NEW YORK – Assembly Member Aravella Simotas, along with State Senator Jessica Ramos and Community Board 1-Queens, hosted a feedback session with representatives from the MTA, on January 31, at the HANAC Harmony JVL Innovative Center.

The session began with opening remarks from Assembly Member Simotas, followed by remarks from Senator Ramos. Simotas then opened the floor to MTA staff who gave a detailed presentation about the plan. The presentation was followed by a Q&A where riders shared their concerns about the changes that affect their commutes and neighborhoods.

Some of the feedback received included concerns about discontinued service to Midtown East, and accessibility for seniors, disabled persons, and strollers to the connecting subway lines.

“It is important to me that everyone who uses buses knows that these changes are coming, and more importantly, that the MTA takes this feedback and uses it to improve its proposed plan,” Simotas said.

“Our borough is already significantly underserved by the subway system. So, many of our communities rely on Queens buses. These changes will greatly affect many riders’ daily lives including their access to work, education and healthcare. Senator Ramos, members of our Community Board and I hold this as one of our highest priorities,” said Simotas.

“We need to make sure our neighbors are able to travel between work, school, doctor appointments and back home with reasonable bus service. By ensuring our Queens residents have a true understanding of the MTA’s Queens bus overhaul to provide critical feedback, my hope is that we’ll have a better, faster, more accessible and overall more efficient public transit system,” said State Senator Jessica Ramos (D-Jackson Heights, Corona).