Senator Serrano (D-Manhattan/Bronx) co-sponsored a Transportation Forum at the Hunter School of Social Work with Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and City Councilmember Daniel Garodnick. They were joined by transportation experts from government agencies and the non-profit community.
"In the 28th district, which I represent, any discussion of transportation should address one of our most pressing problems: the environment. East Harlem and the South Bronx have some of the poorest air quality and highest asthma rates in the city," said Senator Serrano. He encouraged members of the panel to develop ways to divert diesel truck away from residential neighborhoods.
The senator applauded efforts to move ahead with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has analyzed 15 possible BRT routes [2] throughout the city, and over the next couple of weeks will select one in each borough for implementation. Proposed routes in the 28th district would streamline bus service on the Grand Concourse and Fordham Road in the Bronx, and 1st and 2nd Avenues in Manhattan.
BRT, which has proven successful in other cities around the country, offers real-time arrival information at bus stops, and the creation of dedicated bus lanes on city streets. It would replace limited bus service in affected areas, and also improve the speed and quality of local service.
