Any true-blooded New Yorker can tell you that the buses in the city need an upgrade. Many of the routes are incomprehensible, and they are subject to the whims of everyday traffic, making them late more often that not.
Well, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has finally heard New Yorkers' pleas and finally addressed the issue by releasing a series of buses outfitted with Wi-Fi and USB charging ports in Queens.
Yes, you read correctly. The MTA is not changing up the routing system, but it is making buses more technologically advanced. If it's any consolation, however, these buses really are the crème de la crème as far as bus tech is concerned.
The buses, which hit the streets on Tuesday, will allow riders to surf the web on their devices while riding to their destination. Furthermore, forgetting to charging your device the night before is no longer an issue, as riders can now keep them topped off using the many USB ports placed throughout the bus. The only caveat is that nearly all of them line the top of the bus, above the windows, so riders will need to be sure that the cord for their charges are long enough to reach the port while seated.
Revealing the new series of buses inside the Michael J. Quill Bus Depot in Midtown, Gov. Andrew Cuomo referred to these buses as part of the "New MTA."
"The system has to now adapt to the new technology," he said. "People don't get on a bus and read a newspaper anymore. People get on a bus and they expect to have that digital connectivity that they need to lead their life."
In addition to the technological perks, Cuomo also raved about the buses brand-new New York-themed blue-and-yellow design.
"I am not a design expert, but I think it is a good looking bus," Cuomo said. "I like the blue, I like the sense of motion and the graphics. It is sophisticated yet not tedious; it is playful but serious."
For now, there are only seven of these buses in service, and they're only in Queens on different lines. However, 75 more are coming this summer, and by the end of 2021, there will be 2,042 of these buses, replacing 40 percent of the MTA's current fleet in all five boroughs.
These new buses are just a small part of the MTA's efforts to make transportation throughout New York City more high-tech.
In another effort, digital screens will be installed in buses both new and old. The MTA plans to have 205 buses outfitted with information screens this year, while 1,900 buses will have them by 2018.
On top of that, Cuomo announced that the MTA is moving forward with the eTix app, which allows customers on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North to purchase tickets using their mobile device. It will be available for the LIRR's Port Washington Branch and Metro-North's Hudson line in June. All rail travelers will get to use it by the end of 2016.
"We see the debut of these new buses and the roll out of the MTA eTix field test as important steps forward as we continue to renew, expand the transit system and create an enhanced experience for our customers," said Thomas Prendergast, chairman and CEO of the MTA.
