Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Bloomberg Calls for Free Crosstown Buses In Expansive MTA Plan
By
Billy Parker
Published Aug 3, 2009
Modified Aug 3, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Billy Parker
Published Aug 3, 2009
Modified Aug 3, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Mayor Bloomberg is calling for the MTA to eliminate the fare of the most frequently used—and very slow—crosstown bus lines such as the M50 and M14. Perhaps sensing that the campaign season was beginning to get bogged down in talk of neverending term limits and a recent poll that showed challenger Bill Thompson closing the gap among voters, the Bloomberg campaign came out today with a 33-point proposal to reshape the transit system throughout the five boroughs. After largely letting the MTA stew in its own juices throughout the budget crisis, Bloomberg is reminding New Yorkers that he is still the mayor who not that long ago attempted to make congestion pricing his legacy.
Bloomberg's "Moving NYC" campaign plan (see the full proposal on his campaign website) points out that since many of the crosstown lines are used in large part by subway riders taking advantage of the free transfer, the cost of letting riders walk on to the heavily-trafficked bus routes would not be too taxing. The plan states, “Any loss in revenue will likely be offset by the gain in travel times, which may reduce operating costs by allowing the authority to run fewer buses." Not specifically mentioned was how pleasant it would be to not have commuters trying out five empty Metrocards only to have the driver give up and allow the person on anyway.
Some of the other more eye-catching election year initiatives included in the plan are:
- Extending the V line from the Lower East Side into Brooklyn
- Express F line service
- "Countdown Clocks" on train platforms being spread beyond the L line and throughout the ststem
- Reopening LIRR stations in several Queens neighborhoods
- Expanding the bus rapid transit experiment that was tested out on the Bx12 across Fordham Road in The Bronx
- An HOV lane on the westbound Gowanus Expressway
- A "robust, high frequency inter-boro ferry service"
- Expanding the CityTicket program to all LIRR and Metro North stations at all times so Bronx and Queens riders pay reduced fares
On that last point, Bill Thompson was quick to offer a reminder of how much MTA fares have gone up under the mayor. He also mentioned that he has been calling for a CityTicket expansion sounds like something they've heard before. A Thompson spokeswoman said, "This plan is full of empty promises and stolen ideas such as CityTicket which was proposed by Bill Thompson in 2006 and 2009."
Tagged
bill thompson
cityticket
countdown clock
crosstown buses
election 2009
f train
gowanus expressway
l train
lirr
mayor bloomberg
MTA
v train
william thompson
Billy Parker
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC has a plan to stop homeless people from cycling between hospitals and the streets
The Bridge to Home program, which began last year, will officially expand to Brooklyn on Tuesday.
By
Karen Yi
Published Sep 29, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. ET
Early Addition: Billy Joel is auctioning off 70 of his motorcycles
Because he doesn't need that many bikes, here are your early links: NYC Ferry fares could be going up, Hell's Kitchen climbing gym closing, Jalen Brunson just wasn't that funny on SNL and more.
By
James Ramsay
News
Early Addition: Billy Joel is auctioning off 70 of his motorcycles
Because he doesn't need that many bikes, here are your early links: NYC Ferry fares could be going up, Hell's Kitchen climbing gym closing, Jalen Brunson just wasn't that funny on SNL and more.
By
James Ramsay
Man dragged to death by Subway in Brooklyn after getting caught on closing doors
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Upper East Side braces for affordable housing fast track, and backlash from residents
By
David Brand
Plan to modernize NYC's diesel-spewing produce market falls apart under Mamdani
By
Elizabeth Kim
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .