New York City's Department of Transportation ditched a long-planned busway on a seven-block stretch of Fordham Road last year in favor of a bus lane offset from the curb after years of planning. Last minute, it nixed that too in favor of repainting the current curbside lane. And now a letter obtained by NY1 shows the MTA's disapproval.

The June 12 letter to Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez from former transit president Rich Davey and his successor Demetrius Crichlow states the MTA was “very disappointed with the City’s decision” and that its joint analysis is “showing only a 2% - 4% improvement to bus travel speeds which remain far below the 15% target.” A target set by DOT. And “While we continue to support the last proposal for offset bus lanes, we believe a full busway, would have even greater impact in improving bus speeds and reliability.”

Advocacy groups like Riders Alliance say there was widespread community support for a busway in an area where a majority of residents don’t own cars and either walk, bike or use mass transit—and bus speeds in some areas hover around four miles per hour.

“The mayor listened to Westchester drivers instead of Bronx bus riders,” said Danny Pearlstein, director of policy and communications for Riders Alliance. “And lo and behind, bus service has gotten even worse since last October.”

Despite automated camera enforcement, cars continuously block bus lanes on this, the second busiest route in the city, with 85,000 daily riders. Bus drivers on the BX12 say many pop their trunks to avoid the camera capturing their plates.

Business groups like the Fordham and Belmont BIDs say faster bus speeds are good for business, but they want more studies and there are concerns about the thousands of cars forced off a busway to more residential roads.

“On streets where people, where kids play,” said Frank Franz of the Belmont BID. “Where ambulances and fire engines have to get through, streets that are closed down to be play streets in the summer.”

Commissioner Rodriguez said, however, he hasn’t forgotten about Fordham Road, despite what was stated in the letter.

“I don’t have a complete report, the assessment. But when we’re ready we’ll get back to you,” said Rodriguez last week at an unrelated press conference. “We need to move riders faster, that is the message. And Fordham is something we will not give up.”

Activists are not giving up either. They say the mayor is behind on the 150 miles of new bus lanes he must build by 2026 as mandated by law. Some estimates have this year’s tally at seven miles, but DOT and City Hall refuse to say a total until the year wraps up.