As of now, the MTA considers the S93 to be the S53's limited-stop version. Well, to me, that's nonsense, because the S93 has a completely different ridership base than the S53. The S93 doesn't go up to Port Richmond, and doesn't connect to routes like the S48/98 & S46/96, which provide a large portion of the S53's ridership (in other words, a good portion of the S53's ridership is riders transferring from the buses along Forest and Castleton Avenues)
So what I'm proposing is a limited-stop version of the S53 that actually goes up to Port Richmond. It would take on the route shown in this map. It would basically take the S53 route north of Victory Blvd, and the S93 route south of Victory Blvd. It would make local stops north of Victory, and limited stops south of Victory (and the limited stops would be the same ones the S93 currently makes). I would call it the S83 (limited-stop routes are numbered in the 80s & 90s, and S93 was already taken, so I'd call it the S83).
In order to make it more cost-efficient, I would slightly reduce service on the S53, and use it to add service to the S83. So there would be a little less local service, but more overall service in the corridor. So basically, at the times of day when the S53 currently runs every 6 minutes, I'd run the S53 every 8 minutes and S83 every 10 minutes. At the times of day when the S53 runs every 7-8 minutes, I'd run the S53 every 10 minutes and S83 every 12 minutes. At the times of day when the S53 runs every 10 minutes, I'd run the S53 every 12 minutes and the S83 every 15 minutes. At the times of day when the S53 runs at headways greater than 10 minutes, the S83 would not run. Keep in mind that this is going to be the initial headway, and I expect it to result in increased ridership and decreased headways (or in other words, more frequent service along both portions of the route)
I would also restructure the S53 so that, at the times of day when the S83 is running, the S53 would be sent up to the current S54 terminal at Broadway & Richmond Terrace (because keep in mind that I would combine the S42 & S54 as part of a separate proposal, though of course, these proposals don't necessarily have to be implemented simultaneously). I think the S53 would get more usage in that area than the S54 currently does, because it provides a quick connection to the S74/76 (mostly people going towards Park Hill, though people do take it going southbound), the S78/79, as well as the SIR. By contrast, the S54 sees weak usage outside of school hours (well, the route in general is like that, but I'm referring specifically to the portion along Broadway).
Keep in mind that (initially) this would result in slightly reduced frequencies to both Port Richmond (the areas west of Castleton & Broadway. I know technically it includes part of West Brighton, but I'll just refer to it as Port Richmond for simplicity's sake), as well as Grasmere and South Beach. However, keep in mind that there's a difference between what is scheduled and what actually comes. Right now, the fact that the S53 is making every single stop from Richmond Terrace & Park Avenue all the way down to Lily Pond Avenue & McClean Avenue causes serious delays at certain times of the day (and this applies every day). If a Brooklyn-bound bus gets hit with an unusually large load of passengers along Castleton Avenue, it'll likely end up delayed, which means that more passengers pile up further down the line, delaying the bus even further until another bus ends up catching up to it, because it has fewer passengers as a result of the first bus picking most of them up. Then, instead of say, a 10 minute frequency, you have a 20 minute gap, and then 2 buses come simultaneously. Or worse, you have a 20 minute gap, and then a packed bus comes by and passes the stop, and you still have to wait another 5-10 minutes for a bus that has room.
By separating the passengers into different ridership bases, you reduce the probability of such a delay occurring. Instead of every single person (those heading to Bay Ridge, those heading to Park Hill, those heading to Grasmere for the SIR, etc) piling onto the first bus they see, people will wait for the bus that heads to their specific destination. So that way, a delay on the S53 doesn't affect S83 riders, and vice versa. (Well, due to the fact that they basically share the same route between Castleton & Broadway and Targee Street, there might be a little bit of an impact, but either way, it is spread out). Will it eliminate bunching entirely? Unfortunately, no, but it will reduce it greatly.
Keep in mind that there is also the other major benefit is the quicker travel times for those heading from Port Richmond/West Brighton/Sunnyside to Brooklyn. Instead of looping around from Grasmere & South Beach, those riders will have a straight shot to/from Brooklyn along Narrows Road South/North.
