By Joseph Morales

                 The MTA has plans to reconstruct and expand the Jamaica Bus Depot in Downtown Jamaica, Queens to support not only an increased fleet but also brand new electric buses. The plan is to construct a depot that will house 300 total buses with 60 of them being electric, zero emissions buses and thus the depot will host 60 charging stations. The current Jamaica Bus Depot houses about 196 buses with none of them being of the zero-emissions variety. According to structural engineering firm STV who prepared the MTA’s Environmental Impact Assessment for the project, about 50 of the approximately 196 buses at the depot park on the streets around the depot’s property. STV’s website says that this adversely impacts “the day-to-day travel of residents, York College affiliates, and transportation and commercial operations in the surrounding neighborhoods.” As a result of the project, the MTA will be able to run buses that are not only easier to maintain but also run more efficiently. Electric buses are also quieter on the road and offer smoother rides for passengers.

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