The project is an "early action" component of a longer-term State DOT effort to reduce congestion along the SIE. It is meant to answer complaints that transportation agencies launch untold numbers of studies but are slow to actually construct improvements.

The Campaign welcomes quicker action from agencies. In this case, we sought assurance from NYS DOT that the bus lane would not later be opened to car traffic (see MTRs #171, #179). DOT officials have refused to provide such a guarantee in writing but have been steadfast in referring to the lane as bus-only.

As DOT works out longer-term solutions for the Expressway, the bus lane should prove an interesting test of several questions:

• Will motorists and their elected representatives demand the lane's opening to all traffic ?
• Will the short "queue jump" bus lane significantly improve bus travel times and help induce more bus ridership?
• Will bus travel improvements reduce congestion and passenger delay overall on the Expressway, other factors being equal ?
  
  

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