A few riders may have to make an additional transfer. Riders traveling between Port Richmond and Grasmere/South Beach will have to make a transfer anywhere between Castleton & Broadway and Targee Street. Keep in mind that riders along Castleton Avenue can take either the S46/S96 or S83 (and that the S96 would see expanded hours under a different proposal of mine).
As always, questions and comments are welcome.
In order to make it more cost-efficient, I would slightly reduce service on the S53, and use it to add service to the S83. So there would be a little less local service, but more overall service in the corridor. So basically, at the times of day when the S53 currently runs every 6 minutes, I'd run the S53 every 8 minutes and S83 every 10 minutes. At the times of day when the S53 runs every 7-8 minutes, I'd run the S53 every 10 minutes and S83 every 12 minutes. At the times of day when the S53 runs every 10 minutes, I'd run the S53 every 12 minutes and the S83 every 15 minutes. At the times of day when the S53 runs at headways greater than 10 minutes, the S83 would not run. Keep in mind that this is going to be the initial headway, and I expect it to result in increased ridership and decreased headways (or in other words, more frequent service along both portions of the route)
I would also restructure the S53 so that, at the times of day when the S83 is running, the S53 would be sent up to the current S54 terminal at Broadway & Richmond Terrace (because keep in mind that I would combine the S42 & S54 as part of a separate proposal, though of course, these proposals don't necessarily have to be implemented simultaneously). I think the S53 would get more usage in that area than the S54 currently does, because it provides a quick connection to the S74/76 (mostly people going towards Park Hill, though people do take it going southbound), the S78/79, as well as the SIR. By contrast, the S54 sees weak usage outside of school hours (well, the route in general is like that, but I'm referring specifically to the portion along Broadway).
Keep in mind that (initially) this would result in slightly reduced frequencies to both Port Richmond (the areas west of Castleton & Broadway. I know technically it includes part of West Brighton, but I'll just refer to it as Port Richmond for simplicity's sake), as well as Grasmere and South Beach. However, keep in mind that there's a difference between what is scheduled and what actually comes. Right now, the fact that the S53 is making every single stop from Richmond Terrace & Park Avenue all the way down to Lily Pond Avenue & McClean Avenue causes serious delays at certain times of the day (and this applies every day). If a Brooklyn-bound bus gets hit with an unusually large load of passengers along Castleton Avenue, it'll likely end up delayed, which means that more passengers pile up further down the line, delaying the bus even further until another bus ends up catching up to it, because it has fewer passengers as a result of the first bus picking most of them up. Then, instead of say, a 10 minute frequency, you have a 20 minute gap, and then 2 buses come simultaneously. Or worse, you have a 20 minute gap, and then a packed bus comes by and passes the stop, and you still have to wait another 5-10 minutes for a bus that has room.
By separating the passengers into different ridership bases, you reduce the probability of such a delay occurring. Instead of every single person (those heading to Bay Ridge, those heading to Park Hill, those heading to Grasmere for the SIR, etc) piling onto the first bus they see, people will wait for the bus that heads to their specific destination. So that way, a delay on the S53 doesn't affect S83 riders, and vice versa. (Well, due to the fact that they basically share the same route between Castleton & Broadway and Targee Street, there might be a little bit of an impact, but either way, it is spread out). Will it eliminate bunching entirely? Unfortunately, no, but it will reduce it greatly.
Keep in mind that there is also the other major benefit is the quicker travel times for those heading from Port Richmond/West Brighton/Sunnyside to Brooklyn. Instead of looping around from Grasmere & South Beach, those riders will have a straight shot to/from Brooklyn along Narrows Road South/North.
A few riders may have to make an additional transfer. Riders traveling between Port Richmond and Grasmere/South Beach will have to make a transfer anywhere between Castleton & Broadway and Targee Street. Keep in mind that riders along Castleton Avenue can take either the S46/S96 or S83 (and that the S96 would see expanded hours under a different proposal of mine).
As always, questions and comments are welcome.
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