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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 338-03
November 26, 2003

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION TEMPORARILY EXTENDING PRIVATE BUS FRANCHISES

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Law

"The next bill before me is Introductory Number 596, sponsored by Council Members Liu, Katz, Avella, Comrie, Fidler, Gennaro, Gentile, Gerson, Gonzalez, Jackson, Koppell, Monserrate, Nelson, Recchia, Reyna, Seabrook, Sears and Weprin.  This legislation authorizes the Department of Transportation to extend the date of the operating authority of the seven private bus franchises operating in the City, which expires this December 31st, to a date no later than June 30th, 2004.

"The Department of Transportation's bus system carries over 114 million people annually through a mix of local and express bus service provided by seven private, franchised bus companies: Command Bus Company, Inc., Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica Buses, Inc., Queens Surface Corporation, Liberty Lines Express, Inc., New York Bus Service and Triboro Coach Corporation.  The system has a fleet of 1,251 buses, making it the 12th largest transit bus fleet in the United States and Canada.  There are a total of 82 local and express routes servicing passengers in Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Manhattan.  Although the service is provided by private bus companies, the City owns most of the buses and subsidizes their operating costs, a practice that began in 1974. 

"Our Administration is committed to preserving bus service for all of the people who rely on the private bus companies for their daily transportation needs.  As I have said in the past, I believe that the MTA, which is charged with the responsibility of providing affordable mass transportation for the people in our metropolitan area, has the requisite economies of scale and transportation expertise to provide the highest quality of service for the riding public.  We continue to have discussions with the MTA regarding the feasibility of an MTA take over of the private bus routes, and I hopeful that such a successful arrangement can be reached.

"In the interim, signing this legislation will enable the City to continue uninterrupted bus service for the nearly 395,000 daily passengers who rely on the buses for transportation to and from work, school, and their everyday destinations throughout the boroughs."







MEDIA CONTACT:


Edward Skyler / Jordan Barowitz   (212) 788-2958




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