Darryl C. Irick, Vice President of Bus Services

MTA, 2 Broadway #2015
New York, New York 10004

Dear Mr. Irick:

As a daily user of theBx5 bus in the Bronx, I write to ask for more frequent bus service between White Plains Road and Simpson Street during the morning rush hour (6:45am-8:45am) and Simpson Street to White Plains Road during the evening rush hour (4:45pm-6:45pm).

I make this request because I often have to wait for two or three buses to pass by during the morning rush hour because the buses are way too crowded. Even when the buses are able to take passengers, the crowded conditions on the bus are inhumane as people are hovered on top of each other, stepping on each other's feet, invading personal space, bickering and in some cases physically accosting each other all so that they can get to work and school. Additionally, passengers find themselves smashed up, and forcefully leaning, against exit doors when the bus is in motion while children are smothered up against the coats and bags of others who are taller than them.

The problem is at its worst during the rush hours when there is an influx of people trying to get to the train stations in the morning as well as from the train stations in the afternoon. Residents of the community are forced to take "gypsy" cabs to and from the train station, adding additional transportation costs to their budget. This community has a longstanding history of riding the Bx5 bus. During non-rush hours, the service tends to be more reliable than during rush hours. However, since this is a working class community, reliable bus service needs to exist during rush hours so residents can get to work.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We would support the addition of rush hour shuttle buses between White Plains Road and Simpson Street in the morning (6:45am-8:45am) as well as in the evening from Simpson Street from White Plains Road (4:45pm-6:45pm). These shuttles should be timed along with the 6 and 2 trains going into Manhattan in the morning as well as in the afternoon.

The residents of Story Avenue are united on this front and would appreciate an immediate response to our request. Please feel free to post responses via social media mechanisms at Twitter (@storyaveunited) as well as Facebook (www.facebook.com/storyaveunited).Direct questions can be addressed to storyaveunited@gmail.com.