Residents rally for return of Burnside Avenue bus stop after MTA removal
Residents argue that since the stop was removed, riders have been forced to walk farther and cross busy intersections to board buses.
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Residents and community advocates gathered along Burnside Avenue this week to call on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to restore a bus stop that they say has been a vital part of the neighborhood for decades.
The rally brought together commuters concerned about the removal of the stop, which they say has made daily travel more difficult, particularly for seniors and people with disabilities.
Among those speaking out was 88-year-old Sallie Smith, who said the bus stop played a critical role in helping residents access essential destinations - including churches, businesses and medical appointments.
"We want that bus stop back. I can't say it enough," Smith said.
Residents argue that since the stop was removed, riders have been forced to walk farther and cross busy intersections to board buses. Smith said the change has made routine trips more challenging and, in some cases, dangerous.
"You come to go to church, you're dropped off all the way down to Anthony Avenue. You've got to drag yourself up by the concourse, cross over a 10-lane highway, and then go to church and the same thing across the street. It don't make sense," she said.
News 12 reached out to the MTA for comment.
"Since the Bronx Bus Network Redesign was implemented, eastbound bus speeds at this location have improved by 19% and westbound by 17%, with faster buses saving time for thousands of riders every day on those routes," an MTA spokesperson wrote.
Smith said those improvements do not outweigh the hardships the removal has created for riders who relied on the stop.
"If we can't ride it, what difference does it make how fast the bus goes?" she said.
Advocates are urging the MTA to reconsider the decision, arguing that faster service should not come at the expense of accessibility for vulnerable residents.
"It really makes me sad to see it like this for our seniors and our handicapped people," Yvonne Miller said. "I'm the mother of a handicapped son, and he passed away some time ago, so I know about how hard it can be."
Residents say they will continue pushing for the stop's reinstatement, maintaining that the removal has created more problems than it has solved and hoping the agency will revisit the decision.
