.
Those wishing to join the committee are invited to the meeting. If you have questions please e mail pfeiner@greenburghny.com or call Feiner at 914 993 1545 or 438 1343. PAUL FEINER