Local Residents Frustrated With Possibly Losing The M8
We all know the laundry list of potential service cuts & elimination that face us if the MTA adapts the recently presented operating budget. One of the routes facing possible elimination is the M8, a crosstown route that travels between the East Village & West Village. Local elected officials & residents are frustrated with the possibility of losing the M8. Jefferson Siegel of The Villager has more in this report:
The river-to-river Eighth St. cross-town bus has been targeted in a scenario of sweeping transit service cuts and fare hikes.
At a public meeting last Thursday, Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials outlined a sweeping package of cutbacks that includes permanently axing the route.
“This proposal is a recommendation that the M.T.A. achieve savings through the elimination of the M8 bus route,” authority spokesperson Aaron Donovan said. If there was a glimmer of hope, Donovan said that all cuts are in the proposal stage. However, if the route is eliminated at a Dec. 17 vote, as appears likely, “it would be a permanent action,” Donovan added.
News of the proposal came as a surprise to many of the M8’s regular riders. Just after 3 p.m. last Friday, students poured out of the Village Community School at W. 10th and Greenwich Sts. The young scholars and their guardians lined up to board an eastbound bus that quickly became standing room only.
Click here for the complete report.
This was one of the routes that surprised me in terms of potential service cuts or eliminations. I have ridden this line on many different occasions & noticed a pretty decent ridership for it. While I am not saying it was loaded from pillar to post, it was not close to being empty either.
I seriously hope something happens where we do not have to see such drastic service cuts. I won’t say no service cuts as the agency should look to legitimately cut back or eliminate service that is not needed.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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