Bus Time service

The Staten Island Comprehensive Bus Study launched this summer as collaboration between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and local officials to address what is viewed as an outdated network of 31 local and 20 express buses. (Advance File Photo)

(VINCENT GRAGNANI)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- City and local officials are currently studying ways to drastically improve Staten Island bus service, and they're asking for the public's help.

The Staten Island Comprehensive Bus Study launched this summer as collaboration between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and local officials to address what is viewed as an outdated network of 31 local and 20 express buses.

Its goal is to bring a variety of long-term and short-term changes to obsolete routes, and an increase in service where there are ridership demands on the transit-starved Island. To be successful, officials are calling for residents' participation as the study moves into its public input phase this month.

"Here is the chance for Staten Island bus riders to be heard, and I urge Staten Islanders to show up in large numbers to these public workshops," said Borough President James Oddo in a statement. "This study relies on involving Staten Island bus riders, who understand the realities of the daily commute better than anyone else, in the decision-making process in order to make improvements to service. It will not be successful unless riders participate in the process.

"Tell the MTA what works and what doesn't and how you believe improvements can be made," Oddo continued. "This really is an unprecedented opportunity and I hope bus riders take advantage of it."

Two public workshops have been announced thus far, with a to-be-announced third date in the works:

Tuesday, Dec. 15: 7 p.m. at Snug Harbor Administrative Offices, located at 1000 Richmond Terrace, Building P, Livingston.

Thursday, Dec. 17: 7:30 p.m. at CYO-MIV Community Center, located at 6571 Hylan Blvd.

The third workshop, to be held at a Mid-Island location, will be scheduled in early 2016 to ensure those who cannot attend in December have the opportunity to participate.

"Since 1982, the MTA has invested nearly $1 billion for local and express bus service on Staten Island, including new buses and upgrades to bus depots. Since 1999, the Staten Island bus fleet has grown 33 percent and we now provide over 8,000 bus trips each weekday on 52 local, limited, and express routes for our Staten Island customers," said Interim New York City Transit President James L. Ferrara in a statement. "We look forward to hearing from our customers in the borough as we continue to look at ways to improve service and provide better transit options for Staten Islanders."

In an effort reach as many Island riders at possible, MTA New York City Transit employees will also be polling riders at bus stops and on buses themselves. Besides routing issues, the study looks to address customer satisfaction relating to bus stops, the atmosphere inside buses and bus-to-bus transfers.

Still, Council members Debi Rose and Steven Matteo said public attendance is critical.

"This study does not work unless we have that critical input, so I am urging all commuters to participate in these workshops," Matteo (R-Mid Island) said in a statement.

"While data can provide wealth of useful information, it is no substitute for the observations of real people who ride our buses to work day in and day out. It is imperative that commuters attend one of these workshops and share their experiences and ideas with the MTA," said Rose (D-North Shore) in a statement.

Oddo's office expects the study to be completed in winter 2016. Smaller-scale improvements can be made even as the study is ongoing, Oddo's office said. Long-term ideas could need additional planning and resources before being executed.

Read more about the study here.