Students and Teachers alike at Edison have difficulty relying on public transportation to get to and from the school.
Weather, bus delays, and the summer route changes have made commuting to Edison unpredictable and stressful. Buses often run late during bad weather, leaving students and staff stuck waiting in the cold or rushing to find another way to school. These ongoing transportation problems go beyond mere inconvenience and continue to affect attendance and the overall atmosphere of the school day.
Denzari Samuels, senior at Thomas A. Edison, spoke out about the effects of the MTA Bus route changes in New York City. “I feel like ever since the bus routes have been switched, a lot of buses have been more delayed than usual,” Samuels said.
Many Inventors are frustrated that the Jamaica-bound Q65 bus was moved two blocks further from the school campus. The longer walk often results in missing the bus scheduled near dismissal. There is additional concern regarding the residential area being flooded with students after school, rather than the larger sidewalk near 84th Avenue and 164th St.
There are other factors that contribute to debilitation on the Q65 route during both morning and evening rush hours. It is heavily relied on by five major landmarks, including Queens Gateway to Health Sciences Secondary School, Queens Hospital Center, Thomas A. Edison CTE High School, Jamaica High School, and Hillcrest High School.
Serena Malcolms, a junior at Edison, describes the challenges this singular bus line faces. “It’s like a whole bunch of kids, and there’s also another school right across from the high school. We all get right there (the bus stop), and it’s really packed. So, it’s hard to get on the bus to go home. Not to mention the hospital as well, so it’s a lot of people,” Malcolm said.
According to city data, the average wait time for a bus is approximately ten minutes. However, many Edison commuters questioned whether that statistic reflects their daily experience.
Mrs. Robin, a lunch aid at Edison, voices her opinion on the average wait time. “I’ve had five buses pass by me, and I’m not a student. Yet, I have waited up to 40 minutes one time. You can’t get over the snow and you just can’t get in. I leave the school at 2:30, and now I get home at 6 o clock,” Mrs. Robin said.
As a result, the Q65 bus is clearly declining in efficiency for numerous parties. Inventors are now calling on the MTA to mitigate these circumstances. Ms. Tonisha Phipps, a staff member at Edison proposed a few ideas in an interview. “
An MTA Bus Operator, Mr. Chevry, shares that the MTA, Sanitation, and DOT work together to accommodate all commuters throughout the year. In an interview, Mr. Chevry shared various ways the Edison community can make a call to action.
“If enough people have the same issue with a stop, you can send it over to your district representative and follow a chain of command to make the request formally with transit. 311 is also somewhere you can call to make sure it’s in writing somewhere. Pay attention to the signage in buses or the waiting areas because sometimes there are surveys to take where your feedback is helpful,” Mr. Chevry said.
