STATEN ISLAND — City officials will ask for the public's help next week as part of a study of every bus line on Staten Island.
Borough President James Oddo, council members Steven Matteo and Debi Rose and the MTA announced two public workshops next week as part of their "Staten Island Comprehensive Bus Study" to improve service on all 51 lines and change routes.
"Here is the chance for Staten Island bus riders to be heard and I urge Staten Islanders to show up in large numbers to these public workshops," Oddo said in a statement.
"This study relies on involving Staten Island bus riders, who understand the realities of the daily commute better than anyone else, in the decision-making process in order to make improvements to service," he continued. "It will not be successful unless riders participate in the process."
During the first two workshops, riders will get the chance to offer their experiences on buses in the borough and offer suggestions to MTA workers directly, Oddo said.
The first workshop is scheduled for Dec. 15 at the Snug Harbor Administrative Offices, at 1000 Richmond Terrace, starting at 7 p.m. The second is scheduled for Dec. 17 at the CYO-MIV Community Center, 6571 Hylan Blvd., starting at 7:30 p.m.
Officials also plan to host a study in the Mid-Island early next year.
In July, the city announced the "Staten Island Comprehensive Bus Study," which will look at changing travel trends, inefficiencies of current routes and emerging areas of the borough that will lead to an overhaul of obsolete routes and increase service based on the ridership of this year, Oddo previously said.
Aside from the public workshops, the MTA will also talk to riders at stops and ride with them. They'll track MetroCard usage, GPS data and poll rider's satisfaction levels to get data for the project.
The city expects the study to be finished by winter of 2016, Oddo said.
