Staten Island to get modernized bus fleet this year

A new fleet of 77 “state-of-the-art” buses is coming to Staten Island, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Congressman Max Rose announced today. The announcement comes nearly a year after the MTA rolled out its redesign of the Staten Island express bus network.

The new buses, set to replace the 2009 Orion Hybrid buses that currently serve the borough, will be used on local and Select Bus Service routes operating out of the Yukon Bus Depot, the MTA says. The new vehicles will have Wi-Fi, digital screens, USB charging ports, and modern safety technology.

“Getting where you need to go on time isn’t too much to ask, and I know that with these new buses on the road, Staten Islanders can expect a more reliable, fast, and comfortable commute,” Rose said in a statement.

The MTA said that is also procuring 50 coach buses to service the borough’s express bus routes, which should roll out by 2021.

“Our Staten Island customers are amongst our most vocal and dedicated customers because they rely on our buses far more than riders in other boroughs, which means we absolutely must get bus service right on Staten Island,” MTA New York City Transit president Andy Byford said in a statement.

Even though the Staten Island express bus network redesign got off to a rocky start, with riders saying there were longer wait times and overcrowding, the MTA says the overhaul sped up commutes by up to 12 percent, increased reliability, and added 120 more weekday trips and frequency.

All Staten Island buses are also currently included in the pilot for new tap-to-pay system OMNY, set to replace the MetroCard.

Staten Island is not the only borough undergoing major changes in its bus service: Queens and the Bronx are also in the process of getting a redesign.