Chapter 3 The Transportation System - New York Metropolitan ...

Chapter 3merous other violations such as lack ofvehicle inspections, failure to use commerciallylicensed drivers, and failureto implement drug and alcohol testingprograms were also cited. The three buscompanies’ complicated ownership andmanagement structures also contributedto their ability to stay in service despiteseveral of their carriers having had theiroperating authority revoked. 65TOUR BUSESWith the exception of chartered buses,tour buses are distinct in that they generallystay confined to New York City.Their passengers are not commuters, butrather tourists who are either riding ina closed loop or using a system of “hopon-hop off” routes to visit specific attractionsor neighborhoods. Therefore, thesebuses often occupy road space withouttheir motor coaches or passengers beingcounted in standard baseline trafficcounts.Although bus tourism has historicallybeen confined to the Manhattan CentralBusiness District with the occasionalforay into Brooklyn, tour buses are nowa more common sight in upper Manhattan,Brooklyn and the Bronx. Both GrayLine and City Sights tours’ uptown loopsnow include Harlem, and each has a separateloop serving Brooklyn. 66 At leasttwo tour operators now provide regularBronx tours. 67The burgeoning bus tour industry hasexpanded not just to other boroughs, butto topic-specific tours, often centered onpopular TV shows, local foods, or specificcultural sites. For example, in July2012, one website advertised separatetours catering to tourists interested inHarlem gospel performances, pizza, andfans of the television show “Sex and theCity.” 68The question of where to store inactivetour buses in Lower Manhattan has alsobecome more pressing as tours visit theWorld Trade Center site. A new VehicleSecurity Center is being built, which willhave the capacity to store 80 buses. 69FERRY COMPANYOPERATED BUSESNY Waterway also operates a network offree bus routes in Manhattan providingconnecting service to its West 39 th Streetterminal. Five peak-period routes providecrosstown service to locations as fareast as 3 rd Avenue via 57 th Street, 49 th /50 thstreets, 42 nd Street, 34 th Street and 23 rdStreet; the 23 rd Street route loops southto the West Village. 70 A separate, morecondensed network of routes serveswestern Manhattan during off-peak periods.71 An additional peak-period busroute connects the company’s ferry serviceat East 34 th Street to a Midtownloop via East 34 th Street, 6 th Avenue, East48 th Street and Lexington Avenue. 72 NYWaterway also operates free bus servicesin New Jersey.The Transportation System 3-21