Better bus service in Westchester and career prep on Long Island - The New York Community Trust

November 23, 2022 | By The New York Community Trust

Better bus service in Westchester and career prep on Long Island

In Westchester: Advocates press for better bus service

RIDERS SPEAK UP: Bus advocate Michael Ditkoff and Jaqi Cohen, Tri-State’s director of climate and equity policy, discuss how bus routes in Westchester have not changed in 30 years.

Public-transit customers typically ride together, but they do not typically work together to call for improvements in service. With a grant from the Westchester Community Foundation, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign is building riders’ collective voice.

As the county’s contract for bus service, currently run by Liberty Lines, is up for renewal in 2023, Tri-State is educating and organizing riders to strengthen the case for important service improvements.

A better bus system can benefit the environment, make streets safer for pedestrians, and provide a lifeline for low-income residents who need reliable, affordable options to get to workplaces, shopping, and medical appointments.

Tri-State created a survey for Bee-Line riders so their views could be considered as the county evaluates and rewrites the new contract with an eye toward improving service. In the survey, riders expressed the need to increase the frequency of bus service, operate longer hours, create more Metrocard refill stations, improve accessibility, and make Bee-Line more responsive to customers’ concerns.

With a recent grant, Tri-State continues to organize riders and support their advocating for better service. A Tri-State analysis found that Westchester pays more for less service than other localities, which is a result of there being no competitive bidding process.

On Long Island: Preparing young people for careers

CAREER EXPLORATION: A group of high schoolers visit a Covanta waste incineration facility on Long Island and discuss job opportunities and skill requirements.

To improve the career prospects for young people, the Long Island Community Foundation made a grant to the Viscardi Center for an alternative education program for high school students who are at risk of not completing their studies.

The program, known as PROSPER (People Reaching for Opportunities to Succeed Personally, Educationally, and Realistically), is a partnership between the Center and high-need school districts. The partnership began in 1997 and has worked with more than 1,000 high school students, mostly Black and Latinx young people from low-income families. Students in the program spend half of each school day visiting local colleges and workplaces to build academic, career, and life skills. In addition, Viscardi will help students find summer jobs and navigate the college application process.

Ninety-eight percent of students completing the PROSPER program attend college, enroll in vocational training, enlist in the armed services, or find a job—a much higher percentage than students in similar situations locally. Because of the pandemic-related school closures, Viscardi offered its PROSPER program online to more than 60 high school juniors and seniors from Freeport, Westbury, and Brentwood schools, then moved to hybrid learning with students receiving laptops and access if needed.