The MTA agreed last night to save 11 previously-condemned bus lines, but the orange V train (est. 2001) was not so lucky. In January the authority hinted that it would create an M/V “mash-up”; now that’s coming into focus with the older M taking over the V train’s orange branding and its stops to Forest Hills-71st Avenue in Queens (the V's lower Manhattan and South Brooklyn service will be eliminated). Look at a map here. Sounds confusing, but the MTA says it's how commuters feel that’s important. Indeed, last year Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz held a mock funeral for the beloved brown train. “People were more comfortable with the M designation, being an older and more historic train designation than the V,” said Charles Seaton, a spokesman for New York City Transit.
In addition to the M/V switcheroo, reported by City Room, the transit authority decided to scrap weekend service and route reduction on Manhattan’s M22, though overnight service will still go, as well as on the B4 and B13 in Brooklyn. In Queens the Q14 and Q42 will get keep some of their service and in the Bronx, the popular Bx18 bus was saved from elimination. Staten Island’s S52 bus will cover for the S42, and the S66 will pick up slack for the discontinued S60 bus, reports NY1 (see a complete listing here).
The restored service will mean the MTA will be taking a considerable more ladylike bite out of its $758 million deficit (the pricetags total $4 million) but it's also pacified some once-angry commuters. "It's cool that people fought for the bus because without it, elderly people can't commute to work. We have little kids that need to get to school. Without it, it wouldn't be possible," said one transit user. The changes are expected to be approved next week, along with $94 million worth of cuts.
