The Downtown Alliance unveiled its snazzy new shuttle buses over the weekend.
BY YANNIC RACK
Lower Manhattan has a set of new wheels.
The Downtown Alliance rolled out a fleet of shiny, new, bright red buses on Nov. 15, updating its free connection service that shuttles locals around town, from Battery Park City to the Seaport.
The striking design, including the Downtown skyline emblazoned on the side, isn’t the only new feature — the seven buses now have standing room in addition to their 22 seats apiece, and the fleet also sports upgraded GPS technology and ADA-compliant access.
“New York City’s public transportation system has many gaps and this free and accessible bus fleet is a welcome way to meet an urgent need,” said Community Board 1 chairwoman Catherine McVay Hughes.
The shuttles, now operated by Golden Touch Transportation of New York, run seven days a week and make 37 stops throughout the district. They run about every ten minutes on weekdays and in fifteen-minute intervals on weekends.
Countdown clocks are already installed at many of the stops, and riders can also locate buses with the nextbus smartphone app, or sign up for arrival alerts via text message.
“We’re thrilled that with these significant improvements and impressive new fleet, we will be able to reach even more riders,” said Jessica Lappin, president of the Alliance. “With our new design, these vehicles will now have a brand new, unmistakable profile on the streets of Lower Manhattan.”
