We need Select Bus Service

I admire and agree with Councilman Andrew Cohen’s fight for better public transportation services for our area (Political Arena, Jan. 21). Public transportation service is our community’s biggest and most pressing need for improvement.

Although our area’s number one criticism is its public transportation commute times, the MTA hardly takes advantage of the neighborhoods’ best transportation assets: the three local North/South highways. The Henry Hudson Parkway, Harlem River Drive and the Major Deegan Expressway are not just the area’s fastest; they are arguably the city’s closest and best highways to/from Manhattan yet they are all underutilized by public transportation.

Frequently I meet friends at Lincoln Center and the drive to/from Riverdale is less than 15 minutes when I use the Henry Hudson Parkway. It takes them traveling to/from the Upper East Side just as long, if not longer. As a Riverdale resident, it shocks even my Brooklyn friends that I am usually about 30 minutes away to/from further southern parts of Manhattan when I use our local highways because it takes them a longer commute time.

Riverdale and Kingbridge’s proximity to Manhattan is really one of the area’s BEST assets, not the worst. However, the community needs to steer our public resources to take advantage of such favorable positioning on the map. Making the MTA use our local North/South highways ensures that people who do not own a car or have the funds for a car service can also take advantage of our proximity to Manhattan.

A dedicated Select Bus Service line from Riverdale Avenue/Henry Hudson Parkway to/from the 1, 2 and 3 subway station at 96th and Broadway would take at the most 15 minutes to/from Central Riverdale via the Henry Hudson Bridge. This would not just drastically reduce travel times for Riverdalians but would also ease congestion all along the upper corridor of the 1 subway line and at the 231st and Broadway bus stop.