Q&A
Ensuring senior access to new Metro North stations in Co-op City
0:44:26
·
167 sec
Council Member Riley addresses concerns about how seniors in Co-op City will access the new Metro North station, given the distance between different sections of the development. He questions MTA representatives about potential solutions.
- Riley proposes a shuttle service to bring seniors from their buildings to the station
- MTA representative cannot commit to a shuttle service but mentions ongoing discussions about increasing bus service to the station
- MTA is studying local and additional bus service needs for when revenue service begins
- A 'kiss and ride' drop-off location is being developed as part of the project
- MTA is working with DOT to potentially relocate or increase the size of the bus footprint near the station to accommodate more utilization
Kevin C. Riley
0:44:26
Another issue that is very important to me is how our seniors and corpses are are going to get access to the station.
0:44:32
You see corpses separated into 5 different sections.
0:44:36
This specific station is gonna be in section 5, which is going to be a challenge for seniors who live in section 1, 2, 3, and 4 to commute to the station, especially if we are encouraging them not to drive to the station.
0:44:53
So with that being stated, my question is for n t MTA, will you commit to provide a shuttle service that will bring our seniors from their buildings to the station so that they can actually utilize the station.
0:45:10
I think
UNKNOWN
0:45:11
Yeah.
0:45:12
Good.
0:45:12
Yep.
0:45:12
Thank you for the question and the opportunity to speak before you today.
0:45:16
I can't commit to a shuttle service per se.
0:45:19
I can commit to the fact that we are in discussions with our bus operations team to identify need an opportunity to increase bus service to that station.
0:45:28
They're actively looking at that now so that once revenue service is up, we're only not even halfway into the completion of the project towards revenue service.
0:45:36
So we are studying that now in terms of need as far as local and additional bus service.
Kevin C. Riley
0:45:43
So is that a no on the shuttle?
UNKNOWN
0:45:45
No.
0:45:45
It's not a no.
0:45:46
It's it's we're looking at it.
Kevin C. Riley
0:45:47
We're looking at it.
UNKNOWN
0:45:48
Yeah.
0:45:48
Studying it.
Kevin C. Riley
0:45:48
Yeah.
0:45:49
Yeah.
0:45:49
Alright.
0:45:49
Thank you.
0:45:50
So further discussion is on this.
0:45:51
Alright.
0:45:52
That's what I'd like to hear.
0:45:55
I guess you just answer the recommendations.
0:45:58
Are you looking into other studies for bus services within there for seniors.
0:46:01
But what then is your recommendation for seniors to access the station?
UNKNOWN
0:46:06
Alright.
0:46:06
Anticipation is that the vast majority of folks using all 4 of these stations, but certainly in corp city 2, our folks are gonna walk or bike or be dropped off.
0:46:14
Certainly not seniors necessarily with the bike.
0:46:16
But, you know, who knows folks are more active today?
Kevin C. Riley
0:46:18
I have some active seniors.
UNKNOWN
0:46:20
Exactly.
0:46:21
So there is currently under development as part of the project, a kiss and ride location for folks to be dropped off.
0:46:28
So it is sort of not a parking ride.
Kevin C. Riley
0:46:30
It's a kiss and ride.
UNKNOWN
0:46:32
That's what they they call it.
0:46:33
Well, not the seniors, but the project team.
0:46:36
So it's a drop off location, a cutout if you will.
Kevin C. Riley
0:46:38
Very awkward name.
UNKNOWN
0:46:39
Right?
0:46:41
But we're also actively working with DOT to identify us, especially in Coop City, the opportunity in conjunction with that bus development, the opportunity to move or relocate or increase the size of the bus footprint there too to accommodate more utilization.
0:46:57
So all those conversations are ongoing because we're so early on in the project right now.
Kevin C. Riley
0:47:00
Thank you so much.
0:47:02
And with that being said, I think I'm going to hold off on questions now and pass it over to the birthday girl, our majority leader, Amanda Farris.
Amanda Farías
0:47:12
Wow.
0:47:12
You
Kevin C. Riley
0:47:13
could clap for a break.
Amanda Farías
0:47:13
Clap for my birthday.